African American influences on Western culture and music extend far beyond gospel, jazz, and spirituals. The characterizing and foundational elements of African-American music are additive rhythms and polyrhythms; heterophony, off-beat melodic phrasings; constant repetition of rhythmic and melodic figures, hand-clapping, foot-patting and approximations thereof. These influences blended with other musical elements from the many ethnicities that converged on the North American continent, including those from the European traditions. At the same time, Western culture has produced artists of African American descent who have written poetry and composed music within the mainstream tradition.
The Pittsburgh Camerata will present a concert of choral music that expresses the musical elements and artistic creations that came Out of Africa.
[The image for this concert is by artist Kate Ward Thacker, from her African Rhythms series. She has generously given us permission for its use. Her work can be seen here.]
