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Armchair Googling
Nov. 21st, 2013 09:14 pmI got distracted by a Google link-train: quaint villages led to me looking up "fulling" (thickening wool cloth by hand) which led to me looking up "waulking" (the Gaelic word for fulling) and finally led me to check out "Waulking Songs" on Youtube...and discovering this ancient style of folk song. I have always enjoyed the traditional Japanese fishermen songs - and while clearly there are differences - they share a similar structure. Working songs are rhythmic by design and waulking songs contain surprisingly intimate and personal stories, hidden within the verses as the women work.
Here is a nice example of an actual " waulking session " (thickening wool cloth by hand). The rhythm and the motions of their arms and hands mesmerize.
And here is a more pop version of a waulking song sung by Julie Fowlis.
Here is a nice example of an actual " waulking session " (thickening wool cloth by hand). The rhythm and the motions of their arms and hands mesmerize.
And here is a more pop version of a waulking song sung by Julie Fowlis.
