Write an essay on marabi music and indicate why it is regarded as an original South African jazz style of the 1930s - NSC Music - Question 15 - 2021 - Paper 1

The instrumentation of marabi music typically includes:

1. Small ensembles featuring piano, brass instruments, woodwind instruments, and drums became common by the 1920s.
2. Instruments such as saxophones, guitars, and clarinets also played integral roles.
3. Urban Bapedel groups used these instruments to play traditional Western tunes and adapt them into a local style.

Marabi music is characterized by:

1. A keyboard style combining elements of ragtime, jazz, and blues, often played on cheap electric organs or pianos.
2. The use of cyclical chord progressions, typically based on I-IV-V patterns, which allowed musicians to improvise seamlessly.
3. The incorporation of indigenous African rhythms that formed the basis of many compositions.
4. Focus on creating danceable melodies rather than strict improvisational forms, which was common in other jazz styles.
5. Collaborative performances often featured exchanges between musicians, encouraging a dynamic musical dialogue.

A significant representative of marabi music is The Manhattan Brothers, known for their influential contributions to the genre. The Flying Jazz Queens, particularly with their song "Langa More," also exemplify the essence of marabi and its cultural significance.

Overall, the essay should introduce marabi music, followed by a clear structure discussing instruments, instrumentation, and its unique style characteristics. Each section must be coherent, succinct, and logically connected, fostering an understanding of how marabi is regarded as an original South African jazz style of the 1930s.