Flash #2
"MUSIC IN SOUTH AFRICA" is a CD-ROM (PC only) that covers aspects of all musics and that isn't focused on South African music.
This program is designed to make the user aware of different elements and styles in music. Interactivity is a learning feature incorporated in this computer program.
Content Awareness of
- Elements of music
Pitch, tone colour, dynamics, duration, form etc.
- Music Styles
Art Music
Western art music (Baroque, classical, 20th Century, etc.)
Indian art music
South African music (Grové; Khumalo)
Popular Music
Luisterlied
Christian popular music
South African popular music (jive)
Folk Music
African folk (Mbira, etc.)
Boeremusiek
Cape Malay
The characteristics of music and music styles are analyzed step by step and illustrated with text, graphics, pictures and audio excerpts, simply by clicking on the MORE button, the REF button (the bibliography is an interesting extension) and on the FURTHER arrow in all pages. The instructional design by Irene le Roux, (Telematic Learning & Education Innovation, Pretoria) stays essential and doesn't overflow with sophisticated features. However, at the end of the western art music periods for instance, you can check your knowledge of the entire unit: the interactive CD-ROM gives you feedback by analyzing your answers. Clicking on the AUDIO button, you can e.g. follow the lines in musical progression on a transparent way. Indeed, the visualization aspect supports the holistic learning of strange and complex aspects e.g. dissonant harmonies and cross rhythms. Look at the indian art music pages with visualization, audio excerpts and essential information about raga, tala, etc. Look below to have an impression of the power of the instructional presentations. Of course, I recommend to listen especially to the African folk music. The Ndhlamu dance audio-file is impressive. Don't forget to click on the song in which Miriam Makeba (Johannesburg) makes extensive use of the click sounds of the native Xhosa language.
Subject expert Hetta Potgieter from the Department of Music at the University of Pretoria explains: "Polyrhythm is a western perception of African music. It seems as though the various levels of music activity imply different meter."
All descriptions about basics and styles are related to the main idea of the CD-ROM : "Music affects us as a holistic experience, primarily because it is an integrated art form. How can one understand the musics of various cultural groups or different styles?"
Artist Kim Zimmerman designed the graphical pages which accentuate the holistic approach.
Scroll down. Please wait for downloading all pictures
This wonderful CD-ROM ( ISBN 1-86854-303X , released 2000) can ordered from the Business Enterprises at University of Pretoria (Pty) www.be.up.co.za or email to: C. Da Silva <cdasilva@hakuna.up.ac.za>.
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