Capercaillie – Skye Waulking Song Year 10 – Lesson 2

Lesson Objective: To know what waulking is and how the specific cultural setting affects the music. To know the instruments present in the piece and how these help demonstrate musical fusion. Key word: Waulking

Starter Match the instrument pictures up to the name of the instrument. Which of these instruments are common in folk music? Mark these with a star? Circle any of these that you remember being used in the Capercaillie

‘Skye Waulking Song’ This song is an example of a traditional work song from Scotland (Hence ‘Skye’ – see map) Waulking is an ancient process used for making cloth that whilst no longer used today, still forms an important part of Scottish Cultural heritage.

Waulking Waulking is a process used to make tweed fabric, a thick windproof fabric made in Scotland. It refers to a technique where the material is repeatedly stretched to ensure that it becomes fully windproof. It is performed by a group of people (usually women) who would work around the same table, repeatedly stretching the cloth for up to 16 hours a day. The process of walking died out when the invention of machinery meant that it was to costly to make it by hand.

Musical Features of a Waulking Song A steady beat – helps to keep the musicians in time Call and response – allows all the members of the group to join in on the response sections, in order to relieve boredom. Use of nonsense syllables -means that people can join in even if they don’t know the words. Time signature of 6/8 or 12/8 – helps keep all the women moving the tweed

Examples of Fusion These are mainly shown through the use of instruments: Complete the table on your sheets, noting down the instruments that fall into the ‘traditional’ or ‘modern’ categories.

Musical Structure This piece does not have choruses, but does include elements such as a bridge, an introduction and an instrumental. The full structure is written out on your sheet. Listen to the song and note where the different sections start. For each section write down one musical feature you notice – this could be an new instrument, a particular playing style, a change of chord pattern – something you notice that is different from the previous sections

Questions What instrument opens the piece? What texture is formed of interweaving parts? What instrument plays the solo line in the introduction? Does the piece sound major or minor? What is waulking? Name two instruments used in this piece which would be used in popular music Where does the bouzouki come from? What language is the voice singing in?

Answers: Synthesizer Polyphonic Fiddle/Violin Minor A technique used in the production of tweed cloth Drum kit/Electric bass/Electric piano/Synthesizer Greece Gaelic