Kabarak University

School of Music and Performing Arts

Bachelors Music Theory, Composition and Performance.

Y1S2

Task: Discuss the Challenges involved in conducting African irregular and polyrhythmic ideas or music

Unit Name: BMUS 120-Music Theory and Musicianship 2

Name of student: Mary Mkavita Mnjama

Admission Number: BMTC/M/3009/0/19

Lecturer: Dr. Shitandi Wilson

Date of Submission: 26/3/2020

One of challenges of conducting African irregular rhythms is the divisions of the beats. Unlike regular rhythms, irregular rhythms cannot be divided equally therefore it becomes a challenge to the conductors to find a suitable way conducting that will effectively communicated to the performers.

One of the challenges conducting African music with various polyrhythmic ideas is that many rhythms are played at once and this can be confusing to the conductor this is because he is supposed to  conduct the whole ensemble despite the fact that they are playing or sing various polyrhythms. 

Most African Music has different time signatures within one song. This can pose a challenge to the conductor trying to shift from one style of conducting of a current time signature to a different style of conducting a different time signature.

Conducting of irregular rhythms and polyrhythms can pose a challenge to the conductor when trying to indicate a change of dynamics. This is because the conductor is conducting so many different rhythmic ideas at ago.

Various rhythmic ideas and polyrhythms can also pose a challenge to the conductor while trying to cue in the performers since in one ensemble the different performers are playing or sing different rhythms it because a challenge to effectively cue them in at the same time with the correct conducting style.