eld is to study the function of music in the context of a society in a specific culture.5.Mbira music consists of two main parts. The first part being called the kushaura meaning to lead the piece and the second named the kutsinhira. The kushaura is the key to identifying a piece. It provides the main melodic structure of a song. The kutsinhira mostly provides rhythmic contrast more so than harmonic. Most often mbira pieces are in a triplet feel with accented downbeats and are contained within 4 phrases in length. 6.The three vocal accompaniment styles in mbira music are the mahonera, huro, and the kudeketera. Mahonera is described as a soft, syllabic style of singing, usually in the singers lowest comfortable range. (Berliner 115) The huro contrasts the mahonera in that it is in the upper range and compliments the melodic lines rather than the bass line. It also so utilizes a form of yodeling called kunguridzira. (Berliner 117) Third is the kudeketera style. This is a verbal style that includes poetic lines that associated with particular mbira pieces, other lines appropriate to any mbira piece, and lines improvised in response to events taking place at the time of the performance. (Berliner 121) Although these are separate styles they can be used in the same performance or in combination with each other. 7. The bira is an important religious ceremony for the Shona people. Its significance is to enable the people to call upon their ancestors for advice or help with a situation. Ancestors are reached via the possession of a spirit medium. A bira is also held at season changes to beseech the gods if there are needs to be met. The ceremony usually starts at dusk and continues until dawn the following morning. A ceremonial beer is brewed especially for the occasion. Typically an mbira group is hired to play throughout the bira in its entirety.8.9.Birds are believed by the Kaluli society to be gone reflections of their ancestors. The ro...
