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Chủ Nhật, 3 tháng 8, 2014

The Different Origins Of Ghana Music

By Imelda Reid


When it comes to music, there are several genres. This could not be more true when it comes to Ghana music. Ghanian melodies can be very diverse depending on what part of the country an individual may be in at the time.

Different parts of country have musicians which have produced and distributed material on Blu Rays, DVDs, VHS tapes, CDs and Vinyl. Styles are very different in different parts of the country. For example, Sahelian style features melody and stringed instruments. Whereas, the North and South are more prone to percussion than wind or string instruments.

Set to a minor chromatic or pentatonic scale, notes flows almost effortlessly with these combination of instruments and voice. Praise singing is also a popular form in the area. Griot, somewhat like mild chanting or story telling is also quite popular. Most often, regardless of style, vocals are accompanied by some type of drums, bells or stringed instrument.

Northern styles are set to a minor pentatonic or chromatic scale and melisma plays an important part in melodic and vocal styles. There is a long history of northern styles also being inclusive of the griot and praise-singing traditions.

Coastal styles are often associated with social functions. These style rhythms rely on complex patterns played on bells and drums. Like many other parts of Africa, there is also a strong correlation between drum and dance. One of the most popular attractions at many festivals and shows in the United States and around the world are that of African drummers and dancers from Ghana.

Religion in the area is also associated with coastal tunes. With one exception, the music is of a chanting, storytelling or vocal accompanied by harp-lute which is a derivative of the stringed harp. The most well known drums in the region are of that of the adowa and kete with bells. While this music may be associated with different religions, it should be noted it is the religion that sought out the religion and not vice versa.

Ghana won her independence in 1957. Ghana while rich with Caribbean flavor, still retains its own musical identity. The 20th century saw the onset of pop. A style that became known as High-life became quite popular. Pop-dance has been quite popular since the 70s. Like many other genres, it too has been known by many different names over the years.

High-life combines elements of soukous, ska, rock, jazz and swing. Ghanian traditions found a pathway into the United States in the late 60s and early 70s. While successful, it was not the level of success some had expected. The music also became popular albeit only briefly in the U. K. One of the main success stories of Ghanian music is that Osibisa's Afro-rock which became quite well known in the 1970s.

Guitar bands and other genres were popular during the 70s. Prior to that time, music of the depression, 40s, 50s, and 60s was often more easy listening than rock and roll. Later, when German-Highlife took over the scene, a rendition of burger-highlife was also founded by Ghanian based Germans. George Darko has always been one of the best known musicians of Ghana, partly because he founded this new genre of polka like rock and roll.




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