Musical Links Investigation

Paul Simon and the Soweto Gospel Choir

Access Code: gzh526

Soweto, South Africa Demographics

❖ Population: 1.3 Million ❖ Ethnicities: Mainy Black❖ Religion: Mainly Christian❖ Languages include: Zulu, Sotho,

Tswana, and Tsonga❖ Size: 77.23 Square Miles❖ In the region there were many

serious riots in 1976, only stopping after the first multiracial elections were held in April 1994

History of South Africa❖ 1497: Portuguese explorer Vasco

da Gama landed on the natal coast

❖ 1652: Jan van Riebeeck, representing the Dutch East India Company, founded the Cape Colony at Table Bay

❖ 1909: Britain’s official takeover of South Africa

History of South Africa Cont.

❖ 1948: Apartheid policy set in place

❖ 1994: Apartheid abolished

❖ Apartheid: Racial segregation and political and economic discrimination against non-European groups in South Africa

❖ The Apartheid was abolished mostly due to the work of Nelson Mandela

❖ Created in the 1930’s when the white government started separating blacks and whites

❖ Became the largest Black city in South Africa ❖ Soweto Uprising: Black activists led

anti-apartheid movements➢ In 1976, 3,000-10,000 South African

students marched peacefully against the apartheid. They were met with armed police officers, which triggered another widespread revolt throughout South Africa

History of Soweto

Culture of Soweto❖ Large tourist destination, largest

in South Africa❖ Still has much of traditional

South African culture such as traditional art, but in the 20th century, these were scattered by the apartheid policies

❖ Lots of choirs, many take enjoyment in singing

Music inSowetoSoweto Gospel Choir:

❖ Comprised of church choir members

❖ Dedicated to “sharing the joy of faith through music with audiences around the world.”

Ladysmith Black Mambazo❖ Formed in the early 1960’s by

Joseph Shabalala, a young South African farm boy turned factory worker

❖ Became large and famous in the 1970’s and 1980’s

❖ In the mid 1980’s, Paul Simon visited them to help form his “Graceland” album

Music in Soweto cont.

Youssou N’Dour❖ Senegalese singer/songwriter❖ Described as “perhaps the most

famous singer alive” in much of Africa, by rolling stone magazine

❖ Combined with Paul Simon and the Ladysmith Black Mambazo to work on Simon’s “Graceland” album

Music heavily based on choir music with traditional drums

“Modimo” by the Soweto Gospel Choir

❖ Modimo: Sotho word for “god”❖ Key: F Major❖ Begins with female vocal soloist, then the rest of the ensemble joins in❖ Soloist remains throughout the song

(Skip to 18 seconds)

Musical Excerpts

Common South African

Instruments

❖ Mostly choir music, therefore mostly just voices

Djembe❖ Comes in many

different sizes and tones, making it quite versatile

Djun-Djun(Skip to 2:00)

(Link to Djembe music)

Paul Simon❖ Born on October 13th, 1941 in New Jersey, US❖ Attended Queens college (New York) and received a bachelor's degree in

English, and went on to study law but then quit to pursue music❖ He combined with Art Garfunkel to form “Simon and Garfunkel” in 1963

❖ Simon and Garfunkel

❖ Simon and Garfunkel

Simon and Garfunkel❖ Popular in late 1960’s❖ 1968: Their soundtrack to “The Graduate”

starring Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft (as Mrs. Robinson) hit #1

❖ April 1968: Their new single “Mrs. Robinson” hit #1

“Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” by Paul Simon

About the Song

❖ In 1985, Paul Simon traveled to South Africa to record with many local artists.

❖ The song was released in April of 1986 on the “Graceland” album

❖ The Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing in Zulu, a traditional South African language

(Start at 10 seconds, then skip to 1 min)

(Link to the music video for “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes)

Excerpt of “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” ❖ Key of E Major❖ Beginning written by Paul Simon and

Joseph Shabalala (the founder of the Ladysmith Black Mambazo)

“Diamonds on the Soles of Her

Shoes”

Vs.

“Modimo”

Instruments Used in “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes”

Fretless Bass Guitar

Acoustic Guitar

Electric Guitar

Alto Saxophone

Trumpet

Tenor Saxophone

Percussive/Vocal Instruments Used

Ladysmith Black Mambazo Choir

Drum SetDjembe

Drum Set

Compare/ContrastSimilarities:

❖ Dynamics gradually grow throughout the song

❖ Repetitive melodies❖ Repetitive background choir❖ Simple duple meter

Differences:

❖ “Modimo” begins with soloists, whereas “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” has a vocal soloist, but begins with the choir, soloist comes in later

❖ Instrumentation ❖ Different theme

➢ “Modimo”: God➢ “Diamonds on the Soles of Her

Shoes” simply tells the tale of a rich girl and a poor boy

Secondary LinkDynamics, both pieces build into a larger and more upbeat sound with the use of the full ensemble.

Primary LinkBoth pieces are homophonic. Throughout both there is a main melody sung by the vocal soloist.

Works Citedhttps://www.sahistory.org.za/places/sowetohttps://saspecialist.southafrica.net/mz/en/topics/entry/en-sowetohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhQ_v0vxpN8https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sowetohttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0800328/biohttps://www.simonandgarfunkel.com/timeline/http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/africa/06/15/inside.africa/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14094918https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apartheidhttps://buzzsouthafrica.com/apartheid/https://www.sahistory.org.za/topic/june-16-soweto-youth-uprisinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_South_Africahttps://www.moafrikatours.com/soweto-a-place-to-visit/https://www.sowetotour.co.za/tours/soweto-tour-morning-program/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djembehttps://orangewoodguitars.com/products/echohttps://www.sowetogospelchoir.com/

Works Citedhttps://www.songfacts.com/facts/paul-simon/diamonds-on-the-soles-of-her-shoeshttps://www.interstatemusic.com/27846-Archer-SS10-Blues-And-Rock-Jr-Electric-Guitar-Package-Black-SS10JRPAKBK.aspxhttps://www.talkbass.com/threads/the-inventor-of-the-frett-less.88245/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAhHGYrzj2Mhttps://www.wwbw.com/Tenor-Saxophones.wwbwhttps://www.wwbw.com/Selmer-400-Series-Alto-Saxophone-J17177.wwbwhttps://reverb.com/p/bach-tr300-student-trumpethttps://www.amazon.com/Pearl-RS525SCC706-Roadshow-Charcoal-Metallic/dp/B00NJVS39Whttps://www.mambazo.com/our_story/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0108309http://www.gandharvaloka.co.nz/instruments/drums.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youssou_N%27Dourhttps://www.amazon.com/Modimo/dp/B00I1PQCCQhttps://www.amazon.com/Drums-Dance-South-African-Music/dp/B00BVP4JCIhttps://www.tigermusic.co.uk/p-1304-synthetic-djembe-drum-by-world-rhythm-percussion-plastic-african-drum-in-orange.aspxhttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/paul-simons-graceland-10-things-you-didnt-know-105220/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/movies/under-african-skies-about-the-paul-simon-album-graceland.htmlhttps://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-warren/south-africa-immigration-apartheid_b_8068132.htmlhttps://www.getaway.co.za/travel-ideas/destinations-travel-ideas/the-soweto-guide/http://www.ngopulse.org/article/2018/06/13/%E2%80%8B-june-16-soweto-youth-uprising