Landscape and style

Subject: Landscape and style
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Nov 21 - 01:38 AM

I remember hearing Alistair Anderson say, that he felt immediate landscape affected the way we play our individual music, what are other peoples views on this idea

Subject: RE: Landscape and style
From: The Sandman
Date: 10 Nov 21 - 01:42 AM

So I get the impression, that people do not consider immediate geographical environment has an influence on the way people play music,since there have been no replies

Subject: RE: Landscape and style
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 10 Nov 21 - 04:10 AM

I suspect we're mostly urban and thus insulated from the geography of our homes. I think our social milieu would have more influence.

Subject: RE: Landscape and style
From: GUEST,Teefy
Date: 10 Nov 21 - 08:56 AM

While I don't know so much about geography specifically shaping music , there is research about it shaping language (for example the affect of geographic isolation on accents and dialects). There is, in turn, lot of material on our language shaping music. That is definitely worth looking into. There are also obvious examples of subject matter like mountains, deserts, or the sea, that would be less likely to come from regions distant frome those. Another element of 'landscape' to consider is the weather and seasons. My area never gets any snow, only has a few nights below freezing, and experiences a great die off of plants in the Summer. Thus, I would think it unlikely there are many Ohlone folk songs about winter bringing snow and severe fasting.

If you extend the notion of 'landscape' to include the environment, flora, fauna, and agriculture, the effect is undeniable. Harvest songs, songs personifying and moralizing various crops/trees/flowers, hunting songs, etc. There are also instruments and tunes that mimic the sound of an area's birdcalls or the noises of their animals. The name of a specific song escapes me at the moment, but there are some banging tunes for the erhu that mimic horse sounds. A lyrical example could the preoccupation with hops shown by some Kentish folk music.

As Manitas said above, many now live in cities. However, I think man-made landscapes have just as large an influence as natural ones. Mines, factories, and trains all have their own repertoire of folk songs. I don't see why 'urban' as a landscape shouldn't be counted. Where there are folk, there is folk, after all.

Subject: RE: Landscape and style
From: The Sandman
Date: 10 Nov 21 - 01:48 PM

Libba Cotten wrote freight train as a young girl listening to the sound of trains

Subject: RE: Landscape and style
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 10 Nov 21 - 06:14 PM

Aural 'landscape'? Of course!

Wagner wrote the sailor's chorus of Der fliegende Holländer listening to the sounds of 'sea shanties' on the Norwegian coast.

Harry Nilsson wrote One is the Loneliest Number to the busy signal on his telephone line.

We hear, we do.

Subject: RE: Landscape and style
From: The Sandman
Date: 10 Nov 21 - 07:41 PM

Graeme Miles,Ring of Iron,Dick Miles,Bantry Bay Song,AlanTodd, Sea Coal Warrior,Richard Grainger Darklands,
Farewell to the Monty, JohnnyHandle

Subject: RE: Landscape and style
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Nov 21 - 04:24 AM

This song was influenced by nature and to a lesser extent landscape
I have managed to spend some time song writing, below,
Swift song.
Flying high but never landing
Flighted shaft of love entrancing
Through the clouds so lightly dancing
do si do and then farewell
do si do and then farewell
I watched you gliding higher
Calling follow me for ever
Touching souls we soar together
Chorus
Flying for the sun were seeking
Cross the waves so swiftly fleeting
Never grounding loves fond feelings
chorus.
From the cliff face now the leaving
chasing sunbeams all the evening
joined in love our fusion weaving
Chorus
Flying high you started soaring
to the ground i kept on falling
Helpless till she heard the calling
chorus
High unto the cliff face leaving
Quivering heart so sadly weeping
Gentle hands that kindly freed me
chorus
copyright. Dick Miles 2020