Symbolism in piano and drums. Analysis of Piano and Drums: Subject Matter, Themes and Poetic Devices 2022-10-19

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The use of symbolism in music has long been a means for artists to convey deeper meaning and emotions in their compositions. In the song "Piano and Drums," the use of these two instruments as symbols adds layers of complexity and depth to the overall message of the piece.

The piano, often associated with classical music and refinement, represents the intellectual and emotional side of the human experience. Its intricate melodies and harmonies reflect the complexity of the human mind and the range of emotions it is capable of experiencing.

On the other hand, the drums symbolize the raw, primal energy of the human spirit. They are often used in tribal and folk music to evoke a sense of unity and connection to the natural world. In "Piano and Drums," the use of the drums adds a sense of urgency and passion to the composition, representing the primal drive and desire that lies within us all.

Together, these two instruments represent the duality of the human experience – the balance between reason and emotion, intellect and passion. The interplay between the piano and drums in the song reflects this balance, as the two instruments come together to create a harmonious whole.

But the symbolism in "Piano and Drums" goes beyond just the instruments themselves. The song itself is a metaphor for the struggles and triumphs of the human journey. The piano represents the struggles and challenges we face in life, while the drums symbolize the determination and drive that propels us forward. The song is a celebration of the human spirit and the resilience that allows us to overcome adversity and emerge victorious.

In conclusion, the use of symbolism in "Piano and Drums" adds depth and complexity to the overall message of the song. The interplay between the piano and drums represents the duality of the human experience, while the song itself serves as a metaphor for the struggles and triumphs of the human journey.

Drums vs Piano: Difficulty, Difference, and How to Choose

symbolism in piano and drums

From the above lines, Africans lived in a society where innovations such as tarred roads and street lights. He urges the drums and bugles to not pay attention to anyone no matter what they are doing and tells the music to recruit men into the military, regardless what their mothers and children say. The poet uses the "piano" to symbolize the western culture, and the drums to symbolize the African culture. As the speaker feels so close to his roots and his native land, the Western society is foreign to him and, therefore, feels far away and distant. Acculturation The notion of acculturation is brought into the poem with the contact of the piano and the drums. However, Literature class teachers should teach this topic within 2 weeks depending on your school timetable or schedule. And this has placed the poet-speaker and other Africans, especially of the post—colonial era, to be in dilemma and confusion over what cultural inclination should be accepted and adopted into the fabric of their societies.

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Culture in Piano and Drums by Gabriel Okara

symbolism in piano and drums

The rhythm of the poem is euphonically methodical, with all the stanzas except the fourth having iambic tetrameter in lines 1 and 3, and iambic trimeter in lines 2 and 4 of each stanza. For example, the first stanza has a rhyme scheme of this manner a, b, c, d, e, a. A simple answer to that is, one cannot proceed without knowledge of the past, or to say that one learns from others mistakes as well as their own. We shall look at the ways in which they are employed to highlight the various themes in Piano and Drums. We can see that the persona is caught between the desire to go back to his original African roots and the trappings of the new modern way of life with all its innovations. On the contrary, with the piano being such a complex instrument with many components assembling it together to create more variety of sound, it is distinct that it embodies the Western lifestyle. They are simply personal opinions and no more.

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Culture in Piano and Drums by Gabriel Okara Essays

symbolism in piano and drums

As we have already discussed, drums are loud. However, something you should note is how easy or difficult an instrument is to learn ultimately depends on the person learning. In highlighting the effects of the drums on the animals and the people in a traditional African society, the poet-speaker presents the first stanza without a pause at the end of each line as the ideas run into the succeeding lines. There is no definite answer to which instrument to learn. The piano can play a note lower than the lowest possible note on a double bassoon, and a note higher than the highest possible sound of the piccolo. It is an African past untainted by any form of foreign influence. It can be concluded that the poem personae has clearly distinguished between the two separate worlds with the help of poetic devices which are symbolism and imagery.

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Piano And Drums Analysis, Themes, Setting, Summary, Symbolism, Subject Matter

symbolism in piano and drums

Whilst the other two stanzas with 13 lines describe piano and show how the poet personae perceives the culture of colonial masters. Thanks for stopping by. And if your 88-key digital piano is too bulky to be transported, you can purchase a 61-key lightweight keyboard that is extremely easy to move around. The harder you hit the note, the harder the hammer hits the string; hence, the louder the sound. Wole Soyinka and D. Thus, while the piano in no way has become obsolete, it is certainly not as popular or practical as it once was.

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“Piano and Drums” poem by Gabriel Okara, Sample of Essays

symbolism in piano and drums

The material traits within a culture would include clothing, food, and art to name a few. Even those who cannot hear can still feel the beat of the drum and use it to communicate. This being true, another reason to study history is to see, not only our mistakes so we may learn, but also to see the good influences that molded the world and. More than 10,000 of these are moving parts. His attitude is one of deep attachment and nostalgia — a yearning for the return of the heyday of African traditional way of life. As a result, the Western culture is not viewed in high regards to the speaker which is translated to the reader through the sounds.

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Analysis of Piano And Drums, A Poem By Gabriel Okara

symbolism in piano and drums

Beyond time, there is nothing to devour. The Theme of Dilemma and Confusion: The main crux of the poem exposes the altercation between the African culture and the European culture over which is supreme than the other. But it is a set of four powerful lines that aptly summarizes the present situation in which the African finds himself. No one in Africa had piano until white men barged into Africa. There is some iambic use as well as the use of trochees. This is life which is simple, near the beginnings of man.

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Piano and Drums: A Poem by Gabriel Okara

symbolism in piano and drums

What do I mean by this? Stanza Three Therefore, it is with dismay that the poet realizes that his experience as described in stanza two is nothing more than a dream. Once the drum sounded, the king would understand what his drummers were trying to orate with the drumming. Repetition: For purpose of emphasis, the poet is seen repeating some words to drive home his intended meaning. The poem is free verse and the language is simple for an average reader. He also considers it to be a deeply personal issue.

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The Poem Piano And Drums By Gabriel Okara: A Complete Study Guide For WAEC, NECO, GCE, JAMB.

symbolism in piano and drums

The present period is buffeted by European influences. Before you consider hiring a piano or drum teacher or buying a beginner course, make use of some of the beginner piano and drum lessons on YouTube. He is showing how he is feeling about both cultures. Although the piano and the drums may be classified as percussion instruments, the skill required to play them is totally different. Its difficulty is capable enough to cause confusion in the minds of the people but drum is straightforward. Are many bands looking for a drummer or a piano player? This is because these African elites are half-baked and not ready to engage in the manipulation of the complexities of Western culture.

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