Souisian music?

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Hi, everyone! This is a brief excerpt from a concert we had at the library - Peter Hess and Timothy Quigley playing music from the Balkans. This is a Georgian war dance, called a Khorumi. I am posting the link, in my usual quick and dirty fashion, in case the embed feature doesn't work. Can't you imagine Sophos - or, better yet, the Medes! - marching into battle to this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pDNFxgn18g&feature=plcp

Comments

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I picture, more, Gen and Sophos dancing together in the wine shop in Attolia, after they've sneaked out of the palace and had a few too many. Hilarity ensues!

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

I can see that, too! It doesn't sound much like a war dance, does it? Too happy!

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Honestly, it's probably more that it's a clarinet. It's like when I honk the horn in my little car. I just always imagine the car saying, in a high-pitched voice, "I am soooo mad!"

What instrument would have made it sound more like a war march and less like a drinking song? French horn, maybe?

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

Bugle?

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

Fair enough - but it's not a war march; it's a war DANCE! According to the musicians, it was originally played on an instrument very like a clarinet, and they might dance it before or after a battle. So, a celebration thing, I guess. Which means the image of Gen and Sophos dancing in a wine shop is exactly right!

Given my heritage, I think bagpipes are appropriate instruments for battles. But nothing I have ever heard sounds as scary as this thing my sister showed me on youtube. It looks pretty scary, too - it's a celtic war trumpet, called a carnyx.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVAWwWi0DbE&feature=related

[deirdrej.livejournal.com]

Yay! The carnyx! I would be terrified if I saw one or two of those coming at me, especially if people were dancing....
(Though, truth be told, I could probably be scared of Checkers' car horn, too, in the right (wrong?) circumstances -- it sounds so cute from your description, Checkers! Can we have an audio clip?)

But anyway, here's what I think is really cool. John Kenny, the master of the carnyx, whom you see (and hear!) above, is a trombonist. And so is our much loved and highly respected favorite author, Megan Whalen Turner! We know this, because she has told us so!

Do you think she might like her very own carnyx one day, with which to frighten the Medes (or whomever else might need frightening?) I bet she'd be able to play it!

Maybe the combined sound of carnyxes and stomping of elephants will set off seismic activity in the Hephestial mountains in one of the next books, and get all kinds of volcanoes going. Or maybe not (But Kamet will be OK in any event, right? And so will Ion, the one Sophos is not going to forget about).

Well, goodnight Sounis! Sleep well! I will check back with you anon

~D.

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

Just jumping in to say: Bagpipes. Definitely bagpipes.

[deirdrej.livejournal.com]

Love the icon, Freenarnian!

And now really goodnight...

~D.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Huh, the carnyx (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnyx) looks fascinating, and has a great sound for a battle. Maybe Megan would like a vuvuzela (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vuvuzela) to frighten the Medes. I'm sort of picturing her blowing on one, and god knows it's scaring me.

[deirdrej.livejournal.com]

Wow! The vuvuzela is indeed a scary thing! It would definitely be my 2nd choice for Mede-frightening "music." (Or maybe 3rd -- bagpipes were a pretty good suggestion, too). I still like the carnyx best, though -- it looks cool, and sounds terrifying!

Speaking of vuvuzelas though, have you seen Gandalf Goes to the World Cup (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B2LPxggvqY)? It's pretty awesome!

[filkferengi]

Now we know what velociraptors in love sound like!

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Oh, TOO funny!