MUSC103: Music Appreciation
April, 2023
Listening Journal Two.
Four Songs of Small-scale Societies
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ENTRY 1
The Benedictine Monks Of Santo Domingo De Silos “Anon Puer Natus In Bethlehem” Posted by
Kondora1. April 15, 2010. YouTube video, 2:13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndSA0R6vx5U
Sound: As with most Gregorian Chant’s the texture is monophonic, and the effect is glorious with
all the voices being sung in one accord from a low bass to high tenor.
Melody: The chant rises and falls effortlessly like crashing of waves on a seashore and the
periodic vocal “hallelujah” is heard throughout the piece right at the moment where the chant
settles.
Harmony: Features no harmony or accompaniment because its texture is monophonic.
Rhythm: Has no obvious beat and simply flows freely and efficiently.
Form: Has clearly 5 distinct sections where pitch gets higher at 0:30, 1:00, 1:28, 1:58, and
clearly fades out in a low monotone at the end 2:10-2:12.
ENTRY 2
Areatakiki Cultural Pan Pipe Group Of South Guadalcanal. Posted by Solomon Islands National
Museum. October 11, 2022. YouTube video, 1:09-4:31
Sound: The song begins at 1:09 with a solo sound of a high-pitched panpipe. Then there are a
few higher pitched panpipes along with some low pitch base from other pipes while adding the
mixture of the drum increases its polyphonic texture.
Melody: It has a very cheerful Disney-like flow to it and is carried mostly by panpipes until at
2:31 when the song transitions to a new melodic tune with the shouts of voices in unison absent
from the panpipes.
Harmony: The multiple melodic lines are not orderly but create many harmonized sounds in
concert.
Rhythm: The rhythm is very fast and upbeat with sporadic burst of rapid-fire beats from the
drums before returning to the consistent 4 beat flow that it carries throughout the song.
Form: The form seems to be somewhat strophic because of its repetitiveness in each section of
the song. At 2:22 the form clearly changes and again at 3:52 where all the panpipes jump back in
before fading out at 4:29.
Sound: I do love Gregorian Chants like this one with its monophonic texture. Incorporating a
somber tone mixed with the additional background vibrational added creates a very reflective
state of mind.
Melody: The chant maintains a meditative pace that rises very gradually then steadies and rises
again maintaining a constant reverberating peace.
Harmony: Although the texture is monophonic the organ type sounds in the background could
possibly be adding a bit of an accompaniment.
Rhythm: Very monotone and moves extremely slow without any detection of a beat other than
the occasional bass type hum in the background.
Form: Long consistent and meticulously timed intervals.
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ENTRY 3
Phuru Runas. “Execelente Quenas Y Tollos” Posted by Sumac Pacha. January 9, 2018. YouTube
video, 3:46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMK0rZHByxw
Sound: It sounds very busy with the guitar, ukulele, panpipe, flute, and drum combinations that
create a loud noisy type of ensemble with each instrument distinctly disconnected from one
another within the music’s polyphonic texture.
Melody: The melody seems to be carried mostly by the flutes and panpipes and intermittently
with the ukulele. Feels like it misses a beat here and there then repeats itself like a scratched
record skipping.
Harmony: Again, the melodic lines are busy and somewhat chaotic as if they are all competing
to be the most prominent sound, yet it all works in a messy kind of way.
Rhythm: It is very consistent, kind of like the sound of a herd of galloping horses.
Form: Methodically constant begging for some kind of variation.
ENTRY 4
Chant of the Mystics: Divine Gregorian Chant. “Kyrie Eleison (orbis factor)” – lyrics & notes.
Posted by Patrick Lenk. September 11, 2019. YouTube video, 7:45.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8B_BLtpxQM
