| Book of Knowledge Musical Instruments |
| Among Gorean musicians, incidentally, czehar players have the most prestige; next follow the flutists and then the players of the kalika; the players of the drums come next; and the farthest fellow down the list is the man who keeps the bag of miscellaneous instruments, playing them and parceling them out to others as needed. Lastly it might be mentioned, thinking it is of some interest, musicians on Gor are never enslaved; they may, of course, be exiled, tortured, slain and such; it is said, perhaps truly, that he who makes music must, like the tarn and the Vosk gull, be free. On Gor, the singer, or poet, is regarded as a craftsman who makes strong sayings, much like a potmaker makes a good pot or a saddle-maker makes a worthy saddle. He has his role to play in the social structure, celebrating battles and histories, singing of heroes and cities, but also he is expected to sing of living, and of love and joy, not merely of arms and glory; and, too, it is his function to remind the Gorean from time to time of loneliness and death, lest they should forget that they are Men. In spite of some reservations the Poet, or Singer, was loved on Gor. It had not occurred to him that he owed misery and torment to his profession, and on the whole, the Caste of Poets was thought to be a most happy band of men "A handful of bread for a song," was a common Gorean invitation extended to members of the caste, and it might occur on the lips of a peasant or a Ubar, and the poet took great pride that he would sing the same song in both the hut of the peasant and the halls of the Ubar, though it won for him only a crust of bread in one place and a cap of gold in the other, gold often squandered on a beautiful woman who might leave him nothing but his songs. The songs of Gor varied from place to place, some were sung as part of tradition, to tell a story, or played for there beauty and melody. It might be noted that they were never written down, but instead passed from generation to generation and master to apprentice. MELODIES Archaic Hymns - were sung in the temple of the Initiates. They were written and sung in archaic Gorean, an ancient language upon Gor. Often times choirs of soprano male slaves were trained and kept to sing in the great temples. Block Melodies - was a reference to several different melodies that are performed at a rhythm in which a slave girl was displayed fully for potential buyers. They were powerful and sexually stimulating in there melody. Blue Sky Song - was a song sung by the Wagon people of the plains of Gor. They began to sing this in part before going into battle at the gates of Turia. Caravans of Tor -was a love song played on the kalika about the caravans of Tor. The Hope of Tina - was a melody about a young girl who hopes that she may prove acceptable as a slave. It contains an expression of yearning and hope. Its melody is said to be of Cos. The Men of Torvaldsland Sing at the Oars - was a song with no words sung by the crew of Ivar Forkbeard's ship as they leave the harbor of Kassau. They had much to rejoice after the successfulness of there mission in the temple of the high Initiate of Kassau. The Ten Maids of Hammerfest - was a rowdy river song sung by pirates as they made there way along the river. It recounted the fates of the ten girls of Hammerfest. It was sang with great enthusiasm and gusto. A Song of Tarl of Bristol and Glorious Ar - was a song recounting the tale of the events surrounding the storyline of Tarnsman of Gor. Describing the deeds of Tarl Cabot and his heroic courage in defeating the Master Assassin Pa-Kur. Songs of the Red Hunters - were sung on the spot as they were not overly concerned with them being perfect, but true. If they have feeling and share emotion, then they are seen as "good songs." They can be about any number of topics from hunting to cooking. What you find is a diverse group of people that enjoy life and their ability to rejoice in song. In music we often see a specific seating arrangement for the musicians. This is for a variety of reasons. First, it allows for the best mixture of the music. Second, it becomes easier for the conductor to guide the sections. Lastly, it provides an organized system in which one brings the music forth into a conducive harmony and melody of song. Instruments of music existed on Gor in many forms. Some resembled the instruments of Earth while others were totally different. Listed below is a cross section of what you would find on Gor INSTRUMENTS Cymbals - came in a variety of sizes. They varied from large cymbals that we would find on earth to finger cymbals used by a slave girl within her dance. There tone was described as sharp, delicate, and bright. Czehar - was a long rectangular shaped instrument which is held across the lap. It contains eight strings and is played with a pick. Double Flute - was an instrument of the wood wind family. It had a soft melody that was clear an resonant. The double flute was often played by flute girls on the streets of Ar near the wall road for entertainment of passerbys. It was also used to accompany different dances. There were low grade as well as high quality double flutes. It would liken to the flute of earth. Herlit, Bone Whistle - was a whistle made from wing bones of the taloned Herlit. It was used by the Kaiila tribe in performance of the pole dance. Kalika - was a musical instrument containing six strings and a hemispheric lower body. With a long neck it resembles a banjo or perhaps guitar on earth.. Kaska - was a small hand drum covered with taut animal skin. It could be played with either soft tapping melodies or vigorous wild rhythms. It would liken to a single hand drum of earth. Notched Stick - was a musical instrument that could be played by sliding a polished tem-wood stick across its surface to create the sounds. Red Hunter's Drum - was a very large and heavy disklike drum that measured two and one half feet in diameter. It was played by holding it with one hand and beating a stick against its frame with the other. It has a odd resonance and requires great strength in which to manage. Tabor - was a small hand drum that was covered with verr skin. It could be tuned by loosening some pegs that would relax the tension upon the drumhead. It would liken to a hand drum of Earth. Tarn Drums - were large drums whose sound was used to control the flying tarn armies and to set the pace for the large army marches. Trumpet - was mentioned twice in Captive of Gor as part of the instruments accompanying a hunting party procession on its way back to Ar. |
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