b. Tone

The concept of tone in Sardinian folk songs is different than the same notion in traditional music. In each of the single voice songs, many of which form the soloist part of a piece performed in tenor mode (either still existing or redundant), the tone is major 'maggiore'.

It is in the choir singing where they apparently have a minor tone 'minore', that the concept of tone is insufficient to explain the structure of the tonality. Only the method of song performed in Gregorian chants is similar to the perception of tone in Sardinian folk singing.

Major or minor tone cannot be considered but a grade of sounds (often only the first five) are used in the intervals of the Gregorian PROTUS and the TRITUS. The tritus is the equivalent of our major scale, of which it must respect the affinity of tone o semitone in it's different grades. Below is a tritus in SOL. (Fig. 4) with hexachord and cadence.

Fig. 4 - Tritus in sol

The protus is the equivalent of our natural minor scale, although it adds a seventh grade alteration throughout the cadence stage. Example of protus in SOL (Fig. 5) with hexachord and cadence:

Fig. 5 - Protus in SOL

Diversi canti polivocali sardi sono dei protus, ma questo argomento verrà approfondito quando si parlerà dell'aspetto armonico.

c. Grace notes

Sardinian folk songs are full of grace notes, indeed these notes are a characteristic element. Without this embellishment a piece of such music would just be an outline, just a stylised melody without a spirit. The following elements belong to Sardinian folk songs:

• mordent
• turn
• emphasis
• glissande
• sound bearing
• key notes, etc.

It is not possible to make an compliant list of these elements without running the risk of ignoring one of the essential aspects of folk singing, improvisation, though each piece is certainly based on an outline, it is rewritten and presented by each performer. The stylisation of the melody could take place. Together with these indications goes the registration of such songs, which is essential for who is devoted to Sardinian folk songs.

HARMONIC ASPECTS »