Rai, one of the prominent music genres that proofed that music is not only a set of melodies, rhymes and words set together and sang in an entertaining context, but also, and more importantly, a tool, a message and a cultural representative that affects and is affected by history. Rai, a traditional Algerian music genre which has originated from the city of Oran, then emerged toward a global , remains a controversial musical genre until today. Throughout the paper, we will trace the origins of Rai and its traditions until it reached to a global popularity. We’ll discuss the factors that contributed to the success and survival of this genre and the global linguistic approaches used by its composers and performers.
Rai comes from the word “Raa’y”
…show more content…
The “Andalusi” and “Melhoun”. Andalusi music came to the region from Baghdad the original source of the genre. It emerged to Spain between the 9th and the 15th century when Muslims settled there and started to develop its instruments and rules. With the cultural exchange that was brought by the French colonialism, Andalusi music found a new place in the North African countries. It was sung by professionals and musical elites only, who spent years practicing and learning its melodies and “maqamat” at schools or on the hands of experts. “melhoun” on the other hand was sung in “amiya”, the local dialect. It is originated from Bedouins who composed poetry about “historical events, satire, religion, heroism and love. The melhoun was performed by Chiekhs.” ( Noor AlDeen, 2005). The use of the local speech and the poor origins of melhoun singers established the identity of Rai music as a kind of music directed to the poor, which holds no rules and purely reflects the society in which it emerged from. The different sociocultural values and the influences of which each of the two types of music, which has originated from the same region, distinct them from each other socially, politically and historically. In fact, this distinction is the underlying reason of conflict between Rai musicians and government elites in the following years. (Will be discussed further throughout the paper).
Chiekhs were the first to sing Rai. They are men who are well respected in the society and are regarded as wise, honored and prestigious among there people (however, still less prestigious than elite performers who sang Andalusi and other types of music in the region, because they have rural and Bedouin origins). Gallal (drum, “gasba” (flute) and “dourbaka” (another type of a clay drum), where instruments used by Chiekhs to perform music at weddings and traditional or religious ceremonies.
African American religious music is the foundation of all contemporary forms of so called “black music.” African American religious music has been a fundamental part of the black experience in this country. This common staple of the African American experience can be traced back to the cruel system of slavery. It then evolved into what we refer to today as gospel music. The goal of this paper is to answer three main questions. What are the origins of African American religious music? How did this musical expression develop into a secular form of music? What is the future of African American religious music? These questions will be answered through factual research of African American traditions, artists, and various other sources.
Miller, Terry, and Andrew Shahriari. World Music: A Global Journey. New York, London: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group, 2006.
The legacy of slavery is seen today as a type of music, different cuisine, language and slang or festivals. As slaves came from different parts of the world, they brought their different food and music with them. Colonialists would bring instruments from their countries so that they could have music for enjoyment. Slaves who could play musical instruments were valuable. Music from colonialists’ countries e.g. Dutch folk songs was adapted by slaves. Other music that developed was from the Malay and Afrikaans. Instruments such as the “ghomma”, a small drum held between the knees, were created. Denis-Constant Martin said that the Governor of the Cape had a slave orchestra from 1676. The first Capetonian song was in 1707 which was a song that was half Malay and half Dutch. Th...
“How Musical is Man?” was published in 1974. This book was written by John Blacking, a musician turned social anthropologist. His goal in writing this ethnography, and several other papers during this same time period, was to compare the experience of music-making that takes place within different cultures and societies throughout the world. In this book, he discusses and describes the musicology of the Venda people in South Africa. Though he does go to Africa to research and learn about the Venda people and their music, he specifically states that his book is “not a scholarly study of human musicality” (ix), but rather it is a summary (written from his point of view), which is both expressive and entertaining, of several different issues and ideas that he has seemingly been contemplating for some time.
"Music is a common experience and a large part of societies. In fact, anthropologists note that all human communities at all times and in all places, have engaged in musical behaviours. Music as a mode of human activity is a cultural phenomenon constituting a fundamental social entity as humans create music and create their relationship to music. As cultural phenomeno...
Many African immigrants came to the United States from West Africa, they arrived by force and were seldom permitted freedom of expression, and as a result, songs were used to voice their subjugation and desire for autonomy. As stated in class, in 1619 the first African immigrants arrived in Jamestown, Virginia, the expansion of the plantation system in the southern colonies required cheap labor, but the work was taxing. Countless slave owner’s repressed African culture (this included foreign language and dancing), they wanted to foster a docile attitude and thwart potential revolts. African slaves had a natural affinity for musical expression, the traditional and cultural roots of West Africa were assimilated into the musical styles of African immigrants in America, the music of West Africa provided social solidity and many songs were sung with merriment and unified daily life.
It a combination of creativity and passion, which put together in a pattern of sound to help created perfectionism in the human mind, that could be pass down from generation. Music can be enjoy differently in various different cultural and it could have different impact on listeners but the common ground that all music have on human is it gave us pleasure in listen to it pattern of beat that might or might not trigger the hormones in our brain to simulated the necessary emotion when listen to it, but the only thing we know it that no matter what a person consider to be good music or not, it still an element that growth in our brain from the day we born to gave us the joy of being able to enjoy
Music played a very important role in the lives of people is diaspora communities. It served as a reminder for the immigrants of their homeland, which allowed them to proudly express their national and cultural identities. Diaspora refers to an international network of communities linked together by the identification of a common ancestral homeland and culture. People in these communities are no longer living in their homelands, with no guarantee of a return either. (Bakan, 19). Music played a large role in African diaspora communities. This was first started by the slave trades many years ago when slave traders traveled to the coast of West Africa to capture Africans and brought them back to the United States to be slaves on plantations. Slaves were more prone to loose a sense of their own culture because every new aspect of their lives was forced upon them, therefore they were undoubtedly forced to abandon their n...
Music is one of the most powerful and influential language which to many people in
During the course of this semester, the several musical styles that have been discussed and analyzed have displayed various similarities and differences. These differences in certain musical elements have accounted for the distinctiveness and uniqueness of each style of music. The culture behind these countries’ music adds even more to their individualism. Cultural aspects such as religion play a huge role in the music of each country as well. Styles of music in Africa might be more upbeat than certain styles in India, for example. Some cultures use music in religion, while others may not. Aspects such as dance are important factors in all three types of music. Despite the differences and similarities, however, without music, these cultures would perhaps not be as fascinating and unique as they are now.
“The parallels between musical and linguistic boundaries are obvious” as stated in author Peter M...
Music before the 20th century was very different when compared to the music of the 21st Century. There were distinctive occasions for each type of African music. West African music, the African Diaspora, and the music of the Colonies each had different musical instruments.
The Latin American music scene is an amazingly diverse, engaging and entertaining music culture. Thomas (2011) explains, “…Latin American music has engaged in ongoing dialogue and cultural exchange that has profoundly affected music making in Europe and the United States and, more recently, in Africa and Asia as well”. This paper will be describing different aspects of the music culture from its musical features, to the historical aspect of this interesting music culture. Also, I will discuss a personal experience with Latin American music. After researching the music culture, I attended a concert performed by Boogat, an Emmy award nominated Latin American musician from Quebec who has toured all over North America.
The influence that music has throughout the world is immeasurable. Music evokes many feelings, surfaces old memories, and creates new ones all while satisfying a sense of human emotion. With the ability to help identify a culture, as well as educate countries about other cultures, music also provides for a sense of knowledge. Music can be a tool for many things: relaxation, stimulation and communication. But at the same time it can also be a tool for resistance: against parents, against police against power. Within the reign of imported culture, cross cultivation and the creation of the so-called global village lies the need to expand horizons to engulf more than just what you see everyday. It is important to note that the role of music in today’s world is a key tool in the process of globalization. However, this does not necessarily provide us with any reasons that would make us believe that music has a homogenizing affect on the world.
Music has played a role in society since the dawn of man. Said to be the beginning of communication in early civilization, music and dance have influenced how we think, act and treat members of our own society. Song and dance is used in rites of passage ceremonies such as births, weddings and funerals throughout the world. Jamaican and Yoruba cultures have made many contributions to our society. The uses of this music as a vehicle for political issues, values, and beliefs have been used by many musicians from different cultures. I intend to discuss the Contribution of these two contemporary cultures music and their effect on society.