Aboriginal+and+Torres+Straight+Islanders

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 * Aboriginal Music **

Music of an Aboriginal culture is, and always has been, very heavily influenced by their history, background and way of life. It remains a big part of traditional ceremonies, gatherings and can be an aid in communication. Music is used similarly to how Aboriginal people use art (symbols and paintings) to share their culture and educate the future generations.

Traditional ceremonies are mostly based around music and dance to provide entertainment and to share stories. The music often acts as an accompaniment for a group dance routine or prayer There are many characteristics within this style of music that make it very identifiable such as the instruments featured, the style of vocals and the improvised, expressive structures included.


 * Characteristics of Aboriginal Music **

__Tone Colour __ All traditional Aboriginal music is acoustic. Vocals are also a big part of Aboriginal music and they often contradict the beat that is provided by the percussive instruments.The instruments that are often featured in Aboriginal music include:

These clapsticks are most commonly used as a percussive tool to provide a steady beat in traditional, unaccompanied Aboriginal music. A range of rhythms/beats can be created by either clapping the sticks together or shaking them to create a continuous rattling sound.
 * Boomerang Clapsticks



Bullroarers are quite often used in movies that are set in the Australian outback (E.g. Crocodile Dundee). It is made up of a thin piece of wood, which is attached to a long piece of string. The sound is created by swinging the bullroarer in circles in the air, changing the speed to change the sound. Along with being a musical instrument, the bull roarer was/is commonly used as a form of communication between tribe members. 
 * Bullroarer

The didgeridoo is by far, the most well known instrument that is used in Aboriginal music. It is also a distinguishing feature of this style and easy to identify. It is a wooden instrument that requires breath to produce sound. It creates a low, sustained sound (acting as the base) which can be manipulated through using the tongue and cheeks.
 * Didgeridoo



<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Frequently used in Aboriginal music, the skin drum is the main instrument that forms the beat. (the beat can range in complexity – syncopated or basic) The skin is usually made from lizard or goanna skin and the hourglass shaped body is carved out of wood. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Skin Drum

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Seed rattles are used in a similar way to an egg shaker or maracas. The rattling sound creates texture within the piece and is generated by shaking a pod (usually off a tree) that is full of small seeds.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Seed Rattles



__<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Texture __ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">In Aboriginal music, there is almost always a bass line, which is provided by the continuous, low, murmur of the didgeridoo. Over the top of the accompaniment, there is usually a shaker or clapping sticks that can create syncopated or basic rhythms to add texture and interest to the piece. These instruments are typically associated with Aboriginal music and they contribute greatly to the main aspects of music within the culture. Choral and a cappella style vocals are commonly featured in Aboriginal music and contribute to the distinguishing features of the culture.

__<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Pitch __ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">In Aboriginal music, there is big range of pitch. Varying between bass instruments such as the didgeridoo, to female sopranos who sing a high melody line over the top of the bass line. It is also common to have percussion instruments that have no pitch (e.g. shakers) included in the piece. Discordant harmonies are often included amongst vocal lines and is a major factor in Aboriginal music.

__<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Structure __ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Often in Aboriginal music, there is no set structure within a piece. Due to the expressive tone that is created, music is often improvised and therefore lacking in structure.

__<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Dynamics and Expressive techniques __ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Usually, dynamics remain fairly consistent throughout Aboriginal pieces. Most of the common instruments used to accompany the vocals and very loud and therefore, in order to be a featured element in the music, the vocalist has to be loud also. Despite the lack of contrasting dynamics, Aboriginal music is a very expressive style of music, due to the lack of structure and the contrast between melodic and harmonic lines.

__<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Duration __ <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">In Aboriginal music, elements such as the time signature are very hard to identify. Often, the vocal line sings in a different time signature to the instrumental line.

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__<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Bibliography __


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Horton, David. "Traditional Aboriginal Musical Instruments." Aboriginal Art Online. N.p. 2000. Web. Accessed: 18 <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">th <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;"> August. 2014, from- [|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aboriginalartonline.com%2Fculture%2Famusic2.php].


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">No Author "Concepts of Music." Concepts of Music (N.D.). Australian Jazz. 2011. Website accessed- 20 August. 2014, from []


 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 1.5;">Hans W. Telford, "Australian Aboriginal Music" (N.D). Website Accessed - 24 August. 2014, from: <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">[]