music

Impressionism

Philosophical and aesthetic term borrowed from the late 19th century, characterized by the style of French painting after Monet’s 'Impression, Sunrise'.

Claude Debussy

First impressionist composer, known for his significant contributions to music, although he vigorously rejected the label.

Expressionism

A musical style characterized by a higher level of dissonance, extreme contrasts of dynamics, and distorted melodies.

Arnold Schoenberg

Composer who invented serialism, evolving from expressionism.

Afrobeat

A fusion of West African music with Black American music.

Apala (Akpala)

Nigerian musical style intended to wake up worshippers after fasting, originating from the Yoruba tribe.

Jive

Lively South African music that accompanies a swing dance similar to jitterbug.

Call and Response

A musical structure consisting of two distinct phrases, where one phrase is answered by another, usually rendered by different musicians.

Marabi

Three-chord township music, significant in South African musical history.

Shekere

A traditional percussion instrument known as the rattle.

Agidigbo

A thumb piano used in various African musical traditions.

Kwassa-Kwassa

A popularized dance rhythm from Zaire in the 1980s, associated with the artist Kanda Bongo Man.

Juju

A Nigerian musical genre that relies heavily on traditional Yoruba rhythms.

Blues

A music genre characterized by its expressiveness and soulful nature.

Extreme contrasts of dynamics

A hallmark of expressionism, featuring sharp shifts in loudness and softness.

No cadences

A feature of expressionist music where traditional points of resolution are avoided.