Traditional Music Around the World
Ethnomusicology: Traditional Music of the World
Ethnomusicology is a branch of musicology that studies the traditional musics of the world. It considers folklore, namely the people (set of customs and traditions), and documents for traditional music, which is a collective, rural, functional, and oral creation.
Asia
- Music is closely tied to religion.
- Eastern music systems are often based on sacred texts.
- Improvisation is dominant.
- Rhythmic and melodic patterns are common.
- Characteristic vocal timbres are present.
China
- Pentatonic scale music system.
- Falsetto singing voice (sharp, nasal).
- Instruments: qin (stretched zither), sheng (mouth organ), erhu (two-stringed violin), pipa and yueqin (lutes), di (flute), gongs, and bells.
Tibet
- Timbre is severe and brutal.
- A sustained, serious note is held above the melody.
- Instruments: Tibetan trumpets.
Japan
- Pentatonic scale.
- Instruments: koto (zither), shamisen (lute), shakuhachi (flute), taiko (drum).
India
- Musical intervals are smaller than a semitone.
- Melody: ragas (special scales).
- Pace: talas (fixed patterns).
- Instruments: sitar and vina (string), pungi and bansuri (wind), tabla and ghatam (percussion).
Indonesia
- Characteristics of music played by the gamelan (percussion ensemble).
- Instruments: gong ageng, gender (metallophone).
Africa
- North: Morocco-Egypt (Arabic).
- Sub-Saharan (Black).
North Africa
- Monodic with vocal melisma.
- Scales: Maqamat (intervals smaller than a semitone).
- Voice doubled by stringed instruments.
- Instruments: rebab (string), alagaita and nay (wind), and bendir, darbuka (percussion).
Sub-Saharan Africa
- Music is used in daily events.
- Ritual or oral value, inseparable from dance.
- Polyrhythm and ostinatos.
- Unique vocal polyphony.
- Instruments: kora and musical bow (string), animal horn (wind), balafon (xylophone), sanza (thumb piano), shekere, kalangu, djembe (percussion).
America
North America
- Traditional African music and songs of slaves led to blues and jazz.
- European roots led to country music.
- Instruments: banjo.
South America
Mexico
- Rancheras: compositions accompanied by mariachi (guitars, violins, trumpets, and clarinets).
- Corrido: Ballads, romantic heroic stories broadcast.
- Huapango: couplets accompanied by jarana and requinto (guitars), harp, marimba.
The Caribbean
- African roots (rhythm and percussion instruments).
- European influence (dancehall instruments [guitar, harp, accordion]).
Cuba
- Rhythmic and Afro-Cuban: Rumba, Son, Conga, Mambo, Salsa.
- Slow and European: Habanera, Bolero, Trova.
- Instruments: guitar (European), congas, maracas, claves, cowbells, guiro (Afro-Cuban).
- Calypso: songs denouncing with humor.
- Dominican Republic: Merengue.
Andean Region
- Bolivia, Peru: Huayno.
- Ecuador: Pasillo.
- Chile: Cueca.
- Instruments: pan flute and flute (wind), ocarina, charango, harp, drums, bass drums (percussion).
Argentina
- Chacarera, Zamba, Gato, Milonga (sad and melancholic singing).
- Tango (partner dance).
- Carlos Gardel (singer).
- Instruments: bandoneon.
Brazil
- African and European influence.
- Samba (arises in the slums of Rio).
- Bossa Nova (quiet singing influenced by jazz).
- Batucada (dance accompanied by percussion instruments).
- Capoeira (martial art).
- Instruments: berimbau (gourd bow), surdo (bass drum), repinique (drum), caixa (snare drum), tamborim (tambourine), cuica (membranophone), caxixi (rattle), agogo (double bell), reco-reco (scraper).