The Music of Africa

The study of African music is a study at once of unity and diversity. The range of indigenous musical resources and practices found on this vast continent is a wide and varied as its topography. In this informative and highly readable book, Professor Nketia provides an overview of the musical traditions of Africa with respect to their historical, cultural, and social backgrounds, their organization and practice, and delineates the most significant aspects of musical style.
The book is organized into four sections:
- The first deals in non-technical terms with African musical traditions, music in community life, performing groups and their place in the social structure, and discusses the recruiting and training of performers.
- The second section provides illuminating descriptions of the musical instruments indigenous to the various cultures.
- The third gives detailed analyses of the vocal and instrumental music -melody, polyphony, rhythm, structure, etc.
- Finally, a description of music in relation to its neighbor arts much-misunderstood subjet.

The book is richly illustrated with music examples and photographs; maps are provided to help the reader unfamiliar with the societies, ethnic groups, and countries of Africa.

CONTENIDO:

SECTION ONE: The Social and Cultural Background
1- The Musical Traditions of Africa
2- Music in Community Life
3- Performing Groups and Their Music
4- Recruiting and Training of Musicians

SECTION TWO: Musical Instruments
5- Instrumental Resources
6- Idiophones
7- Membranophones
8- Aerophones
9- Chordophones

SECTION THREE: Structures in African Music
10- Organization of Instrumental Ensembles
11- Melody and Polyphony in Instrumental Music
12- The Rhythmic Basis of Instrumental Music
13- Organization of Vocal Music
14- Melody and Polyphony in Vocal Music
15- Rhythmic Structures of Vocal Music

SECTION FOUR: Music and Related Arts
16- Speech and Melody
17- The Role of Songs Texts
18- Interrelations of Music and Dance
19- The Dance Drama
20- The Conventions of Musical Practice
21- Summary

Appendix I: Selected Discography
Appendix II: Location of Ethnic Groups Mentioned in the Text
Appendix III: African Terms Used in the Text
Bibliography