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    Dance Music Notes

    Uploaded by

    Kathryn Judd
    sheet

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Dance Music Notes

    Uploaded by

    Kathryn Judd
    336 views4 pages
    sheet

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

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    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

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    sheet

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    336 views4 pages

    Dance Music Notes

    Uploaded by

    Kathryn Judd
    sheet

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 4
    At a glance
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    The passage discusses various styles of traditional and folk music and dance from different cultures around the world.

    Irish dance music often uses compound time signatures like 6/8 or 9/8 and features instruments like the uilleann pipes, bodhran and fiddle.

    American line dance music often uses a ballad style with a single melody line and simple harmonies while the dance is performed in lines with choreographed steps done individually.

    Irish Dance

    Jig: Compound time - 6/8, 9/8 etc.


    Reel: Simple time - 2/4, 4/4 etc.
    Dancing: Step dance, fast and energetic, often in lines.
    Features of music:
    narrow melodic range
    simple harmonies
    occasional counter melodies
    fast tempo
    ornaments
    Main instruements used:
    Uilleann piped (Irish pipes)
    Bodhran (Drum)
    Fiddle

    African A Cappella
    Features of music:
    call and response
    songs often have meanings (violence, alcohol abuse etc.)
    warm tone quality with voices blending together
    wide range of pitch
    vibrato and additional vocal sounds
    o shouting
    o tongue rolling
    o clicking
    o use of the glottle
    clear phrases - sometimes repeated
    Chorus sometimes sings in unison and sometimes in harmonies.
    Lots of syncopation (rhythmic device) - off beat
    Mbube style - singing loudly
    Isicathanya - light singing

    American Line Dance
    Features of dance:
    Dancers stand in lines all facing same way.
    Perform the same steps with no physical contact
    Use moves like: boot scoots, grapevines and heel digs.
    Features of music:
    ballad style songs (emphasis on lyrics)
    single melody lines
    simple harmonies (often 'tonic - dominant' bass line,
    crotchet rhythm)
    regular 2-4 bar phrases
    'verse-chorus' structure (often with an introduction)
    slides, glissandos
    4/4 time signature
    steady crotchet movement in bassline
    Instruments:
    guitars
    steel guitar
    violin
    banjo
    harmonica
    accordian
    drums

    Bhangra
    Features of dance:
    Energetic hops, steps and leaps
    Originates from Punjab (uses Punjabi language)
    Musical features:
    Chaal - The essential backing rhythm pattern.
    Dhol - The double headed drum for playing the Chaal
    Shouts of 'Hoi' from backing chorus
    fast tempo
    4/4 time signature
    verse - chorus structure
    Main instruments:
    itar
    tabla
    harmonium
    tumbi
    sarangi

    Disco
    Features of dance:
    Improvised dancing
    individual of in a group
    Musical features:
    '4 on the floor drum beat'
    rhythm guitar often supports high hat
    usually fast tempo - around 120 bpm
    lots of syncopation
    strong bassline

    Salsa
    Features of dance:
    Originated in Cuba
    partners held close
    steps in 4 beat patters
    spins and holds
    upper body remains upright
    Musical features:
    Son Clave - essential backing rhythm pattern
    emerged in 1960s
    influenced by American Jazz
    highly syncopated
    lots of ostinato - repeated rhythms of phrases
    complex cross rhythms
    melodies harmonized in 3rds and 6ths
    often has a montuno section - improvised
    Instruments:
    brass instruments
    flutes
    singer
    spanish guitar

    Tango
    Features of dance:
    partners held in very close hold
    lots of fast leg movements
    Musical features:
    moderate tempo - moderato
    dotted rhythms
    syncopation
    minor key
    melody can be chromatic
    Instruments:
    Bandonean (accordian)
    violin
    piano
    bass
    castanets

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