ETHNOMUSICOLOGY AND MUSIC THEORY VOCABULARY

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering musical elements, West African traditions, Irish traditional music, Bulgarian folk styles, and Arabic musical systems based on the lecture notes.

Rhythm

The organization of music.

Meter

The regular grouping of beats.

Nonmetrical/Free Rhythm

Music that lacks a consistent beat, allowing for a free style form of music.

Additive Meter

Musical structure organized by grouping smaller, unequal units — such as $2s$ and $3s$ together.

Syncopation

A musical technique disrupting the expected rhythmic pulse by accenting weaker beats.

Call-and-Response

A musical technique in which one singer or musician 'calls' out a phrase, in which the rest of the group 'responds' shortly after.

Ostinato

A continual repeated musical phrase or rhythm.

Pitch

The quality of how high a sound is made.

Timbre

The tone color of a sound produced by a voice or instrument.

Microtones

Musical intervals existing between the standard $12$ notes in western music, especially seen in Arabic Maqam.

Ornamentation

The process in which extra notes are added to a primary melody.

Monophony

One single melody performed by one or more performers.

Heterophony

A single melody that's performed in slightly different ways by two or more performers.

Drone

A continuous and sustained sound or note.

Melismatic

A vocal technique in which multiple notes are sung over a single syllable.

Folklore

Traditional beliefs, customs, stories, and other practices that have defined the spirit of a local peoples.

Folklorization

The process of turning organic cultural practices and folklore into a displayed presentation.

Nationalism

An assertion that one's nation is a superior nation compared to other nations.

Flow

Rhythmic and melodic delivery of lyrics in relation to a beat.

Mande Empire (AKA Mali Empire)

Powerful West African state founded by Sundiata Keita and ran from $1200s$ to the $1600s$.

Mandinika

West African peoples that span from Senegal to Burkina Faso.

Sunjata Keita

Founder of the Mande Empire, known for his origin story and unification of various small kingdoms of West Africa.

Jali/Griot

Hereditary musician/historian of the Mande People, serving the royal court and wealthy patrons.

Balafon

An $18-21$ key xylophone with wooden bars and gourd resonators.

Kora

A $21-25$ string 'spiked bridge harp' or 'harp-lute' played on a $7$ note scale.

Djembe

Goblet shaped wooden drum popular in West Africa.

Ngoni

Spike lute with $3-5$ strings, considered a distant relative to the American banjo.

Kumbengo

An instrumental ostinato that serves the foundation of a piece.

Birimintingo

Fast, rhythmic and melodic solos that serve to complement the piece.

Sona Jobarteh

Modern-day Griot from the Jobarteh line of Griot tradition, first female serious Griot.

Bassekou Kouyate

A modern griot who used music to argue for religious tolerance in Mali.

Ewe

Major ethnic group in West Africa.

Agbekor

Ancient, energetic warrior dance and music style of the Ewe and Fon peoples.

Mbira Dzavadzimu

A sacred handheld instrument consisting of $22$ thick keys, often played with a hosho rattle.

Deze

Gourd Resonator for the Mbira, used to create a buzzing sound.

Hosho

Traditional Zimbabwe rattle, paired with a Mbira during ancestral worship.

Kushaura

In English means to start, is the main part in Shona Mbira music.

Kutsinhira

In English means to follow, echoes the melody followed in Kushaura.

Huro/Mahon'era

Traditional Shona vocal styles used to accompany Mbira music.

Bira

A spirit possession ritual at which Mbira is played.

Chimurenga

A style of pop music that came about during the fight for independence in Zimbabwe.

Thomas Mapfumo

Famous Chimurenga singer known for songs about the revolutionary struggle.

Robert Mugabe

Zimbabwe's first leader after independence, known for disastrous economic policies.

Jah Prayzah

Modern Zimbabwe pop musician known for blending traditional music with contemporary sounds.

Stella Chiweshe

Famous Mbira musician who learned Mbira music for both sacred and secular contexts.

Sean-nos

Gaelic-language songs done as a solo, highly ornamented and melismatic.

Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin

Irish songwriter best known for her work in Sean-nos.

Ceili Bands

Rural Irish pop music of the $20th$ century, combining traditional Irish music with early American Jazz.

Gaelic Harp

A type of harp that contains Metal strings and was the instrument of Gaelic chieftains; today it is a symbol of Ireland.

Uilleann Pipes

The characteristic national bagpipes of Ireland, known for its complex, mellow and melodic sound.

Bodhran

Traditional Irish handheld frame drum.

Bouzouki

A Greek chordophone that has since been adapted into Irish traditional music.

Tin Whistle

Six-holed, high-pitched flute.

Irish Flute

Side-blown flute that contrasts the tin whistle, producing a lower tone.

Pub Sessions

Informal gatherings of musicians in which traditional and regional music is played.

Medley/Suite

A varied mixture of music played, often composed from various sections of preexisting music.

Jig

A compound meter in $\frac{6}{8}$, or groups of three.

Reel

A duple meter or in groups of $2$.

Silabh Luachra

Distinct geographical upland region in Ireland, whose regional music is more on the Polka side.

Gaida

Traditional bagpipe found across the Balkan region of Europe, including Bulgaria.

Zurna

Traditional woodwind instrument played in Bulgarian weddings and festivities.

Narodna Muzika

In English means people's music, a term for folk music in Bulgaria institutionalized during the communist regime.

Philip Koutev

Bulgarian composer who founded Bulgaria's first professional and state supported ensemble in $1951$.

Women's Choir

Bulgarian vocal ensemble using drones, tight vocal harmony, and sharp ornamentation.

Ivo Papazov

Originally named Ibraym Hapazof, a Roma clarinetist who popularized Jazz music in Bulgaria in the $1980s$.

Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares

In English, 'The Mystery Of Bulgarian Voices'; a series of album recordings of a women's choir singing Bulgarian Folk Songs.

Popfolk/Chalga

A mix/fusion of American-Euro pop music with traditional/local influences (i.e. Turkish and Roma influences).

Kyuchek Rhythm

A heavily syncopated, energetic beat of Romani music that has influenced Chalga.

Qur'an

The central religious text of Islam, the primary religion of the Arab world.

Hadith

The recorded sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, providing daily life, ethics, and theology of Islam.

Haram

In English means 'forbidden'; in music, some Islamic sects believe music should not be part of worship.

Pop-nasheed

Pop versions of devotional Islamic songs similar to Christian contemporary music.

Tajwid

The set of rules governing the recitation and pronunciation of the Quran.

Adhan/Azan

The Islamic call to prayer, recited five times per day.

Tarab

Arabic term for 'ecstasy', representing a deep interactive connection between performers and audience.

Cairo

The center of classical Arabic music and the premier music hub in the Arab world.

Maqam

The Arab system of melodic notes, divided into $24$ pitches per octave.

Rast

The most common Maqam, featuring half-flats in the $3rd$ and $7th$ degrees.

Hijaz

The oriental interval, also known as the Maqam most heard in western contexts.

Iqa

The Arab system of rhythmic modes based on a combination of low sounds and high sounds.

Wasla

Suite of different vocal and instrumental genres in Arabic music.

Takht

A traditional, small acoustic ensemble considered the foundation of traditional Arab music.

Taqasim

A melodic and non-metric instrumental improvisation in Arab music.

'Ud

A round backed traditional Middle Eastern lute.

Qanun

A large traditional Middle Eastern stringed instrument (zither) consisting of $72-78$ strings.

Riqq

Arabic tambourine.

Nay

Arabic vertical cane flute.

Umm Kulthum

Legendary Egyptian singer and songwriter known as the most iconic Arab singer of the $20th$ century.

Ughniya

Refers to a long, composed song popular in the mid-$20th$ century.