MHL 180: Global Soundscapes Exam 2 Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering core terms, concepts, traditions, and musical structures from the MHL 180 Global Soundscapes Exam 2 study guide (Weeks 7–11).

Constellation of Arts

All forms of what we would call "art" (visual art, sculpture, textiles, masks, music, singing, etc.), are interconnected and not "separate."

Enculturation

The process of learning one's culture gradually from childhood.

Cultural Circle

A community that participates and contributes towards each other in all walks of life.

African Hemiola

A term for the sense of polyrhythm created in many pan-African rhythms, by the simultaneous layering of patterns which can be condensed to 3- and 2- feel.

Call and Response/Antiphonal

A leader/group of leaders calls out, and the rest of the group responds.

Patrilineal

A system where society is organized by male lineage.

Polytheistic

The belief in or worship of more than one god.

Destiny

Belief in the supernatural powers of ancestral spirits to aid or harm their descendants, which enforces patterns of social behavior and feelings of solidarity among lineage members.

Jaliya/Jali

Jali- Mande praise singers (muddah); receive alms (gifts, donations, honoraria) for lauding others (the Prophet Muhammad or wealthy patrons).- singing their praise in comparison to mythology or Sunjata Keita- founder of Mali Empire

Jaliya- is the tradition of praisinging itslef

Syncretism

The merging of two or more things (such as religions, musical cultures, or languages).

Melisma

When singers extend one syllable over multiple notes.

Creolization

The intermixing of European and African cultures in the Caribbean.

Worldbeat/World Music

Western music incorporating elements of traditional music from any part of the world, especially from developing nations; traditional music from "other" nations.

Rhythmic cells

A small rhythmic segment without melodic connotations.

Danzón

A rhythm and dance of Cuban musical origins, founded in another Cuban genre called the habanera, also called "creole dance;" the official musical genre and dance of Cuba.

Pachuco Character

Male members of a counterculture associated with zoot suit fashion, jazz and swing music, and self-empowerment in rejecting assimilation into Anglo-American society.

Salsa

A style of Latin American music; most songs considered as salsa are primarily based on son montuno; originally the name used to label several styles of Latin dance music, but now considered its own distinct musical style and a staple of pan-Latin American culture.

Clave Rhythm

Provides the core groove of a salsa son; often played with 2 wooden sticks (also called "clave") that are hit together.

Realism vs. Escapism

The quality or fact of representing a person, thing, or situation accurately or in a way that is true to life VS. the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy.

Circular Migration

The temporary and usually repetitive movement of people between home and host areas, usually for employment (and in this case, in regard to musical interaction).

Art music

Music typically considered to be of high aesthetic value; typically implies formalized structural, theoretical, and performance situations.

Patronage

Support given by a sponsoring person or institution.

Palimpsest

A document or piece of writing material on which the original writing has been edited to make room for later writing, on which traces remain of the original.

Polysemy

A phenomenon where many meanings for a word or phrase exist simultaneously.

Sruti

The foundation of Karnatak performance, meaning "that which is heard"; connects to the primordial sound "ohm" (Ankara), the fundamental vibration that connects all living beings; and refers to the pitch that the Karnatak musician settles on to ground their performance.

Sabhas

Large community cultural centers where Karnatak music is performed, patronized by Brahmin families or organizations, or increasingly, government-funded.

Spiral/Sprouting

Improvisation or exploration of the melody in such a way that moves progressively, building on material that has already happened.

Kriti

A format of Carnatic music composition in Karnatak music.

Tala

A rhythmic framework to Indian classical music, akin to a metrical meter; an ancient concept that is traced back to Vedic hymns; cyclical in nature (also relates to cyclical nature of life in Hinduism).

Raga

A melodic framework of Indian classical music.

Melakarta Ragas

"Parent scales" that contain all 7 notes on the ascending and descending scale.

Gamaka

An ornamentation that is often central to the conceptualization of a svara.

Hindustani Music

The art music tradition of North India.

Raag

A melodic framework with a specific mood, made of a set of notes in a specific sequence.

Taal

A rhythmic cycle with a fixed number of beats in Indian classical music.

Laya

The tempo of the music.

Alankar

Melodic ornaments in Hindustani music, such as meend (long glides) and gamak (oscillations).

Alaap

An unmetered and unaccompanied introductory section where the raag is explored and elaborated.

Bandish

A fixed composition in Hindustani music, typically with a slow (bada khayal) or medium/fast (chota khayal) tempo.

Thaat

A system for classifying raags based on their notes.

Gharana

A specific tradition or style of singing passed down through a lineage.

Jugalbandi

A Hindi word meaning "entwined twins" that refers to a duet in Indian classical music where two solo musicians perform together on an equal footing (involving vocalists or instrumentalists who engage in playful competition of call and response, improvisation, and harmony).

Satsang

A Sanskrit term meaning "company of truth," referring to a spiritual gathering for discussion, reflection, and shared experience.

Bhajan

A type of Hindu devotional song or hymn that expresses love and devotion.

Dhrupad

Meaning "fixed verse" or "immovable verse;" one of the oldest forms of Indian classical music originating from ancient Vedic chants, characterized by a slow, meditative tempo, solemn and majestic singing, and complex melodic and rhythmic structures.

Khayal

A major genre of Hindustani music known for its improvisational and lyrical nature, often exploring themes of romance and mythology.

Karnatak Music

a classical music system from South India that emphasizes intricate rhythmic patterns and improvisation, often featuring vocal and instrumental performances.

Caste

A fixed, hereditary social group into which a person is born, where status, work, and social interactions are strictly restricted by custom, tradition, or religion that determines a person's occupation and social standing in society.

Brahmins

a member of the highest-ranking social class (varna) in traditional Hindu society, historically responsible for spiritual leadership, scholarship, and priesthood

Dalit

members of the lowest social stratum in the Indian subcontinent, historically referred to as "untouchables" or outcasts

Tanpura

a long-necked, fretless, plucked string instrument from the Indian subcontinent that provides a continuous acoustic drone in Indian classical music

Pallavi

the opening verse or refrain of a formal Carnatic composition; it uses sprouting of a rememberable melodic line

Anupallavi

second major section (or stanza) of a traditional Carnatic krithi song, immediately following the Pallavi

Charanam

literally to "foot" or "divine feet" in Sanskrit and Indian classical traditions.; The final and most elaborate stanza. It expands on the narrative, develops deeper melodic and lyrical exploration of the raga, and is frequently used for musical improvisations- ends with mudra- composer’s signature

Rasa

translates to "juice," "essence," or "flavor," representing the flowing nectar of emotional and aesthetic experience in Indian classical music and arts

Mridangam

an ancient, double-headed barrel drum from South India and the primary rhythmic accompaniment in South Indian classical Carnatic music

Veena

wooden plucked lute

24 frets, 7 metal rings- 3 drone, 4 melody

smooth sound- say it sounds closest to the human voice - similar melodic nuance

Svara

“a breath”- center of where notes begin in you

The name of a Sargam note

a musical note or pitch in Indian classical music- like solfege- sa ri ga ma pa da ni

Guru-Shishya Parampara

an ancient Indian tradition of spiritual, intellectual, and artistic mentorship where knowledge is passed down directly from a master (guru) to a chosen disciple (shishya) through an unbroken lineage

Shona

a Bantu ethnic group native to Southern Africa, primarily residing in Zimbabwe

Mbira

Kalimba-like, thumb piano instrument that resides within a gourd; had bottle caps at bottom for buzzier sound

Mbira Dzavadzimu

Native mbria to Zimbabwe, used for religion and recreation

Can represent the voice of ancestors and used as a tool for Zimbabwe independence and pride

Mbira Performance, Practice, and Aesthetics

Political and Spiritual Repertoire

It triggers and maintains spiritual possession

Can have 5-7 in an ensemble & played with 3 fingers

Can be in formal or informal settings

Chuning

Encompass mbira tuning of nontraditional scales, buzzy timbre, and the spiritual connotation of the tuning being intense emotionally- joyful or but heavy and crying

Hosho

gourd rattle

often paired with mbria

creates African Hemiola w/ mbira

mbira does 3 beat rhythm and this does 2

Bira

Sacred African Ritual

The Shona people call on ancestral spirits to possess the living to give them advice or guidance

In houses, pretty informal

It happens all night long; musicians play all night- lots of singing and dancing as well

Happens after the Banya steam bath ritual (smoking out a house) to clear the space of bad energy

Characteristics of Spirit Possession

Crisis- emotional intensity/turning point- marks the beginning of spirit possession

Sensory Stimulation- A lot going on- music, singing, yelling, dancing, lights or lack there of

Noice- lots of it on a high level

In company- happens with other people- in a large group

Amnesia- after possession people don’t remember what happened

Ewe

a large ethnic group of people in West Africa

They were originally from Togo but migrated to the Volta River in the 1600s

Farmed for corn and yams as well as fished as a trade

Polytheistic religon

Patrilineal society- heritage traced through men

They were independed people who opposed centralized power

Agbekor

“clear life”

A war dance of the Ewe people- developed by hunters watching monkeys in the forrest

Has intense drum technique

Father drum, mother drum, elder brother drum, ect…

Mande

in between poeple

history of empires- had institutions of knowledge- Literate

Islamic from Mali Empire

Independently developed agriculture along the Niger river

Mande Caste System

How people fit into political and social groups- NOT SPIRITUAL

Sula- royals- rulers and patrons

Nyamalo- artisans- create art

Horon- freeborn- everyday ppl

Jong- slave decended

Gendered Divisions of Musical Labor- Mande ppl

traditionally men do instruments and women do vocals (speech, and singing)

This is not final just common- women can play instruments and men can sing/speak as well

Kora

the “harp lute”

Calabash body- gourd

21 strings- nylon today, used to be antelope hide

played with thumbs and forefingers

no standardized pitches

bass strings connect physically to the musician- metaphysical connection to the boy as well as both right and left sides

State Identity

Danzón is the state music of Cuba- what it is mainly known from and associated with

Performance Complex

“las alturas de simpson” song from the 1800s made Danzón an official genre

influenced by french and spanish court dancing- “quadrille”

1910s & 20s it reached its final form- with rhythms Cuban son, and son montuno

Urbanization led by Antonio Maria Rameau- created “cuban jazz bands” in the 1950s

Danzón influenced mambo and cha-cha-cha which eventually created salsa

Dance Societies

“Danzónes”

Inseparable from the genre

Created in the 1930s and continues to this day

Can be rural and urban- hosted for ametur dancers

Used to be old, but now young people are exploring nostalgia and heritage- masculinity

Orquesta Típica- for Danzón

1- Cornet, trombones, 2 clarinets, 2 violins, double bass, 2 toms, and a Guiro

2- 8-12 players- strings, bandones, accordions, and rhythm section (no brass)

Charanga

A traditional Cuban dance orchestra that blends European classical instruments with African rhythms.

Charanga Flute

5 holed wooden flute- solo instrument

creole instrument

adds 18th century European ornamentation

high range and percussive articulation

Bandoneon

button accordion

type of concertina- popularized in Argentina and Uruguay- through tango

Held with both hands- played with pushing and pulling motion

Buttons route air through reeds

Slower and more drawn out than other accordions

Cinquillo,Tresillo, & Habanera

Danzón Rhythmic cells

Form of Danzón Music

ABAC/ABACA

Havana

Salsa went from Cuba to Havana in the 1950s where it absorbed foreign influences- like American Jazz and Pop music

New York

After Havana, salsa went to New York with Cuban and Puerto Rican immigrants- this solidified salsa to what it is today

El Barrio

Spanish harlem in NY- the place where Salsa was solidified through the record industry and radio

Impact of Record Industry/Fania Records

1960s- Fania Records created “Latin Motown” based off of African Motown, which played on their radio station, and solidified salsa to what it is today

Remolded Cuban son into salsa

1970s- touring groups sponsored by the record industry made salsa more popular

2 types- hard and soft salsa

Piano Montuno and Conga Tumbao

Repeated rhythms by piano and conga that are prominent in salsa- lots of octaves and parallel motion in piano

Sarod

String melodi instrument similar to sarangi- made of cedar

it is PLUCKED and fretless- sounds like human voice

LH stops the string vibrations

Sarangi

Melodic BOWED instrument

Imitates the human voice- made of cedar

Fretless and played with a bow; RH and LH fingernails

Sitar

Most popular hindustani instrument

Plucked string instrument

btwn 18-21 strings- for melody and drone

Famous through American 70s Psychedelic culture

Ravi Shankar popularized play at Woodstock in 1969

Created by Khurau Khan - 18th century Mughal Empire

Tabla

2 paired drums, made of wood, clay, or metal

Keeps taal time cycle going continuously

Playing techniques- fingers create different strokes that represent syllables- “bols”

can be feature solo or mostly accompaniment

can be used in other genres like folk, pop, or devotional Indian music

Harmonium

Keyboard box instrument

Accompanying role- rare solo

Often plays a drone and echoes the main melody in heterophony

Can’t play harmonic nuances

Bellows pump air through reeds to create different pitches

Brought over from French missionaries to India in the 19th century

Bansuri

open holed bamboo flute of North Indian music

need to change the flute per key

it has a larger bore (cylinder) so it has a deep sound quality

can be a featured solo instrument or accompaniment that adds to the density and texture of a piece and/or add flourishes to the melody

Gharana

A specific tradition or style of singing passed down through blood lineage

All born into it and only do one instrument or tradition

Ex. “the Legendary Dagar Brothers”

Used the desciple-guru system- patrons would support musical families in courts