• Zimidzi

  Author

African folk and folk songs are often of polyphonic and polyrhythmic nature. They can be
transcribed and analyzed. The descriptive and prescriptive approaches can be used to transcribe
and analyze them.
Transcription and analysis of songs strengthens the innate understanding of the music. When the
song is understood then the performers or choiristers can perform from an informed position.
The song can then also be preserved and passed on from one person to another. Transcription
and analysis has also an educational function.
Nettle (1964) says transcription is the process of notating sound, of reducing sound to visual
symbols. Inherent in transcription is writing tonic solfa or the staff notation and the words as the
transcriber hears them.
Analysis involves giving special consideration to even the smallest of the components of a piece
of music.
This booklet has therefore been prepared to transcribe, analyze and provide guidelines on the
transcription and analysis of the song, Amaqhawe Ase-Afrika.
The song was chosen by the National Association of Secondary Heads (N.A.S.H) of Zimbabwe
as the 2013 Choral Music Competition. The booklet will aid in the teaching and learning of the
song. It attempts to transcribe the song in both tonic solfa and staff notation. An analysis of the
song text is also done.
The N.A.S.H music competitions are held annually by all interested secondary school
culminating in two (2) choirs per province.

• pdf