803 Podcast

Podcast Summary

The podcast is about Native American music and music from Africa, the Ewe people. The native American music use vocables or sounds to express feelings and emotions but with no literal meaning. Native American music does not use instruments compared to traditional music. It is characterized by distinct music for each tribe, an intertwining relationship between music and life. Also, transmission occurs orally, has a short duration, descending contour. Mostly, the native American music has a spiritual purpose. On the other hand, the African music, specifically the ewe, is characterized by the use of instruments, there is informal enculturation and featured by call and response pattern. They involve a lot of rhythmic patterns together, which makes it complicated. It has lots of repetition for sounds, of the combined instruments applied in one music. The podcast shows that both the Native American music and African music have similarities in the repetition of words and the call and response feature.

Personal Reflection

Music structure depends on the culture and exposure of persons involved. From the podcast, native American music does not include instruments like African music. The Africans were used to making instruments from available resources, which were used in cultural ceremonies and practice. Hence in music creation, the instruments facilitated the rhythmic flow. I also think that African music has an ascending contour due to the involvement of traditional and cultural dances. Native American music is usually slower and descending as it does not involve dances and is meant for relaxation purposes. However, I think that the characteristics that create the difference in the two music patterns bring out the beauty of the two types of music. The features make them suitable for various functions and ceremonies, which make them suitable to listen to, depending on the occasion. The podcast helped determine the difference between the native American and African music, which enhanced my understanding of the setups.

803-DQ #3

Trance is a state of consciousness through sensory overload in the exposure of people to sound, smell, and texture. In the native American rituals, the ceremonies, trance is depicted in the dances and music in the various traditions. The music beat or rhythm influences individuals to have sensory effects that stimulate trance. In brain science, overloading the neural operators of the participants influence their nervous system, which causes physiological and physical consequences with extraordinary physical and mental prowess. These sensory activities lead to vigorous dances and singing. The video adequately shows how the effect that music has on the trance that occurs on people when listening to music. It describes ecstasy as an impact through meditation or sensory implications on an individual. It comes a time when one listens to music and becomes emotional to the extent of crying. I have been there before. As I listened to ‘heal the world’ by Michael Jackson, I could feel the urge to make to improve the world and the condition in which people are living in now. The flow of words and rhythm triggered my sensory nerves leading to physical action on crying.

803-DQ#4

Music in Ghana is the totality of everything. It involves the acquisition of language skills, traditional philosophy of life, development, and acceptance of conventional concepts of life and the community. Ghana has different ethnic groups, each community having the music that they participate in. Performances are conducted on occasions through playing instruments, singing, and dancing. However, participation is not limited to ceremonies, but rather people can play music at any place and while performing various activities. In western culture, music and dances have been differentiated. Some music can be played without dancing. In Ghana, each music has its body movements, whether imagined or danced. In traditional, some beats and rhythms are defined by the dance and body movement. Music is part of education in the Ghana community to help children develop an understanding of themselves. This is different from western culture. Years back, western civilization had the same music composition in every stage of their lives, and people used to listen to music. But at this time, the cultures have developed and involvement in music and dances is less. In the video, I liked the fact that the culture that has been developed by having children indulge in music activities to restore their culture. As children grow, they are aware of the cultural events and norms through music.