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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Pitch and tonality in contemporary African music: Nigerian gospel music as a case study
Author:Adedeji, FemiISNI
Year:2005
Periodical:Research Review (ISSN 0855-4412)
Volume:21
Issue:2
Pages:1-10
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs., ills.
Geographic terms:Nigeria
West Africa
Subjects:religious songs
Art, Architecture, Music, Drama
Gospel music
Tonality
Musical pitch
Composition (Music)
Abstract:Like melody, language and rhythm, pitch and tonality are major indicators of African identity in music. In traditional African musical forms these elements are obvious, but in contemporary African musical expressions which are influenced by several external factors, it is necessary to know the extent to which the elements have been retained and the level of acculturation. In this regard, this paper examines the tonal elements of gospel music in Nigeria, an important genre of contemporary African music. Employing musicological, historical and analytical methods, it looks at several works of artists covering 12 distinct styles of the genre and drawn from the three major sections of the country. It observes, among other things, that contemporary African music as reflected in Nigerian gospel music still retains African pitch and tonal structures to a certain degree and concludes that meaning in African music is indispensable. It stresses the need to preserve Africanness in pitch and tonality and recommends that Nigerian gospel music should be used by African music composers as an additional compositional source. Bibliogr., notes, sum. in English and French. [Journal abstract]
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