Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
‘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