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VOCAL FORMS

OF AFRICAN
MUSIC
Maracatu
Maracatu first surfaced
in the African state of
Pernambuco, combining
the strong rhythms of
African percussion
instruments with
Portuguese melodies.
The maracatu groups
were called “nacoes”
(nations) who paraded
with a drumming
ensemble numbering up
to 100, accompanied by a
singer, chorus, and a
coterie of dancers.
Blues
The blues is a musical form of the
late 19th century that has had
deep roots in African American
communities. These communities
are located in the so-called
“Deep South” of the United
States. The slaves and their
descendants used to sing as they
worked in the cotton and
vegetable fields.
The notes of the blues create an
expressive and soulful sound. The
feelings that are evoked are
normally associated with slight
degrees of misfortune, lost love,
frustration, or loneliness. From
ecstatic joy to deep sadness, the
blues can communicate various
emotions more effectively than
other musical forms.
Examples of blues music
are the following:
• Early Mornin’,
• A House is Not a Home
and
• Billie’s Blues
Soul
Soul music was a popular music genre of
the 1950’s and 1960’s. It originated in the United
States. It combines elements of African-
American gospel music, rhythm and blues, and
often jazz. The catchy rhythms are
accompanied by handclaps and
extemporaneous body moves which are
among its important features. Other
characteristics include “call and response”
between the soloist and the chorus, and an
especially tense and powerful vocal sound
Examples of soul music are the
following:
• Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
,
• Ben,
• All I Could Do is Cry,
• Soul to Soul, and
• Becha by Golly Wow.
Spiritual
The term spiritual, normally associated with
a deeply religious person, refers here to a
Negro spiritual, a song form by African
migrants to America who became enslaved by
its white communities. This musical form
became their outlet to vent their loneliness
and anger, and is a result of the interaction of
music and religion from Africa with that of
America. The texts are mainly religious,
sometimes taken from psalms of Biblical
passages, while the music utilizes deep bass
voices.
Examples of spiritual music are
the following:
• We are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder
,
• Rock My Soul,
• When the Saints Go Marching In
, and
• Peace Be Still.
Call and
Response
The call and response method is a
succession of two distinct musical phrases
usually rendered by different musicians,
where the second phrase acts as a direct
commentary on or response to the
first. Much like the question and
answer sequence in human
communication, it also forms a strong
resemblance to the verse-chorus form in
many vocal compositions.
Examples of calls and
response are the following:
• Mannish Boy by Muddy
Waters; and
• School Day - Ring, Ring
Goes the Bell by Chuck
Berry.

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