Professional Documents
Culture Documents
to express the way they live, used to live or local mythology. An oral tradition Played at informal occasions Not important to be a trained musician to enjoy it Children are encouraged to participate in ensembles Everyone is encouraged to sing along
against the Vietnam War eg Blowin in the wind Folk songs with political lyrics = Protest Songs South Africa = Hugh Masekela i.e Thimlela
Folk Instruments
Instrumentation
Electric piano, guitar and bass have been used in folk
music as long as they have been used in popular music. Some believe that it should only be played on acoustic instruments - Purists, as they believe folk music is traditional music, and therefore electric instruments are a betrayal of the values. With the introduction of electric instruments has come a crossover of styles, known as fusion music.
Fusion
Mingling of two or more styles, traditions and genres.
Waulking Songs
Waulking = An ancient process for making tweed more
flexible and windproof Songs written to make the process a more sociable occasion and to keep everyone in time. One would lead the lyrics about some aspect of village life or gossip, then everyone joins in with nonsense syllables (like la la la) Considered unlucky to repeat a whole verse so songs had many verses. One line is repeated, perhaps giving the leader time to think of the next line Waulking process is still used in some parts of Scotland to preserve the tradition.
Capercaillie
Scottish folk band founded in the 1980s by Donald Shaw and fronted
by Karen Matheson.. The group originates from Oban, Argyll, a region of Western Scotland and is named after the Western Capercaillie, a bird native to Scotland. Spotted as a recording act at Mull Music Festival in 1983. The band recorded its first album, Cascade, in 1984. Their 1992 EP A Prince Among Islands was the first Scottish-Gaelic record to reach the UK top 40 singles chart, peaking at number 39. Another of their singles, Dark Alan reached number 65. The album Secret People got number 40, and To the Moon got to number 41. They have adapted traditional Gaelic songs and music using modern production techniques, and often mix musical forms, such as one song which combined traditional lyrics with drum and bass
Read Page 130 of the text book for an overview.
Capercaillie continued...
Karen Matheson Vocals Charlie McKerron Fiddle Manus Lunny Guitar and Irish Bouzouki Donald Shaw Accordian, Piano, Synth Michael Mcgoldrick - Flute, Whistle, Uilleann Pipes Ewan Vernal Acoustic and Electric Bass James MacKintosh Drums and Percussion
ensemble. Line up has changed over the years but this particular line up has stayed together for quite some time.
Carmichael. Original song was over 200 lines and would have taken over an hour to perform. Capercaillie only use an extract from the Alexander Carmichael collection. Original song is a lament sung by Seathans wife, telling of his deeds, character, time spent with him and his demise. Full title is Chuir MAthair Mise Dhan Taigh Charraideach (My Father sent me to a house of sorrow)
Lyrics
Seisd 1: Hi ri huraibhi o ho Seisd 2: O hi a bho ro hu o ho
Nonsense syllables
'N oidhche sin a rinn e bhanais dhomh Gur truagh a Righ nach b'e m'fhalairidh M'an do bhrist mo lamh an t-aran dhomh M'an d'rinn mo sgian biadh a ghearradh dhomh
Sheathain chridhe nan sul socair Tha do bhata nochd 's na portaibh Och, ma tha, chaneil i sociar O nach roch thu, ghaoil, na toiseach.
Structure
Intro Verse 1 Break Verse 2 Verse 3 Verse 4 Verse 5 Verse 6 Instrumental Verse 7 Verse 8
Important Notes
Harmony is less important than
the melody and rhythm (4 chords in the whole song) Changes in chord sequence, though infrequent, are noticeable, highlighting a change of section or mood. Melodic lines are played in a folk style Players improvise around the melody simultaneously, creating a heterophonic texture
Outro
counterpoint with the Bouzouki to give a sense of movement. Bass plays staccato notes, working with the bass drum so almost imperceptable. Chord sequence eventually established as Em G Time signature is ambiguous, possible 6/8 or 12/8 but hi-hat and shaker every 2 beats gives the impression of triple time.
pentatonic or G major pentatonic scale throughout Voice has a characteristic lilting rhythm, working against what the other instruments are playing, making the time signature ambiguous.
continue Fiddle more prominent, though concentrates more on effects than melody.
Verse 3 and 4
Verse 3 (Bars 21-24)
Seamless continuation from
V2 Last line is unaccompanied, serving as a link between the opening section and the next section.
strummed accompaniment on acoustic guitar/bouzouki Backing vocals join in for nonsense syllables, leaving main lyrics for lead vocals Drums clearly in 12/8 Bass part more substantial Chord sequence changes to C-G-Em-G to add harmonic interest.
Verse 5 and 6
Verse 5 (Bars 29-32)
As verse 4 Accordion provides
countermelodies to vocals
melodic doubling. Instruments (especially the accordion) emphasise beats 2 and 5, adding rhythmic interest.
Verse 7 and 8
Verse 7 (Bars 44-48)
Chords change to Am7-Em-
Em-G for one verse only. Dynamics drop considerably, leaving room for lead vocals and backing vocals All instruments drop out for the last line, adding to contrast as drums build up to last verse.
Heterophonic
Sustained Lilting
Section B Question
a) From which Album is this piece taken? (1) b) Which language is this piece sung in? (1) c) Discuss the piece under the following headings