Roots of African American Music

Introduction

Music is a way of conveying message and allows people to relate to particular cultures. Different cultures have varying styles of music that communicates about the things they embrace in addition to values important to the society (Rentfrow et.al. 2011). Music further plays different roles such as entertaining and advising. Therefore, as a form of art, music helps individuals relate in different societies and brings people together. There are different genres of music that serves different purposes in the society such as traditional, secular and gospel (Rentfrow et.al. 2011). When playing music, different instruments accompany the singer and they add to the flavor of song. However, the instruments relates to the foundation culture where there music originates. In America, African American music is significantly identifiable with African culture (Rentfrow et.al. 2011). Instruments such as drums are visible in most of the music and their style matches that in the African culture (Floyd, 2008). It is common to find some of the music having a soloist where other people join in responding to the song. Actually, African culture has significantly influenced the style and mode of music ion African Americans. 

Origin of African American Music

Africa Americans origin is in Africa where they went to America through the slave trade that was rampant in the past (Green, 2015). However, slaves had different restriction from their masters and they had relatively low access to literacy classes. Therefore, they passed music orally from one generation to the other. However, during this process there were frequent changes that took place in the music genre. Indeed, it was possible to listen to single music sang differently by different musicians depending on their generation. The music from the African cultures plays the role of bringing together communities and giving hope to the people (Green, 2015). During the slavery period, music enabled the slaves to have conviction that their freedom would eventually come. Some of the famous African America singers during the slavery period include Jim Crow (Floyd, 2008). The musician sang religious music, slave songs and folk music. Through music, the musicians in association with some Africana American students entertained whites and raised some money to boost their career. Through the funds, the musicians were able to erect Jubilee Hall, which served as a venue for musical performances (Green, 2015).

There are reports that America music originated from Caribbean, the locality of cultural synthesis of Afro-Americans (Green, 2015). However, most of the music derived its aesthetics from African background. Indeed, through slave trade, the slaves did not only give Americans free labor but they offered gift of music culture. The dances in the music and the rhythm reflect African culture where most of the music is performance. The visual, artistic and aura nature of music reflects some tradition in the African culture (Green, 2015).  Indeed, the music genre reflects different aspects of life through the sound medium and performances. Some researchers posit music as a birthright of majority of African children. It helps in training them and preparing them to face the changing dynamics of life. For instance, lullabies which area sang at era lay age of child development act as a way to sooth children and offer them reasons why they need to keep quiet(Floyd, 2008). Therefore, the form of music serves as a platform for conveying different messages that shape the life of the child as he grows (Green, 2015).  During the early age, the child only listens to the music but later he engages actively in music as part of culture in the society.  

Actually, significant number of African children shows natural music aptitude at relatively young age (Green, 2015). Children engage in music when they are playing and they use tins as music al instruments to add flavor to their music. The ability to make rhythmic sounds from the makeshift instruments supports the inherent nature of music in Africans (Yuki & Kimberly, 2015). However, the music does not only entertain the children but prepares them to take different roles such as dances, hunting, fishing and farming as they grow up. During the slave trade in early 1800s, the slaves’ music was evident during their journey (Green, 2015). The incidences made the slaves lively and they were courageous to face the new life in their strange land. Despite the slaves in different ships coming from different ethnic groups and languages, music brought them together. It was through their drumming that they were able to communicate rebellion calls and sorrow in their slavery land (Green, 2015). The music evident in African American portrays triumph of self-reinvention and culture transformed from cruel conditions (Green, 2015).Presently, the styles and rhythms of music with African roots continues to overcome political, economic and racial barriers and reenergize popular classical music. 

African aesthetics influence majority of music played and enjoyed in America due to its recognizable energy. Through combination of unique rhythms in company of musical device with African origin, the music is interesting (Green, 2015). The unique rhythm and drumming that accompanies most of the song results to individuals getting a conviction to dance. The patterns and polyrhythm add to the effect of the music to the listeners. African instruments such as horns, shakers and rattles form polyrhythmic impulses that recombine and renew sound textures (Yuki & Kimberly, 2015). The organization of calling and responding in a group song is also evident in African American music. The soloist acts as the caller and the other singers keenly respond depending on the themes and the pattern of the music. It is also possible to find African American music that expresses different sentiments with the aim of influencing corrective action. 

In a genre such as Calypso, singer evokes eroticism and satire besides entertaining the audience (Thompson, 2015). Reggae on the hand portrays messages that aim at challenging the society on need to support love. Further, message of embracing social justice is also evident in reggae. Therefore, the genre acts as a medium of communicating the relative importance of all people regardless of their race. The blues convey information that offer commentary on hardships that slaves mad ex-slaves undergo and needs to offer freedom (Thompson, 2015). It is also common to find African American notes relaying on bending blue notes that are identifiable with African music. The use of high-pitched tones and African drum further shows the influence of African culture in American music(Yuki & Kimberly, 2015). There is also evince of percussion instrument like scrappers and clappers that help produce patterns of African rhythm. The evidence supports a close connection between American music and African culture. 

There is evidence of combination of long and short notes in America music that illustrates its close association with African music (Mehring & Redling, 2017). Complex rhythms such as those in Marimba song characterize the formation of African music (Munyaradzi & Zimidzi, 2012). The song starts with some basic pattern of chores that gradually changes as the music continue. The progress adds interest in the song and listeners feel entertained. It is also common to find variation in tones in African songs that serve to emphasize some message in the music. American music also shows this pattern for example in Singonki song that uses complex rhythms (Munyaradzi & Zimidzi, 2012). However, significant complex rhythms are variable in marimba ensembles and drum ensembles where whistling, clapping and dancing are evident (Munyaradzi & Zimidzi, 2012). Another characteristics of American music borrowed from African culture is clapping of bystanders as music is playing. The audience has a unique way of clapping where uniform claps are evident. Indeed, during the ensembles the leaders of the music signals the singles of change of tempos and the singers follow such changes with ease (Munyaradzi & Zimidzi, 2012). The incidence is evident in American music where a director uses different gestures on his singers to control their tones and rhythms.   

During slave trade period in America, the African American played European music because the Anglo Americana consider engaging in music as a low profile affair (Djedje, 2016). There was issue of some states in America prohibiting use of instruments such as drums in music but some slave-owners provided strings and fiddles. The slave-owners gradually banned music that relied on drums and instead preferred Eurocentric music. The incidence resulted in African American developing creative patterns that lead to rise of music with neo-African roots (Djedje, 2016). Further, they were able to transform the available European music o fit African aesthetic. The impact is fusion of European and African musical forms in an effort to maintain African culture (Djedje, 2016). The trend of music is variable in present African American music that is a blend of western and African culture. Therefore, a significant number of music genres in America have some elements of folk music characteristics of African origin. Country music that is common in America relies on basses, guitars, harps and kazoos (Mehring & Redling, 2017). The resonance is influence of African culture in development of music in different categories such as spirituals, hollers, shouts, blues and work songs. Early America occupied by Anglo-Saxon, had relatively weak heritage in music thus the influence of African culture in America’s music (Mehring & Redling, 2017). 

The Africana culture does not only influencer the secular African American music but is evident in sacred music sang in places of worship (Kirk-Duggan, 2014).  The music that is available in churches dominated by blacks in America has significant relations with African culture. In some of the music, there are spiritual chants that relate to issues such as exorcism and offers hope to the people (Kirk-Duggan, 2014).  The type of songs mostly basis on biblical imagery and texts and are set tie allow congregational participation. Therefore, through choral arrangement, an entire congregation is able to sing along with the soloist during religious services. The church leader intonates few verses of a song and the congregation joins to continue with the music (Flandreau, 2016). During performance of this type of music, the African American use electronic instrument in accompaniment with horns and strings. The music matches African culture that codifies theological message through holistic approach for the congregation. The sociocultural consciousness of African culture show the manner the music plays. The performances in African American churches rely on individuals learning music through rote and they take significant deal in interpretation (Flandreau, 2016). When playing the music, the emphasis is on ability of performers to handle music variables and embrace visual dimensions that add to the taste of music.  

Conclusion

There is a significant evidence of African culture playing a role influencing the music in African American society. Indeed, the influence from early slave trade on music is evident.  However, despite the harsh conditions the slaves were facing, they were proud of their African culture and they would often engage in music. Music was acting as a form of consolation and communication during the slavery period. Music in Africa starts at early age where children learn about music from their parents who sing lullabies. The children use different makeshift instruments to make drums they beat during their various games. The incidences makes most Africans grow knowing how to play some instruments and likeness of music. It is common to find some percussion instruments such as shakers and clappers accompanying some African American music. Drum is also common in addition to horns that support modern electronic instruments. In the churches, a trend of engagement of soloists leading a song and the congregation join is also common in African American population. Therefore, the influence of African culture is relatively identifiable with the music genre in the African American population. 

References

Djedje, J. C. (2016). The (Mis)Representation of African American Music: The Role of the Fiddle. Journal of the Society for American Music, 10(1), 1-32. 

Flandreau, S. (2016). African and African-Influenced Sacred Music. The Journal of Traditions & Beliefs, 2(6), 1-6. 

Floyd, S. A. (2008). Black Music and Writing Black Music History: American Music and Narrative Strategies. Black Music Research Journal, 28(1), 111-121. 

Green, V. B. (2015). African-Derived Music of the Americas. American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 5(5), 1-7

Kirk-Duggan, C. A. (2014). The Matrix of African American Sacred Music in the 21st Century. The Journal of Traditions & Belief, 1(3), 1-14. 

Mehring, F. & Redling, E. (2017). Introduction. Sound and Vision: Intermediality and American Music. European journal of American studies, 12(4), 1-5. 

Munyaradzi, G. & Zimidzi, W. (2012). Comparison of Western Music and African Music. Creative Education, 3(2), 193-195. 

Rentfrow, P. J., Golgberg, L. R. & Levitin, D. J. (2011). The Structure of Musical Preferences: A Five-Factor Model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 100(6), 1139–1157.

Thompson,  I. (2015). African American Creative Arts: Dance, Literature, Music, Theater and Visual Art from Slavery through the Harlem Renaissance. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 5(1), 71-80

Yuki, F. & Kimberly, A. N. (2015).  Media, Racial Identity, and Mainstream American Values, Howard Journal of Communications, 26(4), 352-380.