Theory of African Music

The Gerhard Kubik Collection

Erudite and exhaustive, Gerhard Kubik’s Theory of African Music provides an authoritative account of its subject. Over the course of two volumes, Kubik, draws on his extensive travels and three decades of study throughout Africa to compare and contrast a wealth of musical traditions from a range of cultures.

Volume 1

In the first volume, Kubik describes and examines harp music from the Central African Republic as well as xylophone playing in southern Uganda, he also compares multi-part singing from across the African continent; and explores movement and sound in eastern Angola.

Volume 2

In this second volume, Kubik explores a variety of topics, including Yoruba chantefables, the musical Kachamba family of Malawˆ i, and the cognitive study of African rhythm. Drawing on his remarkable ability to make cross-cultural comparisons, Kubik illuminates every facet of the African understanding of rhythm, from timing systems to elementary pulsation. His analysis of tusona ideographs in Luchazi culture leads to an exploration of African space/time concepts that synthesizes his theories of art, rhythm, and culture.

The Sound Collection provided here is for educational purposes only and accompanies his 2 Volume books which is available to buy.

Theory of African Music Collection

(MP3 Googledrive Access)