Photo By Sgt. Juan F. Jimenez | U.S. Army Spc. Herm L. Hopkins, a trombonist, with the 2nd Infantry Division Band,...... read more read more
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CAMP CASEY, South Korea – Music plays a significant role in African-American culture. Since the early days of slavery, music has helped people communicate, cope and also bond with one another.
So it is only fitting, that when celebrating Black History Month, music should be involved. At the Black History Music Festival Feb. 8, 2013, on Camp Casey, the music took the audience on a journey weaving through the significant time periods in African-American history.
“We gathered to celebrate the beautiful music that has been given to us by many amazing African artists,” said Maj. Mekelle Epperson, battalion executive officer, 302nd Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. “The ceremony was filled with music from the early slave periods to jazz, swing and contemporary-pop music.”
The influence and history of black American music did not originate in America, but Africa. In some traditional African cultures, music was used as a form of daily communication through drumbeats and chants.
And as the host of the festival Lt. Col. Adrian Gamez, the 302nd BSB commander, said using music was one way to honor African-Americans because “music is considered to be a universal language for people around the world.”
Chants and drumbeats represented words and phrases based on tones. Tonal inflections sometimes changed the meaning of words and phrases.
“Music has always been important in our society,” said Epperson. “Music has comforted us and helped us in healing during difficult times.”
Helping the audience understand traditional African beats was the Pocheon African Music Dance Troupe, who performed traditional dances which expressed communication, hope and healing during slavery.
“African-American music is more than just drumbeats and chats for communicating,” said Epperson. “The music also became entertaining.”
Transforming in the 1920s and -30s, jazz, blues and swing became popular sounds in American, paving the way for the jazz age. Quick to the beat, the 2nd Inf. Div. jazz band performed popular songs from the jazz era. The audience quickly found themselves rhythmically tapping their feet and swaying to the beat.
Gamez said, “Music is in every culture and in a variety of ways. But the message is always the same. This is why music is a universal language.”
The Camp Casey Chapel Choir also honored black American music with their renditions of the black national anthem.
“It was impossible to present all the significant contributions of black American artists in a two-hour time frame,” said Epperson. “However, we tried to acknowledge those important figures not only in the field of music but also with the involvement of American history.”
| Date Taken: | 02.08.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 02.26.2013 02:02 |
| Story ID: | 102536 |
| Location: | CAMP CASEY, GYEONGGIDO [KYONGGI-DO], KR |
| Web Views: | 139 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Music: An universal language, by SGT Juan F. Jimenez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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