Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Have you ever wondered how Eastern European vocalists sing polyphony in parallel 2nds? Do you want to know how world music works? Understanding world music involves stepping outside your own perspective and seeing from the world musician’s point of view instead. Read more to answer the question, “How do you sing Eastern European vocal harmony in 2nds by ear?”
This article uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Eastern Europeans Sing Vocal Harmony in 2nds by Ear
“Really, Eastern Europeans sing harmony in 2nds by ear?” Yes, and it contrasts starkly with what Westerners expect to hear:
- Western vocalists sing parallel 3rds and 6ths because they sound pleasant and stable to our ears.
- The idea that singers would willingly sing parallel 2nds baffles many musicians.
However, according to Curt Sachs, that’s exactly what happens:
There is a constant grating friction, the one or two steps of the melody are accompanied at the minimal distance of an often nondescript second. (The Wellsprings of Music 180)
In addition, it’s not a rare occurrence, but spans large parts of the globe.
…we meet with a startling kind of parallel, almost unbearable to our ear, in a wide stretch from Micronesia to South Africa and the southeastern quarter of Europe… (The Wellsprings of Music 179)
Is what we perceive as consonance and dissonance innate, or have we just been steeped in the music we grew up with?
- This question made me wonder if just intonation was just a European theory instead of a universal principle. (Not that I think just intonation is bad, mind you.)
- To me, the parallel-2nds polyphony seemed to be evidence against the idea that everything in music can be based on harmonious small number ratios.
How Eastern Europeans Tune Vocal Harmony in 2nds by Ear
“So, how do Eastern European vocalists sing harmony in 2nds by ear?” It seems that Eastern European vocalists may have been influenced by inharmonic spectrum instruments:
In west-central Bulgaria… another kind of two-part singing is characteristic. The second voice moves between the tonic and the subtonic tones, which… creates a dissonant harmony of frequently sounding seconds. The singers find these harmonies pleasant, however, and try to make them “ring like bells.” (Timothy, The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: Europe 896)
The last part of the quote holds a possible clue to how it works. The singers try to imitate the sound of bells.
- A bell has a tone that has audible beating.
- Take a bell and strike it. You can instantly hear the pulsating tone color. (Listen to the first video.)
- When Bulgarian vocalists sing two notes a 2nd apart, they adjust the rate of beating to create a “bell-like” effect.
- This means that the Bulgarian singers focus on the beating between the two notes over finding harmonic agreement between the parts (i.e., making thirds and fifths aurally fuse together).
So, where performers focus their attention can have a huge impact on the music’s sound.
Video: Pulsating Bell Sound
Video: Lithuanian Women Singing in Parallel 2nds
Final Thoughts on “How Do You Sing Eastern European Vocal Harmony in 2nds by Ear?”
“How do you sing Eastern European vocal harmony in 2nds by ear?” If you’re in the mood to experiment, you can find out:
- Watch the video of the Lithuanian singers to get the sound of the musical style in your ear.
- Record yourself singing a simple melody.
- Then, sing with the recording, focusing on achieving a pleasant beating between the two parts.
Good luck and have fun singing!
Related Posts
- Yes, it is Possible to Tune a Guitar Perfectly
- Choosing the Right Sound to Play with Just Intonation
- Intonation and Supplemented Equal Temperament
Why Do Just Intonation Keys Have Different Aural Characteristics?
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
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Glossary
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