MUSI245

This course offers an introduction to music in sub-Saharan Africa, from the question of origins to contemporary developments. Class lectures will cover sociohistorical issues as well as guided listening and discussions of musical structure, lyrics, choreographic and scenic adjuncts and performance contexts. In-class viewings of excerpts from documentary and feature films will offer the student occasions to explore visual aspects and social contextualizations of African music No prior musical training is required; training in basic musical analysis will be part of the course curriculum. Requirements include five short written assignments (3-5 pages each), a mid-term and final exam. Students may need to travel off campus in order to attend a music concert, if an appropriate concert is not presented on campus.