Final answer:
African musical tastes and traditions in the New World were carried on through children's games and oral traditions. The lack of written, recorded, or filmed materials due to the oppressive conditions of slavery led to reliance on oral transmission, shaping American musical genres like jazz, blues, and gospel through an African cultural lens. The correct option is d.
Step-by-step explanation:
African musical tastes and traditions were carried on in the New World primarily through children's games, oral traditions, religious practices, and other forms of cultural expression. While African societies had their own rich oral traditions and historical records kept by griots, in the context of the Americas, enslaved Africans did not have the opportunity to create written manuscripts, make recordings, or produce videos/films due to the oppressive conditions of slavery. Instead, they relied on oral transmission, including through songs, spirituals, and communal activities, to pass on their musical heritages.
Work songs, spiritual tunes, and inherited musical traditions were infused into American music. African influences are evident in the use of percussion, syncopated rhythms, and bent or blue notes, which contributed to the evolution of jazz, blues, and gospel music. The intricacy of African music and dance also continued to manifest through cultural expressions in subsequent generations, underscoring the resilience and adaptability of these traditions.
Lined-out hymn singing, which blended African American spirituals with hymnody, and the creation of new religions and cuisines that combined African traditions with those found in the Americas, demonstrate the perseverance and innovation of African Americans in retaining and adapting their heritage. Music was a key element in retaining African cultural identity and influenced the development of diverse American music genres.
Hence, Option d is correct.