This article is framed towards those interested in creating a world music function band. Those performing traditional African and Indian folk songs whilst also playing contemporary songs with a world twist.
Members of a world music band should aim to be:
- Excellent sight readers
- Have the ability to work in non-contemporary time signatures and tunings
- Multi-instrumentalists
- Dedicated musicians
- Able to improvise effectively, both solo and as a group
Using different rhythms
Unlike contemporary popular music, which tends to keep to a 4/4 time signature, many genres of world music use more complicated signatures, which may catch beginners off guard.
For example, the popular Gaelic folk song “The Skye Waulking Song” is in a 12/8 time signature, whilst traditional African musicians often jam in 9/8.
On the other hand, Indonesian/Java Gamelan music, a genre which plays different versions of the same melody often unfolds without a conventional time signature To complicate things even further, some world music appears to almost have no time signature at all!
Involve the audience
Similarly to a ceilidh or barn dance band, a world music band that involves the audience may be an important component to a successful world music group. Simply by clapping in time, dancing or singing a line back in a call and response style will undoubtedly make for a fun experience, both for the performer and audience.
Introduce new instruments
Whilst a band performing world music genres will be able to improvise using contemporary guitars, basses and percussion, the best way to achieve an authentic sound is to play the traditional indigenous instruments to a specific region.
This may include African drums such as a djembe or ashanti ntumpani which are often played with sticks, or the African kora, a long necked harp with many strings.
Other musicians and instrumentalists a band may want to include in their line up are sitar, bouzouki and sarangi players.
- Djembe drum: An African drum, traditionally carved from a hollowed trunk and covered in goat skin. Usually played with the hands.
- Wurlizer piano: A keyboard without strings – the sound is produced by a combination of steel reeds, hammer action and a pickup. Used in Celtic folk music.
- Bouzouki: A Greek long neck lute
- Sarangi, An Indian fretless bowed instrument which is played in the lap. 36 ‘sympathetic strings’, 3 main strings.
World Fusion
Taking into account western audiences, bands may want to perform material from a specific world music genre and contemporary popular music in the same style.
This is often done by bands such as Caribbean Harmony and Grupo Carnival who perform contemporary pop songs in a style traditional to the Caribbean or Brazil.
Sources
- https://musicalalmanac.wordpress.com/tag/gamelan/
- https://www.lastminutemusicians.com/search/specialist_musicians.html
- https://www.lastminutemusicians.com/search/world_music_ensembles.html
Do you perform in a world music band? Let us know about your band and what you do in the comments below!
