Line 25. Volume

The relative degree of loudness in a performance estimated on a subjective scale cued by the human ear.

Read the Coding Guide for this Line. Listen to each example at least twice. Once you have listened to all the examples, take the Test which follows.

  1. Very loud. N America, Southeast U.S. An African American Holiness Church group performs triple forte. (Lomax #40, A6)
  2. Very soft. S.E. Asia, Thailand, Lua. Boys from this matrilocal, comparatively gender-balanced society sing softly outside a hut where their sweethearts sleep. Male group. (Kundstader, 6)
  3. Very loud. W. Africa, Ivory Coast, Baoulé (Baule). A festival song with mixed chorus and drums from a tribe whose music resembles that of the E. Caribbean. (Thurow, B4)
  4. Very soft. Oceania, Melanesia, Admiralties, Manus, Usiai. Three old men perform a harmonized singsong of wordless melodies, all by known song makers. (Schwartz)
  5. Soft. S. America, Shuar (Jivaro). Seeking the source of the magic responsible for the death of a child, a shaman sings of his power. (Luzuy, B5)
  6. Mid. N. America, Eastern Canada, Newfoundland. A fisherman’s dance song resembling fiddle songs from S.E. Ireland and the Appalachian Mountains in the U.S. (Barbeau #1, B26)
  7. Loud. W. Europe, Spain, N. Spain, Asturias. Farmers, fishermen, miners, and professional singers all compose asturianadas, the quintessential expression of Asturian regional pride harking back to the 13th century, when Asturias was the seat of Spain’s first Christian kings. (Lomax #24, A8)

Test

Which form of Volume is recorded here?
For each example below, choose the feature that best fits from the following scale.

Very soft
Soft
Mid-volume
Loud
Very loud

Consult the Coding Guide as needed. Note your answers in order to check them against the answer key.

  1. Oceania, Melanesia, S. Papua, Fuyuge (Fuyege). This sweet, plaintive vocal style occurs in isolated cultures from Taiwan to the Solomons. (Elkins & Dupeyrat #7, B32) Reveal Answer
  2. E. Africa, Tutsi (Watutsi). (See Line 25, Test #10.) (Verwilghen #2, A4) Reveal Answer
  3. C. Africa, Topoke. (See Line 25, Test #9.) (Camps, A7) Reveal Answer
  4. Oceania, Polynesia, Maori. A large mixed chorus sings an ancient lament. (Maori #2, B1) Reveal Answer
  5. S. Europe, Italy. Sardinia. Male chorus. (Lomax #29, B8) Reveal Answer
  6. N. America, Southeast U.S., Virginia Mountains. One verse of “Two Brothers,” a British ballad of fratricide, sung old-timey style by Hobart Smith of Saltville. (Lomax, A.) Reveal Answer
  7. S.E. Asia, Interior Malaya, Temiar. A mixed chorus from this small tribe of rainforest gardeners and blowgun hunters intone a song sent by the Tiger Spirit. Accompanied on percussion tubes. (Malaya, B4) Reveal Answer
  8. N. America, Northeast U.S. Cayuga. A corn dance song from the Iroquois eight-nation confederacy. Male leader with male chorus and rattle. (Barbeau #1, A4) Reveal Answer
  9. N. America, Southeast U.S. The great Alabama singer Vera Hall performs an African American folk carol about the birth of Jesus, as she would sing to children. (Lomax, A.) Reveal Answer
  10. Oceania, Melanesia, S. Papua, Tirade. A mountain tribe of great singers and dancers, reputed to have been fierce warriors. Male group. (Elkin & Dupeyrat #7, B5) Reveal Answer

Line 25 Test Answers: 1) Very soft. 2) Mid. 3) Loud. 4) Soft. 5) Very loud. 6) Mid. 7) Very soft. 8) Very loud. 9) Soft. 10) Loud.

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