Yiri - by Koko

African Music in Society

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African music has a major impact on the rest of the world because many of its features spread via the
slave trade.
A lot of music in Africa is performed by professionals. Families of griots (praise singers) were attached to
tribes and would perform at important events.
Drums have special significance in Africa. They dont play the instrument they teach it to speak.
The vocal inflections can be imitated by the talking drum to communicate.
Music is nearly always part of any social gathering.
Music is combined with speech, dance and vibrant costumes to produce exciting and dramatic
performances.
Music is frequently linked to movement which is regarded as an important mode of communication, as
important as the music itself.
Music is learnt and passed on through oral tradition/orally.

The set work is

made
up of 3 main
strands:

Yiri by Koko
-

Koko are a
group of 6
musicians

Koko come from

the West African
country of
Burkina Faso

1) Balafon
ostinati
2) Drum

Djembe

Balafon

Talking drum

Bell

Structure

1. Solo balafon improvisation

2. Solo balafon ostinato
3. 2nd Balfon enters
4. Drums enter and there is a prominent 1 quaver, 2semi-quavers beat
5. Vocals enter in unison - Chorus
6. Changes between Call & Response vocal sections and balafon breaks (there are some
vocal solos and improvisations)

7. During the final section (the coda) the balafons and drums keep pausing. The piece ends with a
bell.

Yiri - by Koko

key words

In the exam, you will have to answer questions about a specific section of
the piece. Below are some keywords to help you wil this. Not only do you
need to know the definitions of the words, you also need to be able to pick

African Features
Improvisation Music is made up on the spot. Opening section.
Call and Response A call is played/sung followed by the response. A
musical converstation had between the voices and balafons.
Polyrhythm 2 or more different rhythms being played at the same time .
Repetition The repeating of ideas.
Cross-rhythms A rhythmic device where rhythms either go against the
regular pulse or where 2 or more rhythms work against each other, e.g triplets
against quavers.
Syncopation A rhythmic device where rhythms are performed off the beat or
on weak beats with the rests on the strong beats. As the balafon ideas develop.

Textures
Monophonic One musical idea (at the start)
Heterophonic Varied versions of the same tune happening at once (once the
2nd balafon enters)
Polyphonic 2 or more different ideas happening at once (as the drums and
voices enter)

Other

Ostinati Short musical ideas that are repeated

Tremelo Rapid repetition of a note
Free tempo/unmetred No sense of pulse. Beat is impossible to find
Sense of pulse A pulse is obvious and clear
Triplet A rhythmic device where three notes are played in one beat
Octave The 2nd balafon comes in an octave lower
Tonality of G flat major The key that the piece is in. This key relates to the
notes on the Balafon
Tonic The first note of the scale so in this case G flat. Will be heard a lot in
the piece.
Dominant The fifth note of the scale so in this case D flat. Will be heard a lot
in the piece.
Fill A short improvised flourish played by the djembe
Break An instrumental solo
Chorus A section that returns in a piece
Solo A part for one instrument. Can have some accompaniment underneath
the solo.
Pentatonic scale A scale consisting of 5 notes. The vocal parts in this piece