Music of the African-American Diaspora
This is the term for handclapping and singing in rhyme.
What is hambone?
This is the national religion of Haiti. More than 80-85% of Haitians practice this monotheistic religion.
What is Vodou?
This is the chant used in yoga and at the beginning of Hindu recitations to connect with the divine.
What is Om (Aum)?
This fretted, plucked lute is a popular instrument in Hindustani (Northern Indian classical) music.
What is a sitar?
This Lwa is a powerful spirit associated with snakes. Often depicted by the Catholic iconography of St. Patrick.
Who is Danbala?
These African-American religious folksongs relate to social concerns, especially slavery. Some examples include "Wade in the Water", "Amazing Grace", and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot".
What are spirituals?
A rhythm which makes use of two or more different rhythms simultaneously. A common example is "3 against 2" or "2 over 3".
What is a polyrhythm?
This is a scale used in Indian music that represents an expressive mode (nava rasa = 9 sentiments) or specific melody type.
What is a Rag or Raga?
This pair of tuned drums is the rhythmic instrument in Hindustani (northern Indian classical) music.
What is the Tabla?
He is the avatar/incarnation of Vishnu. He is often depicted as blue, plays the flute, and has the ability to make others fall in love.
Who is Krishna?
This genre of music came out of the 19th century Holiness Movement. It is a combination of musical forms including spirituals, blues, and jazz.
What is Gospel?
This is a term within Vodou that refers to a "nation" or family of spirits.
What is nanchon?
This is the rhythmic cycle used in Indian music. It is a fixed organization of beats with 17 different drum strokes. The mnemonics of this rhythmic cycle are called "bols".
What is Tala?
This double-headed drum is the rhythmic instrument in Carnatic (Southern Indian classical) music.
What is a Mridangam?
In Vodou, this Lwa is the spirit of love, beauty, and childbirth. She can take multiple forms.
Who is Ezili? (Ezili Freda & Ezili Dantò)
Talk, recitation, chant, son-chant and song are parts of this preaching phenomenon.
What is the Sung Sermon Continuum?
This is the term for language in kreyòl. Often this term refers to the sacred language of Haitian Vodou rituals and often borrows terms from French.
What is langaj?
The term "Sruti" in Sanskrit refers to the tonal center of Indian music compositions. It is based on Sa and Pa, what is the English translation of this term?
What is a drone?
This plucked lute with a large gourd resonator is a popular instrument in Carnatic (southern Indian classical) music.
What is a Vina?
In Hinduism, these two deities are cosmic lovers, destined to long for each other.
Who are Krishna and Radha?
This specific type of church was seen as a social center with a distinct preaching style; an exemplary example of the Black Church.
What is the African Methodist Episcopal Church?
This is the practice of combining different beliefs and various schools of thought. For example: Vodou is a ___ religion, combining Catholicism and various African religions.
What is syncretic?
Ramayana and Mahabharata are two examples of this oral poetic tradition.
What are Hindu epics?
In Haitian Vodou rituals this sacred rattle is used to lead ceremonies and communicate with spirits.
What is an ason?
In Hinduism, these three gods form the Trimurti or Hindu trinity, representing the cyclical nature of existence: creation, maintenance, and distruction.
Who are Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva?