African American Music Then and Now - How the Melodies and Rhythms of Prior Times are Sampled/Interpolated in the Music of Today
MUSC 703.1
From its roots, African American music has laid the foundation for the melodies and rhythms that move our lives and has spread its influence globally.
What you can learn.
- Learn about griots and the origins of the tradition with regards to the Mandinka people (Mali Empire) and the Guinea region of West Africa
- Gain context on the rise of anticolonial nationalism within Francophones like Guinea (Conakry) and the music born from its independence
- Explore the relationship between the griot tradition of West African cultures and African-American music through Hip-Hop and Jazz
- Examine sampling & interpolation coupled with live demonstration of the technique with references to select modern songs
About this course:
Great music, no matter the era or genre, starts with a spark. It starts with inspiration. From its roots, African American music has laid the foundation for the melodies and rhythms that move our lives and has spread its influence globally. This seminar explores how African American musical tradition gives us the tools to build a wide variety of songs, but also the means to innovate and add to the country's cultural music lexicon. From artists like Usher, J. Cole, Omarion, Ella Mai, and even Ariana Grande, we’ll take a deep dive through the layers of composition, samples, and interpolations in order to understand the griot-like nature of African American music.Contact Us
Speak to a program representative. Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm.
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