GENERAL IMPACT OF MUSIC IN PLOT DEVELOPMENT

Music is referred to the most imitative of the arts, music produces by it sound- the
same effects that nature produces by human character in action. A good use of music in
drama arouses in us the same feelings and emotion as do the actions of a man.
A German physiologist, Hermann Helmholtz held that music can initiate and
express not only physical motion but also the mental conditions which naturally evoke
similar emotions, whether of the body or voice this relates to the all of the drama
performed in the theatre. Music, one of the instrument of developing a plays plot,
arouses emotion by setting up an aural microcosm in which one can view and respond to
an image of human experience and the directors goal directed action (what the music is
meant to achieve). Music bring delve into the minds of the listeners.
In general, symbols are concrete that stand for and thus bring to mind some idea,
linguistic symbols i.e. language is used to symbolize any and all ideas. Music, in contrast
are comprises of aesthetic symbols which are different from linguistic symbols. They
(musical symbols) do not rely conventionally memorized meanings but instead present
images /feelings that are automatically seen by the audience as embodying meaning e.g.
the ritual mimetic rite in Dance Drama as a ritual object is being fed with sacred food
even though they do not talk, the drums (musical vibe) portrays what is happening. The

greatest usefulness of music being a donor to the plot of a play lies in its ability to stand
for certain deep abstraction about reality.
In order toe effectively utilize musical achievement of

a plot, the director

organizes musical events so that the audience can perceptual integrate them as used in
Family where we understand more of Marias addiction to dramatic arts as the plays
and dances to music to ease her tension. The audience are able to understand the musical
entity (melody included in drums and other musical elements), its goal directed action as
percept thing that represent in the drama. Visible examples are: the people of Owo in
Oronse singing in nor, shall discuss he music is the festival to celebrate Oronses
importance to their community, of oral sounds which is a minor musical elements to
represent the opening of doors in The Midnight Hotel. In most of the plays music is
used to function as a language of emotions. The pattern of motions, gestures and stances
are implied by musical intervals in a melodic motif as seen in The Ritual Burial when
the people do various dance steps accompanied by music to appeal to the audience their
happiness as they welcome the messenger this is part of the plot contribution.
However, this does not imply that all music has a goal directed meaning, but it
does suggest that the audience response to the plot element active through music and it
does have a rational basis in form. The music does not just mean what the audience basis
in form. The music does not just mean what the audience director wants it man but the
meaning arise from the events in the play.

Now I shall discuss the impact of Music in the plot development of the plays
watched.

ORONSEN
The Epic play starts with a musical appreciation of Oronsen, the mythical legend
of Owo, the entire village dances to the songs rendered assisted with drums. The music
(song) sang develops a aura connection in the plot as it makes it understable for the
audience to get an impression of what is happening. Like stated earlier, music helps us
delve in what is happening at that particular event creating a sound-plot development.
The songs are also used to achieve the people of Owos appreciation of Oronsen.
As they (singer and citizens) exit stage, a narrator who stays behind, after a quick dance
accompanied by drums narrates the mythicity of Oronsen as the Obas wife and her
escapades which takes us to a flash back. Different musical patterns derived from drums
are used to signify starts of new scene. This drum effects being a musical impact however
may try to portray what waits in the new scene.
The king gets attracted to Oronsen, in the town conquered earlier in a war. He
however orders his chiefs to go and get her for himself as he is also warned of not taking
her by force. Oronsen,. Eventually comes and give the king some directives if she wants
her as bride. They include the no splashing of water, no grinding of okra, no fire wood

dropped noisily and among all, the king would take care of her excreta and compensation
to her current lover the king quickly concurs to these strange ultimatums.
A new scene begins and a drum effect played to signify a kind of celebration. The
impact of the drum (musical effect) develops the audience understanding of the mood
about to be experienced. The stage contains people celebrating the wedding of their king.
Different songs are sung to give a detailed meaning to the plot imbibed by the
audience. The songs and their impact however changes based on what happen on stage
e.g. the singer sings a Yoruba song :Olola Mojire (God its a new day). The song is
changed to bridal welcomes as Oronsen is seen on stage. Music develops the plot here as
if used to symbolize the happiness, mood and events happening on stsge. The
pronouncement of the marriage creates as musical uproar by the villagers to symbolize
their contempt and Joyousness. They change the song to signify the welcome of a new
bride as the king and new queen dances as they end the song and leave the king to
consummate his marriage.
Jealously waxes up in the palace and the other three wives find the king paying
more attention to Oronsen than them. The tension begins to develop as a conflict is
created. Oronsens excreta are made know to be jewelry as the king packs it in an
occasion which makes him love her more and will contribute to his wealth. However, the
king is informed of a war gathering up as a nearby town plans to strike on them because
of the increasing wealth in the palace brought by Oronsen which was meant to be theirs.

The king prepares to go and tells the other wives what not to do when he is absent
(Oronsens taboo)
The introduction of a new scene with drum effects still takes place. Part of the
drum goal directed meaning is to give a glimpse of the next scene. This particular scene
is introduced with hard velocity drumming signifying a war caution which develop the
plot meaning. The king and his chiefs are going to war and they make a further
explanation of the plot through the song (music) and drum velocity sang Ogun de Ija
de, Afe loja (A war is here, the fight is now). The audience is able to get a clearer
meaning of the plot.
The king absent, the other wives device and debates to break instructions as they
contemplate whether it is related to Oronsen. As they plan on breaking it, the drum (a
music effect) is beaten in a tension like way creating a background understanding of the
evil plan to take place. As the first wife calls out Oronsen, they do all her forbidden
ultimatums (splashing water, grinding okra, dropping firewood). The drum get louder and
assited by the lights flashing SOS( blinking off and on)which makes Oronsen stunned
makes a loud squeal as she runs out of state. The music effect helps to achieve the taboo
breached. The guard who run in question the other wives about what happened as
Oronsen ran out but they deny it stating they no nothing. The guard follows her till they
get to an evil forest as various music effects are used to symbolize and achieve a
developed plot of what kind of forest it is. She stops them sending creatures who imitate

the sound of what they imitate (musical impact on achieving a detailed protective
monster to the audience, they rep shapes of animals)
After a futile effort to convince Oronsen to return back, she tells them to deliver
he promise of protecting, enriching their kingdom to the king. A minor sound effect is
used as a loud drum is beat the signify her gone. (This minor sound effect was also used
to symbolize the sound of a gun when the king hunts)
All these various musical containment developed the plot of Oronsen making we, the
audience get a more aural, visual property of the play
The play ends as the narrator comes portrays Oronsen as the stronghold of Owo
and the villagers sings appreciative songs including Ori wa so wa ni Ire (good luck) to
make a musical impact signify the good tidings Oronsen left in the kingdom.

THE FAMILY
The family can be compared to Joe Graft Sons and Daughters concerning the
preference of future professionalism. Maria who wants to study dramatic arts which not
in her Dads consent, who prefers her to study Economics and be `successful
The play begins has Marias mum and dad discusses Marias preferences of
dramatic art over other choice. Her Dad, visibly not in support criticize both the course
and his daughter and leaves the parlor.

Maria is introduced musically as she comes in singing Do, a deer a female deer
and dancing tango with the maid. This musical aspect impacts on the plot by
giving/interpreting to the audience what kind of girl Maria is obviously dramatic one.
The music (song) combined with the dance give a more insight to Marias; personality.
This plot development here is achieved mainly through music.
She greets her mum and they talk for a while about her carrier choice as she
strong heads on her decision. We are made to know her junior brother Isaih who
obviously depends on the maid for minor things. This also brings out the contrast
between Maria and Isaiah Maria, who does see that the maid should do everything and
she be treated humanely unlike Isaih.
Maria goes in changes and comes back, as she turns the tune to a music, Caro
which she dances to which further enlightens us on her deep interest in music. She stops
dancing as she hears the maids voice yelling, being beaten by Isaih. Their mom comes
out after tuning off the stereo talks to them and tries to settle down their personal clashing
interest which makes Isaih leaves the house annoyingly.
Maria father tries to convince her to study Economics which turns into more of
less an argument which makes Mama call an unknown person about her father choice of
her not studying drama. Isaih comes in and ask their father about their mum latter
statement of thing going on in the house they do not know which vexes their Dad as he
degrades women and insult their mouth.

Maria wins actress of the year, but her joy is short-lived by the non chalant
attitude of her bro and mum. Their mum get a wrong impression as she sees to husband
by applying a eye drop to Mabels (the maid) and get jealous in a later scene.
After Maria award, their father writes the bills for everything needed in the house
including the maids salary, Isaih University expenses and he (the father) get disgusted as
Maria brings the admission letter to study Dramatic Arts. Disappointedly, she calls a
Boy Alinko a unknown person to visit them. As she walks back Mama tells the family
she is pregnant for Boy Alinko which astonishes them all.
As Isaih prepares to leave for school the door bell rings as the Deux Ex Machina
of the play represented by Boy Alinko comes in his costume shows a wayward, thug,
notorious person who even has a cigar in his ear,. As Maria sees him, she acts joyous.
Isaih watching in a dumb folded manner how Boy Alinko and Maria dramatize around
the parlour, Maria plays a song and they dance. Isaih leaves in a surprised mind. The
music creates an understanding of Maria and Boy Alinko duo being of a mutual interest
in Dramatic Arts. Her parents are disturbed and comes out disturbed by the noise Maria
introduces Boy Alinko as her fianc which surprises the parents especially her Dad. After
some embarrassing display, Boy Alinko leaves.
The father pleads for Maria to leave Boy Alinko after discussing with her wife.
Maria however gives her dad a condition to study Dramatic Arts and get her tuition
paid which her Dad agree to in no rush.

Doctor, Abraham is called to do a checking for Maria concerning her pregnancy.

He confirms Maria is not pregnant which appears as a blow to her father face as he was
deceived. The whole pregnancy and Boy Alinko thing was a device for Maria to study
her course of preference. The father confirms the uniqueness of the dramatists.
Minor musical effect are used to achieved different sounds in different scenes on
the play contributing to the plot development and audience understanding which
includes; phone ring tune, door bells.

MIDNIGHT HOTEL
A dominant device used in this play is music which is used to appeal to the
audience senses on the different events in the scenes. The plays with singing do do mi,
do mi do which introduce a group of singers visible at the side of the stage. Part of them
a trumpeter comes to stage and introduces the midnight Hotel (the hotel itself) and the
Petronaira orchestra who sings to entertain the guest.
Bicycle, a messenger in the hotel comes running to chief Jimoh explaining he
saw a naked woman who attempted to send him to buy cigarettes but he, being shocked
ran. Chief Jimoh explains to him that he should learn they are in Lagos where people do
what they want. Chief Jimoh employs the Orchestra- (who serves as the main music
impact in Midnight Hotel and their songs have meaning relating to events in the play
which develops the ordering of the stories in the play) to play him a song.

A visitor comes and a fuse comes up when he calls Chief Jimoh Mad who says he
dishonored chieftaincy. Jimoh later discovered he, Mr Rufai is the caretaker of the hotel
and wastes no time in taking him to his room. Rufai who is particular about a ghost
rumour is convinced that its the soldiers in the upper part of the hotel.
A pastor and a madam comes in the hotel, request for a room which enters into a
controversy between Jimoh concerning his chieftaincy, the madam insulting his use of
English language. The madam request a song be played for the pastor I Dont waste my
time, want to suck you as the pastor exhibits fear of been caught in the act. This song
contributes to the plot explaining through that song what is going on in the real world;
where you have to give something in return for a help- Madam Senator here wants sex as
a result of the favour requested by Pastor Suru They are eventually given a key.
Jimoh cunningly intrudes as the pastor and Awero ties to have sex. Prior to his the
pastor gets vexed and we are made to know. The pastor needs her favour to get a job as
he is to satisfy her sexually. Madam Senator (Awero) calls the Pastor a political prostitute
she request for a song from the orchestra. This song reflects on the hypocrisy of the
Pastor, this, a musical impact contributes to understanding of the plot
This song changes his mood as they try to have sex again, Bicycle intrudes. The
pastor already feeling tensed, changes composure and start to think of death as the
orchestra plays song wherever I go. This song potrays the pastors fed-up attitude and
waste of time as he has wasted money on whiskey and cigarette and upon all he is now
left alone . The song gives us a clear meaning of the directed intent here.

Due to the inconvenience, they plan to love. Awero sends Jimoh to a chemist
which was necessitated by Awero promise to give him a chief title.
A man comes into the hotel with his children seeking a place to rest. The man who
employ a musical rhyme to all his proverbs and his daughters, respective `aha which
symbolize they are all ears. He bribes bicycle due to the absence of Jimoh to give them a
room and they are mistakenly put in Rufais room who is out. The man know as the
headmaster and his children collide with Awero (Mrs. Ashimo). They are surprised
because they know she is married. Seeing her get tensed, the Headmaster tries to device a
way to get money from Mrs Ashimo as he uses the Orchestra song to portray he is broke
and he has nothing left with him.
He orders his three children to go in with Mrs Ashimo to cheer her up. The
orchestra musically contributes to the mood singing Ara nbe which serves a music
impact on the understanding of that particular act of the play, the song as used by the
children and sung by orchestra serves as an agile way to cheer up Mrs Ashimo but she
acts uncomfortably and it is made visible that she is nervous.
Jimoh unknowingly discloses about the man with her which makes the
headmaster suspicious. She however gives excuses and she is advised to tell the pastor
(who unknowingly to the headmaster is the man with her in the hotel). Pastor Suru
coming in gives a commotion which the two guilty parties make infeasible excuses
before a quick resolve. The headmaster and the girls go inside their hotel room to sleep as
Pastor Suru and Awero (Mrs Ashimo) plans to leave.

The headmaster plans to go and smoke outside and prior to his phantom sees
Pastor Suru entering Awero hotel room. He gives excuses again as the head master get
confused and tells the pastor to leave as he know he is a pastor and Mrs Ashimo is
married and he leaves him. The pastor and Awero to plan to escape Rufai comes back
into the hotel room which the headmaster and his children were given due to bribe they
gave ignorant bicycle the messenger. He sees nothing due to the light switched off. The
children get cautioned as they hear Rufai steps, they try to make themselves lively and
with the help of the orchestra thing owing and dance to the song dance Azonto Rufai
shocked,, shouts ghost and bags into Awero and the Pastor room as he shoved in a
dustbin which disrupt his view. Commotion up rises as Jimoh terms the headmaster as
thief due to his ignorance of the bribe bicycle collected to give them the occupied room.
Rufai finally sees Awero, his wife and pastor Suru and the denouncement is
reached, they try to settle it with bunch of lies and excuses and as they reach a settle
point, Sade, one of the headmaster daughter comes in after being canalled by the solider
upstairs their father in retaliation goes up to confront the soldiers. Chief Jimoh and Pastor
Suru start up an argument as bicycle comes in and tells out that the headmaster has
committed suicide, later in headmaster whistle is head as we are made know he isnt
dead. They all lament the day was very bad and they do the final song, symbolizing the
strangeness of the night.
Minor Music effect is funnily used in the play to imitate the sound of inanimate
objects which is the oral musical imitation of the sound of a door opening.

Dance Drama
This play is mainly utilized by musical effects it can be said to be a pantomime
which it background is based mainly of music (drums, flute).
It starts with a musical greeting of the audience achieved with drums. Group of
drummers beat to different rhythms and beats this shows more of the musicality on the
plot. They leave the stage as two talking drum drummers beat the drum until the lights
fade. Drumming background continues. The music here develop the plot on way that
gives us the main idea of what it is built on mainly drums and music.
Another scene begin with a mass trying to beat a drum but no avail. A lad comes
in a beat the drum successfully as the latter dances. In no time, a group other people
comes and start a tug of war for the drum, the musical background (drum) create a
tension atmosphere which impacts on the understanding of the situation. A western
dressed man comes to settle the fight collecting the drum (A symbolization of the
hegemonic rule of the white over blacks). All these events in the scene are derived from
the musical background which mainly impacts of the plot.
Another plot of dancers male and female comes in and dances to the drum beats.
It soon becomes a dance battle and they do different dance steps achieved by drum a
musical effect.
Another set of dancers come in singing and accompanied by the drum. This song
introduce the dancers personalities which is likened to the Yoruba, the drum effects too

helps with this they do different dances and leave. The musical impact here makes us
understand to identity of the dances. This contributes to the plot understanding.
The light turns on with a flute sound to introduce the another used of dancers
which is certainly in Igbos as the musical effect made by flute impacts of the plot. The
dancer in saying chants as they dance, their steps are achieved by the drum beats and the
flute background. The men perform acrobatic display accompanied by drums.
It is now visible that the director tries to portray the three main ethically groups in
the country dance styles. The Hausa come next both men and women as they dance to the
musical rhythm, music which serves as the stronghold of the plot.
A new scene begins as the drum intensify and shows a trouble like atmosphere
the scene shows a man kneeled before a pot and two women chanting before him. It is
obviously a ritual. The music is used to intensify the word and give the audience a feeling
composure of the event.
Another act, a man comes to introduce a dance battle between the blacks and the
whites which he says will last for three rounds. The two groups face each other and
prepare for the battle. The African dancers dances to traditional rhymes as achieved
through the drums which goes in-depth to signify the pure African culture. The musical
background effect are used to achieve their dance steps which is a beautify organization.
The whites, in contrast dances to their western music which includes DJ Khaled
Win. The Song played portray a silent language that are going to win over the Africans.

They do various acrobatic and strange dance steps which a followed to the musical
background.
The last round as announced by the presenter to be dance with the same song `Africans which the African get better at than the whites. They do different dance steps
which are forged by the music.
The play, as at the base of its plot depending an music, which is the main element
used to accompany all events in the play.

RITUAL BURIAL
The play mainly concentrates on the subjugation of the black culture by the white.
The play reveals a community where they do rituals to wash away their mystery,
misfortune and other bad things through a female messenger who goes in black dress and
comes back in while if the ritual be successful. However, the whites who sees all this
happen see it as murder and barbaric. They bring soldiers who line them up all to
condemnation.
The mian music impact in the play includes the introduction of the play, where
the citizens dance and praise their ancestor, this dance achieve through music which is a
partial donor to the plays plot. The songs also impacts on the plot which is sung to honour
the day and their gods.

Musical impact use also felt when the messenger leaves to the world of the spirits
to wash their iniquities away. They sing and rejoice as the ritual begins. These songs
symbolizes the ancient believe of an optional tragedy, they sing happily as they hope and
have faith even on the complex situation as they bury her these contributes to the plot
development.
Also, the welcome of Tundeisa, the civilized man in their society is also
celebrated as it signifies their happiness to see him will counter the arrogant whites.
Songs are also used as the priest point out the messenger hasnt return and the
person starts doubting her return. They sing dirges which show the mood of the current
situation of the people.
A loud cock crow is heard which symbolizes the return of the messenger who
comes back in while as a evidence of the successful ritual. The citizens rejoice and songs
up rise as the line and dance to receive their blessings. The main use of music and the
way it impacts the plot of the ritual burial bases on the reflection of the mood of the
characters in the play.
The play ends with the whites soldier arresting the whole clan excluding
Tundeisa. The whites reason been accusing them of attempted murder and homicide.

FALANA PROMISE
DIEKO
EGL/2012/212
PART 1
ENGLISH/ARTS
DRA 102 ASSIGNMENT