Description
Book SynopsisWritten by one of the best-known academic writers on African music, On African Music is a collection of seven essays addressing various techniques, influences, and scholarly approaches to African music. After a concise introduction spelling out the rationale for the book, successive chapters develop answers to questions such as: How does a minimalist impulse animate creativity in Africa, and does Western minimalism differ from African minimalism? How do we explain the prevalence of iconic effects in African expressive forms? How has (European) tonality functioned as a colonizing force in African music? Why is the (written) art music of the continent talked about so little when it has been in existence since the middle of the nineteenth century? How might the discipline of music theory be rejuvenated by aid from Africa? What are the strengths and limitations of ethnotheory as a methodology? Who is who in theorizations of African rhythm, and how might we explain the shape of the existing
Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. The minimalist impulse 2. Iconicity in musical thought and expression 3. Tonality as a colonizing force 4. African pianism and the challenge of art music 5. Rethinking music theory, with African aid 6. Against ethno-theory 7. African rhythm studies: A sketch and a critique Epilogue Bibliography Index
