Yiri Music Essay
Yiri Essay
Rhythm
There’s a drum ostinato throughout the whole piece. There are cross rhythms near the end which are the effect produced when two conflicting rhythms are heard together. There’s a common use of syncopation, which is when notes are played off the beat. The metre throughout the piece changes, however the main one is 4/4. Polyrhythm is used, which is when two or more rhythms with different pulses are heard together eg where one is playing in triple time and another is playing in quadruple time, three against four. The whole piece is quite upbeat, which suits its purpose – it is sang in celebrations.
Instruments
One of the main instruments is a balafons, which is an African version of a xylophone, except it is made of wood. There are two types of drums – the djembe, which is a drum played with the hands. There’s also the talking drum (donno), which is played with a hooked stick and imitates voices, as it can be played in different pitches. There’s the vocal parts, and at the end, the cowbell plays one note.
Structure
The piece has three different sections – the introduction, main section, and the coda. The introduction consists of the balafons playing a monophonic tremolo, in free time. Then the drums set in with a ostinato and they set a pulse. They play until the cowbell at the end. In the main section, there’s also balafon breaks, and the use of call and response between the voices, balafons and drums. The coda is the same melody created by the balafon three times, but varied slightly each time.
Vocal parts
The musicians are split into a solo singer and a chorus. During the choruses, the group sings together. The solo singer sings ‘Yiri’ and also creates the call and response. The chorus, much like the balafon, sing short falling phrases emphasising the tonic and dominant notes of the piece. The group sings in octaves.
Texture
The intro is monophonic, played by the balafons, but changes into heterophonic as soon as the drums step in.
Rhythm
There’s a drum ostinato throughout the whole piece. There are cross rhythms near the end which are the effect produced when two conflicting rhythms are heard together. There’s a common use of syncopation, which is when notes are played off the beat. The metre throughout the piece changes, however the main one is 4/4. Polyrhythm is used, which is when two or more rhythms with different pulses are heard together eg where one is playing in triple time and another is playing in quadruple time, three against four. The whole piece is quite upbeat, which suits its purpose – it is sang in celebrations.
Instruments
One of the main instruments is a balafons, which is an African version of a xylophone, except it is made of wood. There are two types of drums – the djembe, which is a drum played with the hands. There’s also the talking drum (donno), which is played with a hooked stick and imitates voices, as it can be played in different pitches. There’s the vocal parts, and at the end, the cowbell plays one note.
Structure
The piece has three different sections – the introduction, main section, and the coda. The introduction consists of the balafons playing a monophonic tremolo, in free time. Then the drums set in with a ostinato and they set a pulse. They play until the cowbell at the end. In the main section, there’s also balafon breaks, and the use of call and response between the voices, balafons and drums. The coda is the same melody created by the balafon three times, but varied slightly each time.
Vocal parts
The musicians are split into a solo singer and a chorus. During the choruses, the group sings together. The solo singer sings ‘Yiri’ and also creates the call and response. The chorus, much like the balafon, sing short falling phrases emphasising the tonic and dominant notes of the piece. The group sings in octaves.
Texture
The intro is monophonic, played by the balafons, but changes into heterophonic as soon as the drums step in.