hobbs49

In going to powwows and listening to recorded music, I'm always trying to listen to the nuances introduced into a song. I've noticed that sometimes songs are sung "straight" meaning that everyone is pretty much together in the way they sing the song. It's almost like a church hymn where the song is more or less level in sound and everyone is together.

But more often then not, not everyone is singing together. You'll hear someone providing extra emphasis on particular syllables. You hear this above and beyond what everyone else is singing generally. I'm not talking about those songs where the song itself has emphasis so the singers do this in unison. No, I'm referring to those stronger stray sounds that seem to give the song some extra heart and soul.

So I'm curious, do others pay attention to this? Is the placement as random as it seems? Are there any guidelines about when this is done?

I know it seems like a dumb little thing to wonder about, but with so much good discussion in this forum lately, I wanted to try to keep it going

Brackett481

I have noticed this too. I have noticed that this happens with a lot of drums. I think it has to do with the song and what it means to those singing it. From What I have seen, it is not really random. It will happen on the same place of the same song. But, It would vary of course from song to song.

I know i am probably the wrong person to say this, but:
The only wrong, stupid or silly question is the one not asked.

Wojapi4Me

Acutally, this isn't entirely true...I hear stupid questions everyday LOL

I think what you're hearing is the normal emphasis of certain syllables and sounds within a song. Everyone might not be doing it because maybe not everyone knows that song. I've always been taught that a drum should sound like one voice so to have people emphasizing here and there arbritrarily sounds strange to me. Maybe some people have large egos? Who knows...

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