Characteristics of Non-Western Music Lesson

Marimba Image Non-western music is music that grew out of a different culture or musical tradition than the European. For someone who grew up listening to Western music, Non-Western music will have a recognizably exotic sound. This comes from the use of different tuning systems, different scales, different vocal styles and performance practices, and different approaches to melody and harmony. Non-western music is closely linked with drama, dance and religion. Music can serve as entertainment, important accompaniment to everyday life, magic rites, and ceremonies.

Non-western music is generally passed down from generation to generation through word of mouth. Most likely from parent to child or teacher to student. Notation is not as significant and improvisation is preferred. Performers usually base their improvisations on traditional melodic phrases and rhythmic patterns. The voice is an essential instrument and singing is the most important way of making music. Many various instruments that are native to that country or region are used. Instruments can be divided into four main types:

Chordophones - is any musical instrument that makes sound by way of a vibrating string or strings stretched between two points. What many would call string instruments are classified as chordophones. Violins, guitars, lyres, and harps are examples
Aerophones - is any musical instrument that produces sound primarily by causing a body of air to vibrate, without the use of strings or membranes, and without the vibration of the instrument itself adding considerably to the sound. This class includes the harmonica, the didgeridoo, brass instruments, and woodwind instruments.
Membranophones - is any musical instrument which produces sound primarily by way of a vibrating stretched membrane. Most membranophones are drums but can include singing membranophone, of which the best known type is the kazoo.
Idiophones - is any musical instrument which creates sound primarily by way of the instrument's vibrating, without the use of strings or membranes. Most percussion instruments which are not drums are idiophones. They include all idiophones which are made to vibrate by being hit, either directly with a stick or hand (like the wood block, singing bowl, steel tongue drum, triangle or marimba), or indirectly, by way of a scraping or shaking motion (like maracas or flexatone).

There are many musical instruments not listed above that are indigenous to certain parts of the world. In non-western music, melody and rhythm are emphasized; musical texture may be monophonic, polyphonic and/or homophonic depending on the location.

Can you match the instruments with their category? Try in the activity below!

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION