Yiri by Koko Yiri by Koko
Today you will… Recap Yiri by Koko info learnt last lesson. Learn about the instruments used. Learn about the melodies & tonality used.
Where is this music from? The West African country of Burkina Faso
Official Language French, but 90% of the population speak tribal languages of the Sudanic family.
Cultural Context Yiri is a native folk music piece from Burkina Faso. Much of the music here is traditional folk music. Yiri is celebration music for bringing a person out to honour them (usually an older person).
Structure Introduction (1st balaphon) Theme (1st balaphon) 12 variation verses(1st balaphon/group singers/solo tenor) Coda (drums play louder/rhythmic accents/more improvisation)
Structure continued The overall structure is strophic (AAAA). The piece consists of a set of variations over an ostinato.
Texture Light Polyphonic Heterophonic
Instruments Used Talking drum – a traditional WestAfrican drum. It was originally used to send messages across open plains. Balaphon – a wooden xylophone of West Africa. Cowbell – this is only used right at the end of the piece. Singers – they sing in unison & use the high tenor range as doe the solo tenor singer.
Melodies & Tonality The music begins in Db major It then quickly moves to Gb melodies moving against a pentatonic ostinato on Db. The tonic is Gb as the melodic phrases consistently end on that note. The music is diatonic.
Dynamics Mostly mezzo forte Crescendos & diminuendos at the beginning. Coda is forte
Moderate except at the beginning where the tempo is quite free.
Lyrics The lyrics are in a native tribal language & there is no translation currently available.