Sound of Africa

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Text Box:   African Music Sound   In many African music cultures, there is a desire for “noisy” sounds.  Devices are used to create a buzzing sound in many instruments.  For example, on the enanga harp, scales are fixed on the instrument in such a manner that the vibrating strings will touch it.  This gives a crackling effect to the sound.  Another example are membranes made from spider webs attached to the openings of resonators in some types of xylophones.  In singing, one can often also meet raspy or rough qualities, very unlike the vocal ideal of western music. Also, African music seems to have an agitated or flustered quality to its sound; you will never hear a subtle, quiet lullaby in African literature.  Only pieces that are rhythmically driving and upbeat are found in African culture.             www.google.com/images Sound of Africa

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