musical similarities

EL CONDOR PASA COMPOSITOR HUANUQUEÑO DANIEL ALOMIA ROBLES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MJ8MfLgjDs

The example of “El cordo pasa” that I have embedded above is a rock version of this traditional piece. The song gives an impression that it is being played in club. Rolling riffs of drum, distorted guitar and electric bass gives a flavor that doesn’t sound any close to the original number. The smooth and pleasant feature of the original composition is overtaken by fast and heavy sound of rock music.  The streaming sound–the crucial and pacifying component of original music– is almost completely absent. Only the lead is recognizable and that too sounds different due to processed sound from distortion paddle. In addition, there are lots of improvised and added leads.  This example is deliberate political exploitation of original song. The name “El Condor Pasa” is used to create enthusiasm in audience but the original song has been almost completely modified to make compatible to the audiences’ choice.  

I am not sure why, but this music piece gave me an impression of urgency; maybe, the fast tempo of the song gave me that feeling. Like many musical forms of Balkan region, the primary character of this song is its repeating melody. The melody at the beginning of the song kept on repeating, for at least 3-4 times until it was followed immediately by a flute like sounding instrument, probably zurna. Then, the melody from zurna started repeating for many times. Then, another stringed instrument (close to violin), probably gudulka accompanied the fast pace of the song.

The main characteristics of this given piece, in my view, are the repetition of melodies, solos from various kinds of instruments and fast pace. Even, the background rhythm is so fast that the solos play different role, maybe as a form of rhythm, throughout the song, in contrast to western rock music in which solos are played for a longer time and usually only once.

The most obvious and also the characteristic feature of Gamelan beleganjur is its processional form. Other forms of Indonesian gong ensembles that we have studied were mainly played were sedentary (seated) in forms. There are many social rules that apply during playing Indonesian gong ensembles, for example, the direction players should face, the gender based prohibition on some instruments etc. So, this processional form might suggest some cultural features of the society where it is played.

Other forms of differences include the differences in musical instruments used. For example, the use of cymbal is absent in almost all other forms of Indonesian gong ensembles. The type of musical instruments used is also an important difference. For being able to be played while walking, many instruments, though of similar type, are smaller in forms. For example, in the gamelan practicum we did, the gong was to big to be carried during procession. so, smaller forms are used. Many of the musical instruments are basically the same.

At first, both the soft and loud forms sounded similar to me. Use of gongs and other instruments similar in construction made the overall impression very similar except that, Ladrang Wilujeng had more silent use of gongs. And, the most evident difference is the presence of vocals in “Ladrang Wilujeng” and absence in the other. The vocal skills and flexibility suggest that vocal is a crucial part of the former because one can only achieve those skills after much practice. A subtle sound of something close to clarinet was followed by the voice. “Ladrang wilujeng” increased in pace after some time and finally ended in slow tempo. “Bubaran Kembang Pacar” too seemed to have gained some tempo but close hearing doesn’t suggest so.

The similarities that I could draw after listening the tracks are:-

1. Repeating melody:- Repeating melodies were characteristics of both songs. The same melody from which the song started repeated again and again till end.

2. Dominance of an instrument:- Out of few instruments used in the music, one dominant form could easily be distinguished from other forms. In the first example, soft but high pitched instrument played the dominant role while the second piece has some loud but low pitched form as the leading instrument.

3. Use of related instruments: Though more than a single instrument was used in both, variations between the different instruments was low (in comparison with western and other form of music which have huge variety of musical instruments).

Differences:-

1.Sound:- the first Piece was a soft music, probably played within a room. the second piece was a louder one.

2. No. of instruments:- the number of instruments in the second was relatively more than that of the first piece.

Both of the musical forms suggest that they are not “usual” music created to accompany voice. In fact, the instruments used are typical, maybe, characteristics of the culture there.