Music of Ethiopia

Ethiopian music
Cultural originsEthiopia
Typical instruments
Subgenres
Zema (Christian Liturgical Chant)
Ethio-jazz
Regional scenes
Local scenes
Other topics
Music of Eritrea

Ethiopian music is a term that can mean any music of Ethiopian origin, however, often it is applied to a genre, a distinct modal system that is pentatonic, with characteristically long intervals between some notes.

The music of the Ethiopian Highlands uses a fundamental modal system called qenet, of which there are four main modes: tezeta, bati, ambassel, and anchihoy.[1] Three additional modes are variations on the above: tezeta minor, bati major, and bati minor.[2][3][4] Some songs take the name of their qenet, such as tizita, a song of reminiscence.[1] When played on traditional instruments, these modes are generally not tempered (that is, the pitches may deviate slightly from the Western-tempered tuning system), but when played on Western instruments such as pianos and guitars, they are played using the Western-tempered tuning system.

Music in the Ethiopian highlands is generally monophonic or heterophonic.[1] In certain southern areas, some music is polyphonic. Dorze polyphonic singing (edho) may employ up to five parts; Majangir, four parts.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d Shelemay, Kay Kaufman (2001). "Ethiopia". In Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Vol. viii (2nd ed.). London: Macmillan. p. 356.
  2. ^ Frangou, Chris. "Common Ethiopian Pentatonic Scales or Qenet (ቅኝት woyesa)". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Abatte Barihun, liner notes of the album Ras Deshen, 200.
  4. ^ Abate, Ezra. "Ethiopian Kiñit (scales): Analysis of the formation and structure of the Ethiopian scale system" (PDF). Proceedings of the 16th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-09-20. Retrieved 2020-04-10.