Earlier, I used the term 'polyvocal' to describe the performance style, rather than the more usual 'polyphonic'. It's as if it were a question of autonomous melodic lines developing in parallel, unlinked by conscious harmonic relationships. To sum up - what the War did for the macrocosm of Italian folk song was mirrored in the Po valley rice fields, and had considerable effects on the microcosm of the women agricultural workers throughout the whole Padana plain. It's no surprise, therefore, to find that these women had similar songs, and performed them in a similar style. This CD contains seven tracks of songs from five different groups of ricefield workers, followed by fourteen from two groups of women farm workers.
Vocal production is always high, loud, and often forced.
The simplest structure involves two voices in thirds. When the second voice enters, it may take over part of the first vioce, which then goes to the third above. Three voices are common - the third voice taking a part one third below the first, and sometimes octaving with the second. The third voice is often used as a drone on the dominant. Subsequent voices shadow the first three or the drone - often an octave up or down.