Download `Skye Waulking Song` by Capercaillie

‘Skye Waulking Song’ by Capercaillie
Historical/Social Context
‘Folk music’ (music of the people) of traditional music is passed on by ORAL
tradition and is rarely notated. It is used at social gathering, and is open to all
people to perform. Often folk songs told stories and reflected ways of life of the
people that sang them. Folk music is different around the world
Folk instruments used in this extract include accordion, fiddle, uilleann pipes,
bouzouki, Wurlitzer piano, bodhran
This song is an example of FUSION, where more than one musical style or culture
are mixed. This is a fusion of FOLK and POP/ROCK. Other fusion styles include
Bhangra (Indian classical and pop)
WAULKING SONGS: Waulking is an ancient process for making tweed fabric
flexible/waterproof. A waulking song id used to make this process more sociable
and to keep workers in time. One person leads with lyrics based on well-known
story, and others in group join in with some nonsense syllables (like ‘la-la’ in
modern songs)
Capercaillie is a Scottish band which formed in the 1980s. It includes many
instrumentalists renowned in the folk music world. The singer is Karen Matheson,
who won national Gaelic singing competition. This song is from album ‘Nadurra’
released in 2000
Musical features of this piece
This song tells the story of Seathan, son of the king of Ireland. Original song is 200
lines long, but this song uses only section sung by Seathan’s wife, telling of his
deeds and eventual demise. It is a LAMENT, a song of grieving for her loss. The
full title means ‘My father sent me to a house of sorrow’. It is sung in GAELIC
STRUCTURE
Intro – Verse 1 – Break – Verse 2 – Verse 3 – Verse 4 – Verse 5 – Verse 6 –
Instrumental – Verse 7 – Verse 8 – Outro. In each verse the same line is repeated,
interspersed by nonsense syllables. The purpose of these was originally for the group
to respond to the solo singer, and also to help keep everyone in time. In the outro the
vocals IMPROVISE using the nonsense syllables
TONALITY
Key signature is E minor.
HARMONY
In keeping with the folk tradition, harmonies are very simple, as MELODY is
considered to be more important. There are only FOUR CHORDS in this song – Em ,
G, C, Am7. When the chord sequence changes, although the number of chords is
limited, the effect is noticeable and mood changes.
CHORD SEQUENCE
In most verses is Em – G. In verse 4 it becomes C – G – Em – G. in verse 7 it
becomes Am7 – Em – Em – G. In the outro chord sequence changes to C and G
MELODY
The VOCAL part is sung using the scale of E minor pentatonic (or G major pentatonic)
throughout. The instrumental melodic lines are IMPROVISED around the melody.
When this happens simultaneously, so that instruments and vocal are playing/singing
a very similar line the TEXTURE is HETEROPHONIC
METRE: 12 / 8.
Metre is unclear at start
INSTRUMENTS:
Folk instruments (fiddle, accordion, uilleann pipes, bouzouki, Wurlitzer piano. The
fiddle is played using TREMOLO. Sometimes they double the vocals (heterophonic),
sometimes they weave melodies around the vocals in a kind of call and response
texture, or add COUNTERMELODIES – tunes that compliment the main vocal melody.
In the INSTRUMENTAL section there is a solo for the uillean pipe and fiddle
(heterophonic)
TEXTURE
Begins with a sustained keyboard chord, fiddle Is added, then drums…..At times
instruments work in COUNTERPOINT, in call and response style (listen to Wurlitzer
and bouzouki at opening. Sometimes, like at end of verse 3, the instruments drop out
so voice is UNACCOMPANIED. Backing vocals are added in verse 4 as well as full
band
Key words
HETEROPHONIC
PENTATONIC SCALE
IMPROVISATION
Thought provokers:
Fusion styles – how and which ones?
Instrumentation linked to folk music and rock music
How are the instruments used – identification, their interplay with each other,
whether they are doubling (heterophonic texture)
Waulking songs – what are they? Who performed them? How?
Structure – including the use of nonsense syllables, why these were important
Chord sequences used – identification and completion of these
Tonality – of the melodic and the piece in general
The lyrics – what are they about and how is this reflected in the song