Music 271: 3/12/07
II: The Acculturative Process: African-American adaptations of European traditions and instruments:
A: The simultaneous preservation of African musical practices and values:
• “Turkey in the Straw” - Fiddle tune fondly remembered by former slaves
B: African-American musical activity during the ante-bellum period: why was the violin so appealing (Part II): (GB p. 63-64)
• Fiddle is capable of playing music from the West African traditions
• Possible for a fiddler to swing, play blue notes
• Africans had a bowed string instrument back in their homeland (Called: Gonje, Goge, Riti)
• Used to waken the chief, alert the village etc.
• Fiddle = 4-stringed gonje from the African viewpoint
C: Returning the favor: black influences upon white music in the southern Appalachians:
• Blacks taught the whites how to play the fiddle more rhythmically than previously
• Documentary notes:
• First encounter of a fiddle by a white Appalachian
• Meeting point for cultures
• Ballad of John Henry - “Steel driving man”
• Dancing - Played for square dances, waltzes et al.
1. American vernacular dancing: another arena of acculturation:
• Combines European dances with the African steps
• Movement begins at the hips and the two halves of the body (upper and lower) move against that