MUS 185 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Mbira
22 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Reggae is perhaps jamaica"s most well-known export. Rural music originally (origins: early 20th century) Instrumentation: banjo and guitar, bongos, rumba box: similar to a thumb piano (but much larger!) and provided the bass line. Jamaican calypso : much in common with trinidadian calypso music. Key musical feature: playing on the offbeats in the banjo. In the 1960s, jamaican musical tastes begin to change but why: technology (in terms of how music was listened to: stereo, american r&b influence, developments in electric instruments, the dj phenomenon (sound systems) Retained the offbeat emphasis (aka skank ) in the rhythm instruments (guitar, hi-hat) Reaction to ska music: return to lyrical content. Rude-boy culture (note: rude= hip/cool) social commentary very important. Important musical characteristics: tempo slowed back down as compared to ska. Bass line: melodic in nature; use of rest or space in the bass line.
