Area of Study 4

Capercaillie ‘Skye Waulking Song’

Time signature is 12/8

Structure – the piece can be divided into two sections.

Instruments – Bouzouki, Uilleann pipes, flute, fiddle, accordion, acoustic guitar, electric bass, drumkit, synthesizer, bodhran.

There are nonsense lyrics. Oral tradition.

The melody is pentatonic.

Tonality – The first section is in E minor. Moves between the chords of Em and G

The second section (verse 4) has the chords:

||: C | G | Em | C :||

Instrumental section – the fiddle and uilleann pipes play a melody together with small variations (heterophonic).

Koko ‘Yiri’

Koko are a band from Burkina Faso

African music will often feature:

Call and response

Repetition (use of ostinato)

Polyphony/polyrhythms

Improvisation

Instruments – Djembe, Donno (talking drum), Dundun, Balafon, Voices

The piece is in Gb major.

Begins with a solo balafon. This is a monophonic texture. This is joined by a second balafon. They play a similar part. This is heterophonic.

Talking drums and djembes enter and play a repeated rhythm. This is maintained throughout (one quaver followed by two semiquavers).

Voices sing in unison at some points and call and response at others.

The balafons have improvised solos.

Rag Desh

Structure –

Alap – Opening section. No tempo. Explores the notes of the rag.

Jhor – Tempo introduced. Still fairly slow. Melody is improvised.

Jhalla – Slightly faster. Still uses improvisation.

Gat/Bandish/Bhajan – Prepared melody. Final section in instrumental music is the gat. If there are vocals this is known as either bandish/bhajan. There may still be improvisation.

Instruments – Sitar, sarod (lower range than sitar), sarangi (bowed), esraj (bowed), tabla (two small drums), bansuri (wooden flute), tambura (plays the drone), pakhawaj (drum), cymbals

Key words

Tala – rhythmic cycle

Rag – scale in Indian music

Mind (pronounced ‘meend’) – note bending

Sam – the first beat

Rasa – mood of the piece