Under the inspiring guidance of my mentor, Curt Sachs, this work was conceived, planned, and executed. It gained in dimension under the acute and patient perusal of Gustave Reese to whose brilliant propensity for clarity of thought and of style lowe a huge debt. Furthermore, the helpful suggestions made by Martin Bernstein and by Jan LaRue are gratefully acknowledged. If Jaap Kunst had not kindly gone to the trouble of ordering, supervising the con struction of, and mailing to me from Amsterdam his personally designed monochord, an important section of this work could not have taken form. This preface is not complete, of course, without final thanks to my husband, Harvey B. N atanson, for his sustained interest and encouragement. R. B. Note As the present work goes to press, the political map of Africa is flowing into a new mold. Several countries have obtained independence, and new names and data should be con sidered: French Equatorial Africa has become (November 28-December I, 1958) four independent countries - Republic of the Congo: Brazzaville (formerly Middle Congo), Gabon Republic (formerly Gabon), Central African Republic (formerly Ubangi-Shari), and Republic of Chad (formerly Chad). The Belgian Congo has become (June 30, 1960) the Republic of the Congo: Leopoldville.

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One.- I. Introduction: Geographical, cultural, and language areas outlined.- II. The Music and Some Preliminary Considerations.- III. Musical Ethnology of Central Africa.- IV. The MusicAnalysis and Discussion.- V. Singing Style.- VI. Conclusion.- Two.- Preface to Transcriptions.- Transcriptions.- 1. Mangbetu choral song.- 2. Babira choral song.- 3. Babira choral song.- 4. Babira circumcision drums.- 5. Babira circumcision dance.- 6. Babira circumcision dance.- 7. Bapere circumcision dance.- 8. Bapere circumcision bird.- 9. Bapere circumcision flagellation.- 10. Bapere horns (Cent-Frequency Chart 1).- 11. Bapere xylophone (Cent-Frequency Chart 2).- 12. Mambuti Pygmies elephant feast.- 13. Mambuti Pygmies dance; flutes and drum (Cent-Frequency Chart 3).- 14. Mambuti Pygmies hunting song.- 15. Batwa Pygmies dance.- 16. Batwa Pygmies dance.- 17. Bahutu dance.- 18. Watutsi royal drums.- 19. Watutsi royal drums.- 20. Watutsi epic song of war.- 21. Watutsi epic song of war.- 22. Babunda new year song.- 23. Bambala drum telegraphy.- 24. Baya dance.- 25. Mboko mouth bow (Cent-Frequency Chart 4).- 26. Mboko riddle song; zither (Cent-Frequency Chart 5).- 27. Pomo perambulating song.- 28. N'Gundi humorous love song; sanza (Cent-Frequency Chart 6).- 29. N'Gundi song.- 30. Babinga Pygmies elephant-hunt ritual.- 31. Babinga Pygmies social dance.- 32. Yaswa xylophones (Cent-Frequency Chart 7).- 33. Kukuya ivory horns (Cent-Frequency Chart 8).- 34. Kuyu shaman's alligator-song; horn (Cent-Frequency Chart 9).- 35. Kuyu birth-of-twins dance.- 36. Bongili banana work song.- 37. Baduma paddlers' song.- 38. Baduma paddlers' song; sanza (Cent-Frequency Chart 10).- 39. Okandi women's dance.- 40. Banyoro xylophone (Cent-Frequency Chart 11).- 41. Banyoro royal horns(Cent-Frequency Chart 12).- 42. Batoro dance.- 43. Bamba flutes (Cent-Frequency Chart 13).- 44. Baganda historic song; harp (Cent-Frequency Chart 14).- 45. Baganda historic song.- 46. Baganda royal xylophones (Cent-Frequency Chart 15).- 47. Wasukuma wedding song.- 48. Wanyamwezi chief installation.- 49. Wanyamwezi wedding tune on sanza (Cent-Frequency Chart 16).- 50. Wachaga chief-praise song.- 51. Wameru spell-breaking party song.- 52. Wahehe elephant hunting song.- Melody Type Chart.- Cent-Frequency Charts.- 1. Bapere horns.- 2. Bapere xylophone.- 3. Mambuti flutes.- 4. Mboko mouth bow.- 5. Mboko zither.- 6. N'Gundi sanza.- 7. Yaswa xylophones.- 8. Kukuya horns.- 9. Kuyu horn.- 10. Baduma sanza.- 11. Banyoro xylophone.- 12. Banyoro royal horns.- 13. Bamba flutes.- 14. Baganda harp.- 15. Baganda royal xylophones.- 16. Wanyamwezi sanza.- Numerical-Territorial Index of Transcriptions.- Tribal Index.- Index-Glossary.