Kaylee Davis
MUSC103: Music Appreciation
April 13, 2023
Listening Journal:
Four Songs of Small-Scale Societies
Listening Journal
Entry 1
“Baka Traditional Music - Yelli (Forest Yodelling).” 2016. YouTube. YouTube. May 20.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAYN8GT0N6g.
Genre: BaAka traditional music; Forest yodeling
Analysis
Sound: The most prominent sounds in this piece are the makeshift drums, clapping, and multiple
vocal parts. The piece begins with only the drums and clapping. At about 0:18, a female vocalist
begins yodeling. At around 0:27, other vocalists join in with varying vocal sounds. All these
sounds continue together throughout the piece and ends with all the vocalists joining together for
one last chant. The makeshift drum makes a hollow sound. The main yodeling vocals sound deep
and warm, while some of the background vocals sound bright. All the contrasting sounds create a
polyphonic texture.
Melody: The yodeling throughout the song creates leaps between high and low pitches. This
piece has a disjunct melodic contour.
Harmony: The harmony in this piece was not in sync with the melody. The harmonic vocals
created a happy and energetic characteristic to the overall piece. This is not the kind of harmony
I am used to hearing. I am used to hearing harmony that is in sync with the melody and is sung at
a higher pitch. This harmony was a different pitch than the melody, but it was not in tune with
the melody.
Entry 2
“Remembering Ulaatai River.” 2021. YouTube. YouTube. January 15.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoWhMkd3pgA.
Genre: Tuvan Throat Singing
Analysis
Sound: This piece is a solo with just one vocalist. The dynamics of the vocals in this piece range
from very low to very high. Sometimes the vocals are deep and throaty, and other times they are
high and whistle-like. The majority of the piece was somewhere in between soft and loud, which
created a calmness. Since there is only one set of vocals with no accompaniment, this piece is
monophonic.
Melody: The melody consisted of one vocalist using a few pitches. There were no other
instruments in this piece. There were leaps between notes which created a disjunct melodic
contour.
Rhythm: There was no clear rhythm in this piece.
Entry 3
“Narasirato - ‘Painaha’ in Oterama Village, Are'are.” 2018. YouTube. YouTube. January 31.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbtyrX8nQCQ.
Genre: Are’are panpipe music
Analysis
Sound: This piece consists of drums, panpipes, and vocals. In the beginning of the piece, only
the drums and panpipes play. At about 0:30, the vocals join. Some of the panpipes sound breathy
and bright while others sound hollow and warm. The drums make a soft thumping sound. The
vocals consist of a male’s voice that can be described as deep and warm. The song is energetic
and upbeat which creates a happy feeling.
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Harmony: The low- and high-pitched panpipes create an energetic and happy harmony. This
type of harmony was closer to what I am used to hearing as the sounds complimented each other
instead of contradicting each other.
Rhythm: While there are a lot of sounds in this piece, the warmer sounding panpipes play
throughout the piece which keeps the beat and rhythm consistent.
Entry 4
“Song for Gathering Mushrooms.” 2015. YouTube. YouTube. June 4.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlYzIUXlpQE.
Genre: BaAka traditional music
Analysis
Sound: Sounds of nature and insects can be heard in the background of this recording, which
adds to the overall feel of the piece. In the beginning of the recording, far away yodeling can be
heard. The yodeling gradually gets louder and seems closer by about 0:20. About 0:20 is also
when other vocals join in together to create an almost yelling sound. This louder dynamic lasts
throughout the rest of the piece. The yodeling is warm while the other vocals are high pitched
and bright. This piece is polyphonic in texture because of the two different melodic lines.
Melody: The yodeling moves by leaps which creates a disjunct melodic contour.
Rhythm: There is no clear rhythm in this piece. There are no instruments keeping a tempo or
beat and the vocals are not in sync or following the same melody.
