This course covers the area of fusion music for the Edexcel GCSE Music syllabus.
This topic comes up in Component 3, which counts for 40% of the GCSE grade.
Included in this course is an in-depth study of Afro Celt Sound System's Release (from the album ‘Volume 2: Release’) and Esperanza Spalding's Samba Em Preludio (from the album ‘Esperanza’), the prescribed set works for this topic.
Suggested listening is given in the course to allow students to practice.
Fusion music is, as the name suggests, a melding of two or more types of music. This hybridized sound creates something new and fresh. Reggae, Salsa, and many types of world music are good examples of Fusion music.
There are a number of important terms to learn in a discussion of music. With fusion music, there is potentially a greater number of musical elements than other styles, as fusion incorporates a wide variety of musical blends.
Collaboration between practitioners of musical cultures often produces fascinating results. Here are a few examples including blends of Scottish, Turkish, African, Caribbean and American styles. Buena Vista Social Club is a popular example of Fusion Music
Esperanza Spalding is from Portland, Oregon - a place more usually associated with rock bands such as Everclear and The Dandy Warhols. Spalding was a child prodigy, whose adult work combines elements of jazz, blues, fuck and Brazilian styles.
Samba Em Preludio is a cover of a Bossa Nova classic from 1962. Bossa Nova translates as the 'new style' and this song incorporates elements of both salsa and jazz. Moreover, the lyrics combine various languages which adds to the fusion.
Afro Celt Sound Sound System are firm believers in calling a spade a spade. Guitarist, Simon Emmerson formed the band in 1995. Over the years, the band has featured many different artists and guest artists. The music is always evolving.
After the death of Jo Bruce, Afro Celt's 1999 album-in-progress, Release, was put on hold until the interjection of Sinead O'Connor, who stepped in to help with some of the unfinished lyrics.
Here are ten questions to help you revise what you have learned on this course. Some of the questions relate to general music terminology and some are specific to that found in Fusion Music. Test your knowledge.
