Big Blog II: One Last Music Culture

 

There are not a lot of people who know where the Tuvan throat singing or khoomei comes from or where they are located. There is a small portion of Russia that is located at the border of Mongolia that is Tuva Republic. They are an autonomous republic which means they are under their own control of government. It is roughly the size of Florida. During 1944, the Soviet Union annexed them at the conclusion of World War II. During this time, the Soviet government made recordings of the Tuvan folk music also known as Pesni I instrumentalye melodii Tuvy. These were produced on vinyls. These albums were released by Melodiya in 1978. This opened the door for Tuvan music to be heard around within the Soviet Union. 

This interesting group of people then became known for their unique "throat singing." It is often just performed by one person. It is a form of polyphonic singing. When the Soviet Union disassembled in 1991, this allowed for many foreign professors to come in and learn the new found Tuvan style singing. Numerous amounts of people sought this type of style and it was a large hit during the 1990's. It is mentioned in by Pegg in the journal Discography of Tuvan Music that many artist such as: Frank Zappa, Ry Cooder, Bela Fleck, and the Kronos Quartet had some Tuva singers perform with them while on tour such as: Yat-Kha, Hun-Huur-Tu, and Albert Kuvezin. 

Yat-Kha singing Dyngyldai

Albert Kuvezin singing Charash Karaa

Throat singing is kind of like bass-singing, but the vocal folds vibrate at a high speed to get a more drone like sound. It can produce two or more notes at the same time. This is done by precise movements of the lips, tongue, jaw, velum, and larynx. Interesting fact, many throat singers can produce harmonies by only using their bodies. 

I personally liked what Pegg said in his article "No one who has ever heard Tuvan throat singing will forget it. This discography documents the sudden boom of Tuvan music on the world music circuit in the 1990s and early 2000s. For Tuvans, this is a source of great pride. However, the title of this work is somewhat misleading. It is a discography of Tuvan throat singing, not Tuvan music in general. Just as one should not expect every person you meet in the Appalachians to be an expert banjo picker, you would not hear throat singing every day in Kyzyl. Tuva also has a flourishing tradition of local pop music which mixes influences from Russian estrada, rock and Tuvan folk traditions." He continues to talk about how in today's time, their type of pop is now all over the internet. 

OTYKEN - Storm

There is not a lot of information on this small group due to the control and collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist of Republics (USSR). Nonetheless, it is a very interesting group of people that preserved their culture and the natural ways of throat singing. It is recorded history due to the interest the Soviet Union had during their control. Not much of that history has come to light as that union has collapsed and the data was not really recovered. There are lots of videos now of people throat singing that can be searched on youtube. The different styles among that nation are pretty cool too. It kind of reminds me of the people from the Andes. Most just live off the land and vibe to their own drum. 

Citations

Pegg, Carole. “Mongolian Conceptualizations of Overtone Singing (Xöömii).” British Journal of Ethnomusicology 1 (1992): 31–54. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3060726. 

Glenfield, Alexander. 2003. "The Pearl of Tuva: Authenticity and Tuvan Khorekteer (Throat Singing)." Canadian Journal for Traditional Music 30: 32-46,87. https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/pearl-tuva-authenticity-tuvan-khorekteer-throat/docview/222769347/se-2. 

Gronow, Pekka. 2021. "Discography of Tuvan Music." ARSC Journal. 52 (1) (Spring): 160-161,163. https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/discography-tuvan-music/docview/2532792889/se-2. 

Lindestad, Per-Åke, Maria Södersten, Björn Merker, and Svante Granqvist. 2001. "Voice Source Characteristics in Mongolian "Throat Singing" Studied with High-Speed Imaging Technique, Acoustic Spectra, and Inverse Filtering." Journal of Voice 15 (1) (03): 78-85. https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/voice-source-characteristics-mongolian-throat/docview/1410887/se-2. 

Music and Family

For this blog I interviewed my mom, Jennifer.

This is my family at my mom's graduation last May

Me: Who was your favorite band when you were younger?

Mom: Band would be Chicago.

Me: Do you have a specific song?

Mom: No, not really.

Me: Do you have a specific album? You just like the group?

Mom: No and yeah I just like the group.

If You Leave Me Now from album Chicago X (1976)

Hard to Say I'm Sorry from album Chicago 16 (1982)

Me: Has your music taste changed from when you were younger?

Mom: Yes.... well no

Me: Why do you say no?

Mom: Well not that it's changed, if I listened to the music that I listened to when I was younger. I still like 80's music pop. It's the best, but it's not like I listen to that all the time.

Me: Did you ever take music classes or any type of music lessons?

Mom: No

Me: Did you want to?

Mom: Yes

Me: What instrument did you want to play?

Mom: I wanted to play the flute when I was in junior high, but when my mama married Scott (her stepdad), we moved from Pacolet to Union and I missed that year of beginner band. So I wasn't able to make that up. So I wasn't able to take band like I wanted to.

Me: What was your earliest experience with music?

Mom: I remember when I was little my grandmother use to listen to Elvis a lot and we would go to my aunt Evelyn's house, which is my grandmother's sister, and she would listen to George Jones and country music. She was all about country music. I remember listening to country music at her house and then Elvis was my grandmother's favorite.

Me: What music from your youth do you think was overrated?

Mom: RAP. I hate rap music. It still is overrated.

Me: Like 80's 90's rap?

Mom: Like all of it. It's different from what it use to be back then.

Me: What's your favorite and least favorite genre and why?

Mom: Favorite, 80's pop. least favorite is rap. all rap. 

Me: Why is 80's pop your favorite?

Mom: That's what I grew up listening to. I can hear a song in a story and it brings back an instant memory of something that happened when I was a teenager. That why I still like it because it makes me think of my childhood and teenage years.

Me: Did your music selections that you use to listen to changed how you viewed things in society?

Mom: I don't think so.

Me: What music do you dislike today other than rap?

Mom: ................ I don't know. None that I know of other than rap.

Me: What about rock or heavy metal?

Mom: Well I never listened to heavy metal or head banging music. Some hard rock bands had some good songs in the 80's that I listened to, but it wasn't like I listened to them.

Me: Have you ever gone to a big music concert growing up?

Mom: The only concert that I went to that I can remember, I went to a Donny and Marie concert when I was little. 

"Take Me Back" Songs From Their Television Show (1976)

Me: What year was that?

Mom: Oh Lord, I don't remember. Maybe late 70's.

Me: So you were little little?

Mom: Yeah, I was probably 8 or 9. I don't know I can't really remember. I just remember going and there was a lot of people there.

Me: What kind of tech did you use to listen to music at various points in your life?

Mom: We had a record player, we had a boombox, we had cassette tapes, and walkmans. Nanny had a turntable (her mom) that had a cassette tape player on the front of it. Mostly a boombox and a walkman.

Me: Did you ever get into CD's? 

Mom: No, that was more of the 90's.

Me: Would you like to learn a new instrument, if so then why?

Mom: I would like to learn the piano. It's been something I've always wanted to do and I just haven't never done that. 

Me: You wanted to play the flute in middle school, would you want to learn how to play the flute? 

Mom: Umm, I think if I could play a band instrument. I would want to play the clarinet, but if I had a choice of an instrument it would be a piano.

I thanked her for her time and we ended the interview. 

Big Blog 1: American Roots

Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers

Doo-Wop was a big hit during the 40's, 50's, and 60's. It is said that doo-wop is a mixture of soul and R&B music. It originated in African American communities in the bigger cities. It started right after World War II by young black males. However, it did not take long for it to travel into a very large mix-culture style of song. This genre is the "og" of rock and roll. Runowicz mentioned in his article that other artist called doo-wop the "forgotten third of rock-'n'-roll." The original roots of doo-wop rose from barbershop quartets, gospel groups, and jazz. They were all combined together to get the new hip type of music. This style of music eventually bled into Motown groups in the 60's. It seems to me after listening to some doo-wop music that the best way to describe why this style is called doo-wop is because of the constant consonant vowel repetition behind the lead vocalist. It is normally what drives the tempo of the song. 

This song "In the Still of The Night" by The Five Satins written in 1956 is a good example of the constant repetition of the consonant vowel. 

This song by The Del Vikings "Come Go With Me" is also a great example of the vowel repetition. Also while you listen, notice how the back vocals drive the tempo of the song. It normally isn't the lead singer that carries the group, but more of the vocalist in the background. 

I really like this quote that Runowicz made in his book Forever Doo-Wop: Race, Nostalgia, and Vocal Harmony: "To attempt to define a genre of music that has emerged from a long and continually evolving tradition as doo-wop did is like scooping a bucket of water from a flowing stream. We are merely taking a sample, in the context of a particular time and place, from the much larger flow of history." 

In post-WWII America, there was a rise of vocal harmony among the black communities in larger cities. This started at a very young age for the people around the block. These young singers would start trying to create harmony groups at middle school age and sometimes earlier. They would get the sense of harmony and notation from listening to jazz and blues from the radio. These groups would then practice and form together quite literally anywhere in public. These were singing groups where they were known by the area they claimed to practice. Due to the high street performance in these urban areas and these communities being forced to stay in these conditions, it kept the blacks from being in the mainstream white society. 

This group is actually a more popular group of teenagers. They were known as The Teenagers. Why Do Fools Fall In Love is a prime example of how young these singers and artist start with creating these vocal groups. Frankie Lymon was 13 when this song was written and produced. It was a large hit for the young group. It reached number six on the billboard charts for pop single and topped the billboard charts for R&B singles for five weeks. They were also known by two group names: Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers and The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon. 

At the beginning of this genre, it was often only men vocalist. By the end of the 50's, there were many more female vocal groups that had recorded and produced songs as doo-wop groups. The first all-female groups to have a hit record was The Chantels. Most women groups practices in private rather than in public. The women of these groups were very aware of the men singing around them and would often go around and listen to them sing in talent shows or just on the street. These female groups would then incorporate some of the same harmonies the men were performing with their own feminine style. The Chantels and The Bobbettes were very influential to women groups during the 60's.

Doo-wop is commonly defined as "folk art." This is not a well known term and arthur Lawrence Pitillli tried to define it as "art made for the common people by the common people." He states in chapter six of his book Doo-Wop Acappella: A Story of Street Corners, Echoes, and Three-Part Harmonies about how "folk art is of the visual and decorative nature, that is, paintings, sculptures, pottery and so forth... Folk art includes art produced by ethnic minorities in developed societies." Often times the singing groups were African Americans or Italian Americans. Many groups such as Dion and the Belmonts, The Capris, and Randy and the Rainbows were Puerto Rican or Italian American groups that were very popular during this era of music. 

Dion and the Belmonts where the most popular group in the late 50's into the 60's. Their first song I Wonder Why published in early 1958 hit the billboard top 100 at number 22. They were a hit on national television. In 1959, their next single A Teenager In Love hit number five on the billboard hot top 100 chart. This is a very popular song and is very recognizable. It is often stated as one of the greatest songs in rock and roll history. This group was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in 2012. 

Most of the background music is acapella. They had to find ways to fill the silence while singing. Not many groups had instruments that were accessible to them. Some of the lower to middle class groups could not afford instruments so they often used their voices to mimic instrument sounds. Which is why most of the time the background singers are often just repeating the lead singer with changing pitches or just singing "ooooh" or "whhaaaa" while changing pitches. More of the higher class and highly known groups had instruments. It was normally normal jazz instruments like piano, drums, trumpet, and saxophone. These phrases that are used by the background vocalist is where doo-wop gets its name.

The Chantells hit Maybe

The Bobbettes hit Mr. Lee

Citations:

John Michael Runowicz. 2010. Forever Doo-Wop : Race, Nostalgia, and Vocal Harmony. American Popular Music. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=e025xna&AN=3107922&site=ehost-live.

Pitilli, Lawrence. Doo-Wop Acappella : A Story of Street Corners, Echoes, and Three-Part Harmonies. Blue Ridge Summit: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Incorporated, 2016. ProQuest Ebook Central.

Goosman, Stuart L.. Group Harmony : The Black Urban Roots of Rhythm and Blues. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2010. ProQuest Ebook Central.

Komara, Edward. 2022. "R&B in DC 1940-1960 - Rhythm & Blues, Doo Wop, Rockin' Rhythm and More." ARSC Journal. 53 (2) (Fall): 318-324,373. https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/r-amp-b-dc-1940-1960-rhythm-blues-doo-wop-rockin/docview/2765347836/se-2. 

Music and Gender

    

Among the stereotypes, there are several that were just in local middle and high schools. While I was growing up, it was uncommon for guys to play flute and clarinet. I remember my sixth grade year I had a guy friend that played the clarinet along with me. I had never seen it before in concert band. Before I was in middle school my older brother played trumpet in concert band and I had never seen guys playing flute or clarinet. I thought it was strange, but I never questioned it. There is also women playing saxophone. I never really thought about this one until I was in high school and I was playing with a lot of guys. I then realized how uncommon it was. It never bothered me. My dad played saxophone while he was in high school and I had been wanting to play since I was in seventh grade. I finally got the chance to switch and I did not look back. I always enjoyed being the odd ball out in the section. There always seemed to be drama in other groups throughout the band, but we were vibing in the saxophone section. 

< This is a picture of my little saxophone section (myself, Hunter, and Brayden) my junior year of high school plus our sousaphone player, Dylan. 

< This was my little saxophone player, Hunter  

I actually do not know a lot of female saxophone players. I found this video a while back and was blown away at her talent. I do not spend a good amount of time sitting down and listening to saxophone music. It is just something I do not do. So I actually do not know a lot about her other than her playing is magnificent. She eats and leaves no crumbs.

I have also found these artist on Instagram and have taken a large liking to them. It is Leo P. and Grace Kelly. I find both of them very talented. I enjoy seeing their reels come up and listening to them go back and forth playing to each other. Grace Kelly is quite literally, to me, an S tier saxophone player. This video is just a small clip of what all she can do. She is great. 

Music & Rituals

As a student of Converse University, rituals are a common thing on campus. One ritual that we hold at Converse is Lessons and Carols. It holds lots of value not only to the university, but to the community around it. As someone who has been a part of this ritual for the past two years. I can see the value of this ritual to the people around me. Some of the music is more meaningful to me just simply by how the ensemble sounds. The harmonies and the message we try to portray. One of my favorites is Once in a Royal David's City. I like the harmonies in this song and how it talks about the birth of Christ. 

I know that for the Lessons and Carols that are held on campus we always intertwine scripture reading with songs or music that correlates to what is being said. This past year the Spartanburg Master Chorale sang the hymn: Myn Lyking. This song is a beautiful song and the chorale executed it perfectly. I really like the tenor and bass line. Harmony is my favorite to just about any song, if done correctly. The recording that I am attaching is the original composer's recording of the hymn. I really like how the chorale incorporated the organ rather than an orchestra. Regardless, both are amazing.

I'm just going to be real, I normally do not enjoy sitting there for what feels like an eternity and do little playing. However, this year was different. I thoroughly enjoyed our musical selections this year for the wind ensemble and I also got to play along with my students from Woodruff. This was, for me, a different type of proud. I'm a true band mom when it comes to my students and their musical pathways. I enjoy getting to see them grow and mature as musicians. I had three students that got to play in the ensemble for Lessons and Carols. I am hoping to make this a new ritual for the future and having my kids come in and experience collegiate level music. I love hearing how much they enjoyed playing with the ensemble. 

ANYWAYS, I also enjoyed playing the almighty Sleigh Ride. It is always a must when it comes to Christmas time. Everyone loves it and it makes the soul feel right. My favorite part is when we start swingin' the melody.  We play it every year. No other explanation needed. 

Music and Me

 Hello to all you cool cats and kittens! I am Baileigh Gossett and I'm from Cross Anchor, SC. I am a sophomore music education major at Converse. Music has always been my thing since I was little. It started with piano lessons around the age of 7. This led up to middle school band, joining marching band, and high school band. In middle school I played the clarinet and then switched to alto saxophone my freshman year of high school. I still currently play the alto saxophone in wind ensemble with the occasional playing of the tenor saxophone. I also play many instruments outside Converse such as the bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, trumpet, and occasionally the mandolin. I enjoy getting to have new experiences of different instruments. 

< This picture is from this year working with Woodruff High School's marching band.

1. An Example of Something I Like Right Now:

Since the start of marching band season I have often been listening to some of the show tunes that were used. I listen to the entire list, but I enjoy Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In by The 5th Dimension mostly. It is groovy like a drive thru movie. I enjoy getting in my car and blaring this through my radio. The harmonies in it is what mainly draws me to the song more than the words. 

2. An Example of Music that is Important to Me:

I have a very wide range of musical taste. I enjoy listening to lots of different music. However, the music that is most important to me is my gospel music. I also like to incorporate a lot of bluegrass in the mix so when I find songs that have both I am immediately pulled to it. The Doucettes is a small bluegrass group that plays gospel music. I have just recently started listening to them, but I have enjoyed hearing them sing. This is just one of their many bluegrass songs that I love.

3. An Example of Music I Don't Really Connect With:

There is actually not a lot of music that I do not connect with. I would say that it would be more of a genre of music that I do not enjoy. I am not really a big fan of metal music or much of rap music. I know a handful of rap songs due to family members. I just do not really get into what is being said and also not really being able to understand what is being said. One song I am not a big fan of is WAP by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion. This song can and will get stuck in my head if I hear just a few words of the song. I cannot stand this song. It is also very vulgar song that I do not really care for. However, I do think that both artist are amazing and have incredible talent. This song is just not for me.