Musicology and Linguistics: Integrating the Phraseology of Text and Tune in the Creative Process

The implications of the analogous features of music and language for theory and method in the disciplines of musicology and linguistics are explored with a focus on African musical traditions. Because music is a field of creativity and performance, an important dimension that must be taken into acco...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Black music research journal 2002-09, Vol.22 (2), p.143-164
Main Author: Nketia, J. H. Kwabena
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
African music
Analysis
Art songs
Black music
Creativity
Criticism and interpretation
Cultural Influences
Languages
Linguistics
Music
Music, Black
Musical forms
Musical meter
Musical phrases
Musical rhythm
Musical Structure
Musicology
Phonetics
Phraseology
Phrasing
Solmization
Syllables
Texts
Traditions
Tunes
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Summary:The implications of the analogous features of music and language for theory and method in the disciplines of musicology and linguistics are explored with a focus on African musical traditions. Because music is a field of creativity and performance, an important dimension that must be taken into account is the creative process viewed from the perspective of music makers. The integral relationship between music and language and the fact that African societies use texts and syllable to refer to sound events as well as melodic and rhythm patterns makes an approach to structures in music through their linguistic correlates useful. Phraseology can be approached from two complementary perspectives. It can be applied as an analytical concept for the exploration of parallels between music and language on the level of phonology. It can also be viewed in practical terms as a creative process handled by song makers and performers who learn not only how to integrate the elements of speech and music, but also how to give coherence to its overall form.
ISSN:0276-3605
1946-1615
DOI:10.2307/1519954