Toto - 'Africa'

Background Information:

• Africa was written by David Paich and Jeff Porcaro

• It was recorded in 1981 and released in 1982

• The genre is soft-rock

Elements of Music:

Melody

• Mostly conjunct

• Wide vocal range

• E-pentatonic scale

• Syllabic

Articulation

Dynamics

• Mostly mezzoforte (moderately loud)

• Chorus is forte

Tempo

• Moderately fast

Structure

• Pop/Verse-chorus structure

• There are repeated sections as well as a D.S. al Coda

Harmony

• Diatonic

• Chord pattern A - G#m - C#m is in every section apart from the chorus

Instrumentation

• Drum kit + other percussion

• 12-string acoustic guitar

• Synthesisers

• Recorder

• Vocals + Backing vocals

Rhythm

• 2/2

• Ostinato

• Syncopation

Texture

• Homophonic

• Melody and accompaniment