What are the musical consequences of diaspora?
In this essay I will be considering how diaspora has impacted upon the musical world. I will review examples of how the movement of people within a diaspora influenced and affected musical culture and techniques and describe the resulting changes that the diaspora had on the areas of the world that these people moved to.
In Greek, diaspora means to scatter. In the past, the term diaspora has been traditionally used to describe the dispersion of the Jewish people beyond Israel and the term has been associated with loss, exile and persecution. For many years the word had connotations of tragedy. Today however, the term is used to describe, ‘a community of people who live outside their shared country of origin or ancestry but maintain active connections with it. A diaspora includes both emigrants and their descendants’ (Am I Part of a Diaspora? Link in Bibliography).
Diaspora of African Origin
As African people travelled from Africa to other parts of the world, both as a result of the African slave trade and later migrations, the music and dance forms of this African diaspora influenced many international musical styles and genres, including Caribbean and Latin American music, for example Samba and Salsa, as well as providing the foundations for the musical traditions behind African American Music, for example Jazz and Rhythm and Blues.
‘The majority of sub-Saharan African folk music and traditional music is functional in nature.’
African American music is divided into many subgroups that led to another style, which allowed empowerment. Such styles as spiritual, blues, jazz, r&b, and hip hop created an incredible history.
African music, on the other hand is different from European music. It has a strong sense of rhythm, which means it uses heavy beats in the music. Also, in African music you have the freedom to change or add the melody or rhythm. African Music usually is about daily life and it coveys life events. The “fields call” style plays a really important role in American Pop Music. This style will influence
Jazz is an art form which developed completely in the new world. However, the influence of African and European music spread due to immigration, slavery and trade. Jazz has a complex history which has roots in a diverse range of musical genres. Many factors which affected the development of jazz were intentional. However, many were also circumstantial, and as a result, gave jazz unique elements which otherwise would not be present. Jazz has two main genres of music which influenced it: Western military marches and traditional music which came from Africa and was developed by African Slaves. African slaves, while stripped of most of their culture, were usually allowed to sing vocal songs as they were shown to help get work done. These field hymns originated from the traditional musical practices in Africa, and developed over time. As slaves began setting up escape routes and converting to Christianity, their songs developed coded messages, usually using religious stories such as the Exodus as metaphors for running away. These songs always stayed true to African harmonies, melodies, and rhythms. On the Western side, marching bands were important from the begining of America. At the start of the 19th century, many blacks began being drafted to be musicians in these marching bands. They played an important role in directing the troops in various wars, such as the war of 1812 and the Civil War. After the end of the Civil War, there were many brass instruments in the hands of
The roots of modern american rock and roll music, are firmly planted in Africa. As the native Africans were torn apart from their family’s and brought to the new world their lives were immediately and drastically changed forever. Finding themselves immersed in a completely new environment with a foreign culture, they thankfully persevered and carried on with their own traditions and most importantly to this paper, musical ones. Most American slaves originated from Western and Central Africa. The West Africans carried a musical tradition rich with long melody lines, complicated rhythms (poly rhythmics) and stringed instruments CITATION. The West Africans music was also strongly integrated into their everyday lives. Songs were preformed for religious ceremonies and dances and music was often a
Indigenous traditions, European-derived music, and African-inspired musical activity make up the music of Central America, South America, and Mexico.
Music always played an important role in African American culture, especially Jazz. Being one of the oldest musical genres in North America, it gained a lot of popularity. There were many popular styles, one being New Orleans Jazz dating back to the 19th century. When Jazz is mentioned, years of partying of the Charleston and Jazz bands came to mind. The Jazz age was an outburst of music, art, and culture in America.
Throughout the history of this country, the music of African-Americans has remained a strong influence upon our society and culture. Beginning with the music carried over from Africa with the slaves, up until now, with the new styles created by urban youth today, African-Americans have retained certain elements within their music which makes it unique from any other musical form. Some of the musical forms which were created from, and/or were strongly influenced by afro-centric musical characteristics are: Hymnals, Gospel, Spirituals, Ragtime, the blues, and R&B. While many of these musical forms are still popular today amongst Blacks and Non-Blacks, jazz and hip-hop are arguably the two most widespread and
Jazz dance originated from the African American vernacular dance from the late 1800’s when slaves needed an emotional and physical outlet (Guarnino and Oliver). The slave trade had begun and the slaves were allowed dance on the boats, as it was to keep the slaves fit for their journey to North America. The slave owners took interest in this type of dance (Guarnino and Oliver). They then integrated their European jigs with the music and movement of the African culture (Guarnino and Oliver). Africans primarily focused on the rhythms and the movement of the torso and the Europeans focused on the harmony and the folk dance (Guarnino and Oliver). Jazz dance is blended with tap and musical theatre. It has exciting body movements, percussion techniques, tap steps, and ballet. New forms of jazz dance evolved as different types of music were coming out such as the Charleston, swing, Caribbean reggae, and hip-hop (Guarnino and Oliver).
The evolution of jazz music elevated aspects of African American popular culture for the first time in the United States. Jazz music intrigued many people in every social class. With the rise in the African American music in mainstream culture, there became a respect for African Americans that they had been deprived of for so long. Not only was jazz music founded by African Americans, but dances such as the Charleston were also developed by them. These new changes brought an African American style to a predominantly white cultural scene.
African culture began to spread rapidly throughout Latin America, influencing the music, food, dance, art and poetry.The mix of these African cultures has produced many unique forms of language such as Palenquero, Garifuna and Creole.
The origins of jazz music and dance are found in the rhythms and movements brought to America by African slaves. The style of African dance is earthy; low, knees bent, pulsating body movements emphasized by body isolations and hand-clapping. As slaves forced into America, starting during the 1600’s, Africans from many cultures were cut off from their families, languages and
This can be seen in the tribal music of Africa which consists of drumming and singing. African Americans took hold of the electric guitar and used it to throw poppy grooves over the brass instruments and Jazz was born. Jazz was a type of music that spoke out as a bit of a rebellion against the culture. It was nothing like the music that was played in church, and it was perfect for dancing to. African Americans took hold of Jazz and made it a part of their culture. However racism still ran deep in the American culture and many whites dislike jazz music simply because it was generally performed by black musicians. However white musicians began to play the songs originally written and performed by African Americans, once this began to occur more whites began to appreciate Jazz. Somehow certain whites thought it was ok to listen to Jazz as long as it was performed by other whites. Overall Jazz music was very positive for the American culture because it helped give pride to the African Americans.
The history of American music begins with a fundamental process of exchange through all different social lines, where diverse cultures meet, and mix. Music has and always will be defined as sounds that are arranged in a particular pattern that are played to be meaningful and pleasurable. The chronology of music began in the Medieval period, when chanting was introduced into the Church. Music has then moved its way through many stages: renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic and leading up to 20th century American music. American 20th century music is made up of a diverse number of styles that are reflected by cultural traditions and the era’s of the past. Immigrants from Spain, France, England, Germany and Ireland all contributed and brought their own unique styles to the forefront, hence creating American music. African Americans created influential musical traditions that include rhythm and improvisation that were later combined with European traditions and other indigenous music.
As my own practice is music heavily influenced by the west, I will be exploring the definition of Orientalism and The Primitive and Pagan in Contemporary Art with some analysis of their long history before identifying their effects on today’s western music.
Music plays a significant rule in our lives. It’s a melody and rhythm we live in. It plays a very essential rule in our day to day to life when it comes to expressing feelings, passing time and for other uses as well. Though we in general may not think about how music has changed so much in the past few decades we must acknowledge the fact todays music is the outcome of the various change in the past. Today’s majority of music we hear is what we define as more as a “westernized” music. Considering other cultures in the world, a huge impact of western music is seen within them. Westernization and modernization are two different words with different meanings and they have two different impacts on a society. Modernization is used to define the improvements and show a progressive transition from one stage to another. Westernization is the concept of being influenced by the customs and techniques of the western society and reflecting them in a non-western culture. This essay will discuss furtherly about the impact of the western society on music cultures of North India and Korea by looking from both the positive and negative point of this impact.