Venezuelan work songs

= Songs of milking =

The milking songs are those associate to the milking of cows with the purpose of tranquilizing the animal during the task. It is custom in Venezuela to give name him to the cows. The milk man flame to the cow by its name and improvises verses of eight syllables in which includes the name of the animal. These songs are of free rate and are governed by the accents of the text. They are used in his interpretation great variety of melodys. The laborer can intone new songs or adapt other ones.

Songs of "Arreo"

The songs of Arreo are those associate to the work of conduction of the cattle through the plain for its transfer to the commercialization or pasturing site. In Venezuela it is known with the "cabestrero" name the laborer who is in charge to make this work. During the way the men sing so that the cattle stays calm while it advances. Luis Felipe Ramón y Rivera explains that from the musical point of view, these songs are characterized by shouts, long notes that acquire certain "quejumbroso" accent sometimes. These are songs of capella, without support

Songs of coffee harvesting

These songs accompany the task by coffee harvesting. During the accomplishment of this task, men and women sing in a species of "contrapunteo galante", according to professor Luis Felipe Ramón y Rivera relates.

Songs of "trapiche"

They are the songs that accompany the work by sugar cane milling in "trapiche" for the production of "panela" or "papelón". These songs, characteristic of old trapiches pulled ahead by oxen, have in their verses exclamaciones that animate to the animal to continue the work.

Songs of "Pilón"

They are the songs that accompany the work of pounding the corn, robust fundamentally feminine task, in which two women battered the grain within a pylon with two wood maces for the manufacture of the mass for the preparation of round corn loaves. Luis Felipe Ramón y Rivera explain that the rhythmical striking of the hand are accompanied by a jadeo (oy/ay). This melody is simple and of varied subjects. A very popular song of milling is known in Venezuela compiled by Luis Mariano Rivera in Sucre state whose letter says: "io, io, dale duro a ese pilón..."

Songs of launderers

Characteristic of the Yaracuy state, in the neighborhoods of the San Javier river, the women accompany the work of wash clothes with this songs. Professor Luis Felipe Ramón y Rivera says that these songs are known popularly like shouts by their force. But in spite of it they are pleasant melodys .

Songs of "pregón"

These songs are used in the urban centers by traveling salesmen to offer their products and services of house in house. Thus, ices-cream dealer, shoemakers and grinders of knives, walk by the streets intoning his announce.

See also

*Venezuela
*Venezuelan music
*Work songs

External links

* [http://php.mci.gob.ve/sonidos/sonidos.php?son=39 Songs of "Pilón" by Morella Muñoz]

ource

*"Atlas de Tradiciones de Venezuela", Fundación Bigott, 1998, and [http://www.sonidosdelfolklore.com.ve Sonidos del Folklore]