Listening Test

Question 1

Itako Chant

Answer 1

1) Japan; Itako
2) Voices: Juzu beats for rhythm, solo female vocalist
3) Texture: Mostly monophonic - arguably homophonic due to the rhythm of beads
4) Melody: Narrow range (a fifth); uses only 4 notes
5) Possession, speaking as a dead

Question 2

Kadozuke uta (“song played at the gate”)

Answer 2

1) Japan; goze
2) Voices: 3 female vocalists, a shamisen
3) Meter: duple
4) Form: strophic
5) About a meeting a lover a gate, but he doesn’t show up

Question 3

Bali Ubud Barong Dance

Answer 3

1) Bali; gamelan
2) Gamlan orchestra: gongs, metalphones, drums
3) Texture: homophonic in early sections, polyphonic in last section
4: Time: Tempo varies between sections
5) From the story of Rangda and Barong

Question 4

Meditation

Answer 4

1) Japan; Buddhist shakuhachi
2) Voices: one shakuhachi
3) Texture: monophony
4) Time: Free meter
5) Timbre: variety, harsh, breathy, clear
6) Buddhist-based meditative music

Question 5

Tsugaru Shamisen

Answer 5

1) Japan; Tsugaru
2) Texture: mostly monophonic
3) Meter strange 3
4) Melody: large range, pentatonic scale
5) Originated with blind men who made a living playing in the Tsugaru region

Question 6

Tanko bushi (“coal mining song”)

Answer 6

1) Japan; folk shakuhachi
2) Voices: one shakuhachi
3) Texture: monophony
4) Time: duple
5) Timbre: slightly breathy, mostly clear