Traditional songs of the Hangai-Litene area

The Hangai-Litene cultural area is rich in traditional song styles. These styles can be divided into several strata, which are outlined below.

First stratum (ancestor songs, old songs)

Songs from the first stratum are perceived to be the oldest, and are often called "old songs" or "ancestor songs". These songs employ simple tritonic and tetratonic scales (with notes often somewhere around the third, fifth, and minor seventh). Modulation into a second identical scale a second or third away, characteristic of the Hangai area, is absent. Many of the songs from the first stratum are associated with specific ancestors, and are thus perceived to be owned by their descendants, and are sung at ancestor sacrifices. No instrumentation is used when performing these songs, which are sung by individuals in a plain, unembellished tone. The lyrics of ancestor songs are simple, consisting of repeated words and vocables, and often unintelligible, being passed orally from generation to generation, and often reflect an older form of their language, in some cases even Proto-Hangaic.

Second stratum (dance songs)

The second stratum includes crocodile dance songs, and other secular ritual songs. These songs employ the same tetratonic scale as some ancestor songs, which is outlined above. Modulation is often used for a dramatic effect. These songs are, as their name indicates, performed at various festivals, such as the crocodile festival, by groups of people. A full range of instrumentation is often used, with ground resonators, slit drums of various sizes, stompers, and rattles being played in various rhythmic patterns. The lyrics of the songs from this stratum are also mostly unintelligible, but unlike the first stratum consist of sentences. They still reflect an older form of the language, but usually not as old as ancestor songs.

Third stratum (holy songs, royal songs)

The third stratum includes inauguration songs, other regal songs, and religious songs. These songs employ various pentatonic scales derived from the tritonic scale of the ancestor songs (first, third, and fifth, + two other notes at other intervals, e.g. fourth or seventh). As with the second stratum, modulation is also commonly used. These songs are performed at royal inaugurations, ceremonies, court ceremonies and religious ceremonies, including the Great Sacrifice. The instrumentation is almost identical to the instrumentation of the second stratum, with the only differences being in the rhythmic patterns used. Their lyrics often describe the founding of the various kingdoms and various religious stories (e.g. the death of the Hato gods of sky and earth, or the mourning of the gods of hunting and fertility), and are sung in archaic, but still intelligible forms of the modern languages.