The Laws of Flexibility, Liberality and Contextuality in Musical Construction in Tonal Language: Theories Deriving from Okpe Igoru Music

Abstract

There had been several debates generating very strong arguments on issues of tonal languages making strict impact on musical constructions in African music. Some authors argue that the rise and fall of melodic contour must follow the rise and fall of speech tones in the local patois, otherwise the issue of communication and meaning could pose serious problem between the composer-performer and audience. Others however argue that, even in tonal languages, the laws of flexibility, liberality and contextuality exist. This paper, therefore, examines the extent to which tonal language might influence musical construction, communication and meaning. It also examines the natural laws that operate within musical-linguistic communication in oral performances. This paper seeks to postulate some theories from the study of Okpe igoru traditional music.