An introductory study of music among the Kera
Use of music in festivals and village life
Work and village songs
In October, I observed a group of men constructing a turti--a dugout canoe. This work took place at the site where the tree was cut down. Various songs were sung by the men as they worked. They formed groups of workers, and at any one time, four men chopped the wood, one man was song leader, and the rest relaxed around the site benefiting from the drink provided. The men worked in rhythm and the sound of the axes provided a percussion accompaniment to the song. Two men worked on one side of the log and two on the other. The two men on the same side struck the wood together and then the other two men followed. The workers were the main singers, splitting into two parts so that they sang as they hit the wood. The melodies changed slightly with time, but they were always variations on the same theme. A song would last for about 15 minutes and then fade out, probably when the teams changed places. The atmosphere was festive. There were no women involved, although I was offered the opportunity to join in if I wanted to. The boat was transported to the lake when the work was completed.
Following is an example of the melody:
Note that the length of the phrase at the end is two beats longer than expected.
These songs have a main part plus a quieter echo. "x" marks the sound of the axes (alternating between the two pairs).
Many times throughout the day it is possible to hear strains of music from people who pass by the house. It is sometimes in the form of singing, and sometimes using an instrument. I have noted several examples, but at this stage I cannot be sure if they are work songs, celebration songs, or just made up at the time. The following example was sung by a boy or a young woman. The timing is flexible and the melody appears to fit into a five-tone system.
This example was heard from a passerby in the morning. The melody uses six tones.
The following are five-tone melodies that were sung in the morning, shortly before the New Year festival. They have a tendency toward triple meter.
When there is a full moon, the Kera sit outside for longer and at times singing can be heard. Some women join in with uvular trills.
I also heard a man humming the following tune around 20 times:
Certain characteristics can be observed from the tunes that I hear. The interval of the falling fourth seems to be characteristic, as do melodies that could have been influenced by nature sounds such as bird calls or a cock crowing.
