This study analyses the shift in Ghanaian pop singing towards the use of equal-tempered scales over the past three decades. The researchers hypothesize that the access to music technology, which embeds equal temperament, catalysed this shift. To test this, they studied the Ghanaian singer Daddy Lumba, whose career spans from the late 1980s to present. The study found that pitch variance in Daddy Lumba’s songs has been decreasing over time, indicating a progressive alignment with equal-tempered scales. The findings highlight the impact of exposure to equal-tempered scales on Ghanaian music, resulting in lessened microtonal content in Daddy Lumba’s singing.
Publication date: 4 Oct 2023
Project Page: Not provided
Paper: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2310.00870
