Music
What is dance without Music? But in the world of Gor there are limitations on technology. Though descendants and the occasional new arrivals come from many cultures on Earth, technology is wisely limited by the Priest Kings. Musical Instruments requiring complicated metal parts would not be found on Gor.
Yet within the remaining wood, bone, plucked string, hide, and crude metal, many instruments can be fashioned. And many there are, from the sounds of the North in Torvaldsland to the hot drums of Southern jungle and desert.
- See our Sample Libraries page for many examples of what such instruments would sound like.
- See my Snow's Music Tech - how to package your music in world to learn how to extend or shorten your songs.
- See our advanced "Find your Voice" page to learn how to compose your own Gorean music, or how to be inspired in your writing by realistic sounds of Gorean music.
We will discuss the instruments described in the Gor series of books of John Norman. We will illustrate with quotes his vision of music in this world. But we will go beyond to help you evaluate new sounds as known in the books, possible with Gorean technology, something that may require only the slightest evolution, and things that will bring your mind right back to Earth.
Words cannot convey the richness of the sounds of Gor, so we will include pictures and sound samples where possible. We will relate this to both dance and role play.
You may see a slideshow about this material at
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1MggvdBAEU1f2hKA1Y_1Sx4FjH4kAJCTBBO7FbPtbSsY/edit?usp=sharing
Composition
If you would like to learn more about creating your own music see our composition page.Table of Gorean Instruments
These are the instruments specifically mentioned in the book. Given the same technology, and cultures that have contributed people to Gor, is possible to have more as we will discuss under 'Categories'. This table organizes instruments in rows by pitch, and columns by type of construction. It also shows the 'hierarchy' among musicians - p1 for the top, and p4 near the bottom."Among Gorean musicians, incidentally, czehar players have the most prestige; there was only one in this group, I noted, and he was their leader; 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."- Nomads of Gor, page 154
Categories of Instruments
- Book - These instruments were named and or described in the books. An example of this is the Finger Cymbal. We may even be able to map it to an existing instrument on Earth such as in this case (the Turkish Zill).
- Possible- These instruments are possible giving the culture and technology allowed on Gor. They are not listed in the books, but would be easy to create using the same materials found for instruments named in the books. For example, The Kalika as described is more like a banjo than the Arab Oud. But the Oud is made from similar material - just a bigger wood housing. It is great to use as it sounds wonderfully exotic and even comes from some shared root cultures. You can imagine the Tahari desert wind in your hair as you hear the Oud.
- Evolved - With a small assumption or two, it would be very conceivable that you would hear sounds from these instruments in your journeys over mountain and plain. Examples of this could be the Steel Drum/Hang drum, or Didgeridoo. With minor tweaks or advances, it would be possible to have these on Gor - culture allowing.
- Creative - These sounds would not come from an instrument on Gor, but may add to your musical works to convey the feeling and atmosphere you wish. They are subtle enough not to dispel the immersion of a constructed world. This could include an oboe, synthesize pad, or piano.
- Earth - These instruments scream Earth. If you use these in a dance performance you have a small chance of succeeding brilliantly, and a larger chance of having the audience throw rotten Tospits and Larmas at you for making them feel they have just turned on a Radio station on Earth. In dance competition, the judges may write a small number in blood or dung for the music portion of your score. We may love these instruments on Earth, but they were left on Earth for a reason on the voyages of acquisition. One exception however, would be an exhibition dance, where out of character music is fine, and in some cases, the whole theme of the performance. Examples of this would be an Electric Guitar, synthesizer lead, dub step wobbler, or snare drum,
Properties of Instruments
In addition to how instruments may fit into the world of Gor, we can classify them by how they are constructed.- Wind - Blow it (such as a flute. In face, some flutes were brought from Earth). Brass instruments are mostly unknown (due to limited metallurgy), but trumpets are mentioned. Since that may be the only one we can throw them in this wind category, though on Earth we would have separate groups for Woodwind (flute, single and double reed), and brass (where sound is produced by buzzing one's lips).
Essay on Gorean wind instruments - String - Pluck it. On Gor there do not seem to be bowed instruments, like the violin, viola, string bass, or fiddle. But this constraint makes us do more with the remaining instruments, and conveys a feeling of a more ancient culture. If you use orchestral or bowed string music consider it for atmosphere or creative use - not to replicate 'by the book' sounds.
Essay on Gorean String instruments -
Percussion - Bang it. Hit it. Shake it. Stroke it. Percussion is a broad category, including not just drums, but any inanimate thing you can shake or it to make noise.
Essay on Gorean Percussion instruments - Sing it. This is not described often in the books, but is a universal among most of the cultures from which the tribes and cities of Gor descend.
On Gorean Vocals
"I have never seen a bowed instrument on Gor; also, I might mention, I have never on Gor seen any written music; I do not know if a notation exists; melodies are passed on from father to son, from master to apprentice." - Nomads of Gor, page 153
| Use | Percussion | String | Wind | Vocal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book | Most | Plucked | Flute, Trumpet | |
| Possible | Some | Varieties | Didgeridoo | Yes |
| Evolved | Steel drum | Bowed? | Reed | Foreign lyrics |
| Creative | Piano, Subtle Synth pads | Bowed! | Brass | Understandable Lyrics |
| Earth | Snare, Electronic drum kit | Synth Lead | Sax | Pop or familiar songs |
Notes on usage
Memorized: "I have never seen a bowed instrument on Gor; also, I might mention, I have never on Gor seen any written music; I do not know if a notation exists; melodies are passed on from father to son, from master to apprentice." - Nomads of Gor, page 153
Pecking order: "Among Gorean musicians, incidentally, czehar players have the most prestige; there was only one in this group, I noted, and he was their leader; 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. - Nomads of Gor, page 154
Free: 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." - Nomads of Gor, page 154
Regional: "The music was wild, a melody of the delta of the Vosk." - Assassin of Gor, page 185
Flavor: "He then, for two or three minutes, played soft, full melodious tunes, sensuous, inviting tunes." - Dancer of Gor, page 283
Move to flute page!: "Let the melody be soft, and slow, and simple, said Philebus to the flutist, who nodded." - Vagabonds of Gor, page 37
Purpose: "The music of Gor, or much of it, is very melodious and sensuous. Much of it seems made for the display of slaves before free men, but then, I suppose, that is exactly what it is made for." - Dancer of Gor, page 180
A Cultural Salute
Though we will enjoy traditional instruments for our new performances or writing, it would be appropriate to acknowledge how special the artists and cultures are that produce them on Earth. They become so important to people that invaders sometimes burn and ban a culture's instruments (in Mexico, and in Central Asia (the Dombra)). Some instruments sound fine, but are tightly woven in spirit of a culture (such as the Aboriginal Didgeridoo). Personally, I feel by enjoying these sounds we honor those who curate their memory.
I also need to acknowledge the research work of my own teachers, who found the quotes I used - lilyanah, tabby scarmon of the Central Fire Library, and acedah, and Nevar of Port Haifa Academy.
Fictional references are based on the books by John Norman. To learn more I recommend the audible.com narrations by John Lister. The books are also available for the iPad.
I also need to acknowledge the research work of my own teachers, who found the quotes I used - lilyanah, tabby scarmon of the Central Fire Library, and acedah, and Nevar of Port Haifa Academy.
Fictional references are based on the books by John Norman. To learn more I recommend the audible.com narrations by John Lister. The books are also available for the iPad.