CROSS-CULTURAL ENCOUNTERS : TRADITIONAL LULLABIES, A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION IN THE FIELD OF SONGWRITING

Abstract

This master thesis research proposes the examination of a folk music category, the lullabies, focusing specifically on Norwegian and Romanian lullabies, and how this process influenced the author in the process of songwriting. In terms of approach, this thesis positions the researcher in three angles which correspond to three sections of the present paper: Researcher point of view. The first section presents theoretical material related to lullabies, describes the general meaning of lullabies, its characteristics, and turns the attention to Norwegian and Romanian lullabies, which makes the main subject of this thesis. Researcher and singer point of view. The second part is dedicated to the gathering and analyzing primary and secondary data, using the methods of literature research, interview and melodic analysis. The interview also involves musical dialogue, which implies a personal quest in integrating folk singing technique elements, into interpretation. A selection of twelve traditional lullabies from Norway and Romania is made and analyzed, identifying melodic, rhythmic, scale system and form characteristics, with reference to folkloric elements that are specific in the process of creation and interpretation of the chosen folk repertoire. Songwriter point of view. The third part of the thesis includes three original songs, composed by the author, which are also analyzed after the same pattern used for the previous selected repertoire. Following the analysis, similarities and differences between Romanian and Norwegian lullabies are discovered, and observations are made regarding some of the features that can be identified in the author’s original compositions. Forming a bridge between cultures, we contribute to a form of music that is concerned with bringing samples of tradition into contemporaneity, incorporating authenticity (proof of understanding cultural aspects) in original new compositions.