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DOMBA SONG
Introduction
Abstract This chapter is a reproduction of "Songs, Dances, Mimes and Symbolism of Venda Girls' Initiation Schools (Part IV): The Great Domba Song" (1969). The introductory section provides an overview of the music of the Great Domba Song followed by a symbolic analysis of the dance. By drawing on the dance movements, the musical accompaniment, relevant milayo and particular phrases used in the words of the song, Blacking argues that the domba dance represents the reproductive process, from the initial sexual encounter between man and woman to the final birth of the child. The next section, 'The Dance', describes how the dance is integrated into the workings of the initiation school. Blacking discusses the techniques employed in the learning process as well as the performance requirements of the dance. In 'The Words of the Songs', he describes the structure of the song phrases and claims that singers choose randomly from over one thousand lines in constructing their performances. This is then followed by an extensive annotated collection of song phrases, which he organised into seven different topic. The paper concludes with a meticulous musical analysis of the Great Domba Song and other songs used in domba. Extending arguments he had made in Venda Children's Songs, he demonstrates how khulo constitutes a transformation of the 'harmonic progression' of tshikona. In later work he would argue for two distinct harmonic progressions in Venda music: one based on the vocal prototype (khulo), the other on the instrumental prototype (tshikona). He proceeds by listing the 'rules' that apply to the performance and structure of the domba song. The numeration he devised in this piece is preserved in later publications, progressively adding new rules as required. Other features of Venda musical practices relevant to songs used in domba are discussed in the final sub-section. SR |
