This document provides information about three musical pieces: 1) "Capercaillie ‘Skye Waulking Song’" which is in 12/8 time and uses various instruments including bouzouki and pipes. It has two sections, the first in E minor and the second alternating between C, G, and Em chords. 2) "Koko ‘Yiri’" from Burkina Faso which features call and response singing and balafon solos over repetitive djembe and donno rhythms. It is in Gb major. 3) "Rag Desh" from Indian classical music which has sections for exploring the rag's scale, introducing tempo, and a prepared

1. Area of Study 4
Capercaillie ‘Skye Waulking Song’
Time signature is 12/8
Structure – the piece can be divided into two sections.
Instruments – Bouzouki, Uilleann pipes, flute, fiddle, accordion, acoustic
guitar, electric bass, drumkit, synthesizer, bodhran.
There are nonsense lyrics. Oral tradition.
The melody is pentatonic.
Tonality – The first section is in E minor. Moves between the chords of Em and
G
The second section (verse 4) has the chords:
||: C |G | Em |C :||
Instrumental section – the fiddle and uilleann pipes play a melody together
with small variations (heterophonic).
Koko ‘Yiri’
Koko are a band from Burkina Faso
African music will often feature:
Call and response
Repetition (use of ostinato)
Polyphony/polyrhythms

2. Improvisation
Instruments – Djembe, Donno (talking drum), Dundun, Balafon,
Voices
The piece is in Gb major.
Begins with a solo balafon. This is a monophonic texture. This is
joined by a second balafon. They play a similar part. This is
heterophonic.
Talking drums and djembes enter and play a repeated rhythm. This is
maintained throughout (one quaver followed by two semiquavers).
Voices sing in unison at some points and call and response at others.
The balafons have improvised solos.
Rag Desh
Structure –
Alap– Opening section. No tempo. Explores the notes of the rag.
Jhor – Tempo introduced. Still fairly slow. Melody is improvised.
Jhalla – Slightly faster. Still uses improvisation.
Gat/Bandish/Bhajan – Prepared melody. Final section in
instrumental music is the gat. If there are vocals this is known as
either bandish/bhajan. There may still be improvisation.
Instruments – Sitar, sarod (lower range than sitar), sarangi (bowed),
esraj (bowed), tabla (two small drums), bansuri (wooden flute),
tambura (plays the drone), pakhawaj (drum), cymbals

3. Key words
Tala – rhythmic cycle
Rag – scale in Indian music
Mind (pronounced ‘meend’) – note bending
Sam – the first beat
Rasa – mood of the piece