The four pages under this chapter heading offer a look at the four instruments in band Earthly Delights menagery that seem to attract more attention than all the others. All four happen to be instruments on which a drone or chord can be sustained at the same time as playing a melody. This capacity and the extra volume it afforded was once greatly favoured by musicians in the time before electronic amplifiers. Indeed, in medieval Europe most music (secular or religious) was drone based - and loud drone based instruments were particularly favoured for popular dancing - most of which took place outdoors. As music moved inside and into different modes, their popularity faded. 'Bourdon musique', as the French call it (drone being 'bourdon' in French, 'Bordun' in German or 'Bordone' in Italian) has, however, survived in many Europe folk traditions (not least the Bordonian)- and has recently been enjoying a revival.
|
Copyright © 1995 - 2005 Earthly Delights ABN:
99 422 661 240 |
