Final answer:
African Retentions in Western music include syncopated rhythms, polyrhythms, bent or blue notes, call-and-response patterns, and body movements such as handclapping and foot-stomping, which have deeply influenced American musical genres including blues and jazz.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term 'African Retentions' refers to elements of African culture and musical tradition that have been preserved in the music of the African diaspora, particularly in the Western Hemisphere. These retentions have played a significant role in shaping the musical landscape of the Americas.
- Syncopated Rhythms: A signature element of African music, syncopation involves arraying rhythms against the main beat, creating a complex and dynamic musical texture.
- Polyrhythms: This refers to the simultaneous combination of contrasting rhythms, often a fundamental feature in African and African-diasporic music.
- Use of Bent or Blue Notes: These notes are pitched between standard intervals, a technique that contributes to the expressiveness of genres like the blues, jazz, and spirituals.
- Call-and-Response: This dialogic structure, where a lead voice is answered by a group, is rooted in African musical traditions and is evident in spirituals and other African American music forms.
- Body movements such as handclapping and foot-stomping: Physical responses to music that accompany the rhythmic aspects, prominently found in African music and retained in spiritual and secular dances in the Americas.
These elements, when combined with various cultural influences in the Americas, gave rise to new genres including blues, jazz, gospel, soul, rock n' roll, and hip-hop. The African Retentions in music highlight the ongoing influence of African heritage in global music culture.