MINDANAO INSTITUTE

United Church of Christ in the Philippines

Mayor B. Atega St., Brgy. 10, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte

GRADE 10 MAPEH LEARNING HANDOUTS IN MUSIC

About the Lesson

In this lesson, you are about to explore and experience Afro-Latin American music through engaging
different types of activities. As you go through the lesson, remember the most essential question in this lesson:
How important the characteristics of Afro-Latin American music and Popular music?
Despite their diversity, traditional African musical forms share some common traits. The emphasis is placed
more strongly on rhythms than on melody and harmony. Repetition is use as an organizing principle on top of
which improvisation is built. African music is mostly performed by groups of musicians, frequently employing
polyphony, polyrhythm, and a conversational style of music and interlocking.

Lesson Objectives
In this lesson, you are expected to:
a. distinguish the musical elements and characteristics African music and Latin-American music;
b. listen and analyze the dance styles, instruments and rhythms of African music and Latin-American
music; and
c. perform a selected African music style.
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Afro-Latin American Music and Popular Music

We use the term Afro-Latin to describe types of music from Latin American countries that were
influenced by the black slave population that came from Africa and was forced to establish itself mostly in
major port cities. When the slaves were brought over, the only thing they really could bring with them was
culture; whether it was music, dance or religious beliefs, they attempted to preserve as much of their rich
cultural heritage as possible in their new country. This led to very interesting musical developments, as Latin
American countries found themselves to be a melting pot of native individuals, slaves and European colonies.
Thus, what we refer to as Afro-Latin music is simply music that evolved due to various cultures being
immersed with one another, influencing one another musically. Their music is identified by their rhythms,
which they adapted from the elements of Moorish music and African and Caribbean music in the slave trade
from 1550 to 1880. This developed a unique musical culture in countries in the Caribbean, and its influences
include Latin rhythms and dances.

WHAT IS AFRICAN MUSIC?

Africa has always the technique of “call and response” in which a person leads by singing a phrase and
followed and answered by group of singers.
Music is an integral part of African ethnic life, accompanying many kinds of event, including childbirth,
marriage, hunting, and even political activities. Many cultures use song and dance to ward off evil spirits, and
pay respects to good spirits, the dead and ancestors. The role of music and dance are tightly woven together in
sub-Sahara Africa, and music intersects with every aspect of life, expresses life through the medium of sound.
African music also helps to connect people together in a variety of ways, strengthening the fabric of the
community. Another crucial role of music in Africa is a mode of communication. Talking drums, signal drums,
songs, and the sagas of the historian griots each communicate different types of important information. The
majority of sub-Saharan African folk music and traditional music is functional in nature. There are, for
example, many different kinds of work songs, ceremonial or religious music and courtly music performed at
royal court.

Vocal Forms of African Music

1. Blues - This is a gloomy folk music of African American origin which is naturally in a twelve bar order.
2. Soul - This kind of music combining the basics of rhythm and blues and gospel music which was
popularized by the African-Americans.
3. Spiritual - This kind of music is always with a Christian or Religious theme.
4. Call and Response - This is a sequence of two different phrases usually played by two or more
musicians

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What is Maracatu?

African Maracatu rhythm uses the Toada which begins with singing a song leader and with a response in
chorus by the subordinates.Baque or Toque is considered as the rythmic pattern used in Maracatu. Today,
Maracatu is a combination of music for processional ceremony, theater and dance. Maracatu is the ceremony of
the Coronation of the Black Kings in 1674 in Recife. This coronation of a king in Congo when the Portugese
were still the ruling government in Brazil was about dedicating a king who will represent the African slaves to
their masters.Each king is a representative of a nation or tribe. This designation of the king is called
MaracatuNacao.

WHAT IS LATIN AMERICAN MUSIC?

Latin American music is a fusion of African music and the music of European slave owners from
countries such as Spain and Portugal. Latin music will tend to be played solely with European instruments.
Latin music can be quick in tempo, but so can African music. It depends on what particular style you are
pertaining to. Latin American music also has Spanish influence. The rhythm and styles of Latin American
music are influenced by the United States and other countries in Europe like Spain and Portugal. It is a
combination of four music elements, musical styles, cultural backgrounds, language, and geography.
The slaves brought with them to America a strong rhythmic tradition as far as drums were concerned.
Though they were not allowed to own musical instruments, they carried their rhythmic influences into the genre
of the “work song” which they developed to enable their hard physical work to progress through, on many
occasions, complete physical exhaustion. Work song later became one of the strands of music from which jazz
grew.

INSTRUMENTAL FORMS OF LATIN-AMERICAN MUSIC

Latin music developed as a mixture of musical traditions from around the world and this means that it is
actually pretty open when it comes to instruments. There are few restrictions as far as what is and is not
allowed. Latin music has always embraced a certain freedom of experimentation.
Latin American music is particularly characterized by its prominent use of percussion instruments. Each
of the major traditions contributed percussion instruments that remained in common use. The indigenous
cultures had slit drums, single-headed small drums, cup-shaped ceramic drums, double-headed drums (e.g.,
bombos), and a great variety of shaken rattles (maracas), scrapers, and stamping tubes. Drums, of course, are
important, as are the sticks often used to beat the clave rhythm, which, incidentally, are also called claves. The
percussion section may also include shakers, like maracas or tambourines. Again, percussion is pretty important
to Latin music. Brass instruments, such as trumpets and tubas, are popular for the melodies and harmonies, as
are guitars, which can play both melodies and rhythms.

VOCAL AND DANCE FORMS OF LATIN-AMERICAN MUSIC

But, of course, we can't talk about Latin music without also talking about dance. Dance is integral to
Latin music and really the driving motivation behind it. Latin America is full of dances, from the rumba to salsa
to cha-cha to samba. Each of these are distinct but generally emphasize a rhythmic strutting with the hips in a
pattern of advancing and retreating. Two steps forward, two steps backwards, that sort of idea.

Some Vocal and Dance forms of Latin-American Music

Vocal and Dance Forms of Latin-American Music

Cumbia It is a type of dance and music similar to salsa and uses instruments like accordions,
guitars, and percussions
Tango This is a lively and spirited dance of two people. It is a passionate kind of dance that
shows expression and connection, and is performed in a traditional or modern style.
Cha-cha This is a Latin American ballroom dance with the basic pattern of three steps with a
shuffle. It has a fast rhythmic pattern.
Bossanova This is a style of music that was derived from samba, which is an original Brazilian
music. It gives more emphasis on percussion and melody.
Pasodoble It is a Spain’s traditional couple dance. It uses music that is traditionally played in
bull fighting.
Reggae This is a Jamaican form of music and dance with strong, accented and
supplementary beats. In the 1960’s, it was known as the ska and is a variation of
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 rhythm and blues. The popular artist of this genre was Bob Marley.
Rumba This is a kind of song and a dance that originated from Cuba with a percussive
rhythm and a combination of Cuba’s musical and dance traditions.
Roxtrot It is a ballroom dance of two slow steps and two quick steps and is executed
alternately in 4 / 4 time signature.

WHAT IS AFRO-LATIN AMERICAN MUSIC AND POPULAR MUSIC?

The term Afro-Latin American refers specifically to people of African ancestry and not to European
ancestry, such as Sub-Alpine European white.
African Music is a rich and diverse cultural heritage that exists in hundreds of different languages. They
usually perform by singing and using percussion instruments played either by hands or with sticks, drums, ad
others and they use them also for communication to convey news, to teach, to tell a story and for religious
purposes; this includes the Maracatu.

HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND OF AFRO-LATIN AMERICAN MUSIC

European colonization and slave trade in Africa. Latin America is comprised of different regions
such as the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, and Central and South Americas which are of diversified cultures of the
European, Moors, Mexicans, and other tribes in Africa. Afro – Latin American music adopted Moors Music
and other African and Caribbean rhythm in 1550 – 1880.

CHARACTERISTICS OF AFRO-LATIN AMERICAN MUSIC

Their music is identified by their rhythms, which they adapted from the elements of Moorish music and
other African and Caribbean music in the slave trade from 1550 to 1880. This developed a unique musical
culture in countries in Caribbean and it influences include Latin Rhythms and dances like habanera and Bolero
in Cuba, Samba and bossa nova in Brazil and Tango in Argentina

1. Conversation: "Call and Response" - a performance of voice interaction as an answer to the first chant
2. Improvisation - Non scripted ways of singing that allow for sincere conversations. It is a framework
where the artist has freedom in creating musical mood
3. The Voice as an instrument - it is the manipulation of a freely controlled piece where they can change
the tone of voice,its tempo, the creation of moods, and even changing the range and voice power
4. The instrument as a voice - the instrument serves as a "singer" along with the performer

The music of Latin America refers to music originating from Latin America, namely the Romance-
speaking countries and territories of the Americas and the Caribbean south of the United States.[1] Latin
American music also incorporates African music from slaves who were transported to the Americas by
European settlers as well as music from the indigenous peoples of the Americas.[2] Due to its highly syncretic
nature, Latin American music encompasses a wide variety of styles, including influential genres such as
son,rumba, salsa, merengue, tango, samba and bossa nova.

Other Afro – Latin American Music

African Music Latin American Music

1. Maracatu 1. Ballad 6. Rock
2. Blues 2. Bossa Nova 7. Reggae
3. Soul 3. Tango 8. Foxtrot
4. Spiritual 4. Jazz Rock 9. Cumbia
5. Call and Response 5. Hip Hop

POPULAR MUSIC
Popular of Modern Music or “pop music” is an ample and imprecise category of Modern music not
defined by artistic considerations but by its potential audience or prospective market.

Types of Popular Music

1. Ballad
2. Rock and Roll
3. Alternative Music
4. Disco
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BALLAD

 a light simple narrative poem of folk origin, composed of short stanzas and adapted for singing
 is a simple song, especially one of sentimental or romantic character

ROCK AND ROLL

 started with pride in 1950s, the characteristics of which are simple melodies with accented beats.
 a combination of white country music, rhythm, and blues .

ALTERNATIVE MUSIC

 It is a do-it-yourself type of music of different musical bands.

 its distinction from typical rock music, It is expressed by distorting the guitar sound in a different and
defiant attitude.

DISCO MUSIC

 Started in 60’sand use music for dancing or for encouraging to dance.

 Usually played and enjoyed in nightclubs where songs are mixed by DJs.

Reference:
 The 21st Century MAPEH In ACTION. Worktext in Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health.