#kulning

[avoyageintime]

Kulning, also known as Nordic herding calls, is an ancient Scandinavian vocal tradition that originated as a work song. Practiced mainly by women, it uses powerful, high-pitched calls to gather livestock and guide them down from mountain pastures at dusk. Dating back to at least the Middle Ages, it developed in Sweden, Norway, and parts of Finland as a practical way to communicate over long distances, keep herds together, and even warn of predators. Today, kulning lives on as an influence in folk music and contemporary performance.

[dungeons-and-dictions]

It’s Analysis Friday! Here’s some hidden symbolism via music in Frozen!

Do you remember the majestic voice calling out to Elsa in Frozen II? It is called kulning, a Scandinavian form of singing used as a herding call, or for fun.

Able to bounce off mountains and travel far distances, shepherdesses (and a few shepherds) used this technique to call their livestock home, communicate with other shepherdesses, and locate lost animals.

But the craziest, coolest part? Many kulning songs were passed down by the family, or by previous shepherdesses. These special songs also often contained names of animals under their care.

The song we hear throughout the film is in every way kulning: it summons Elsa, who comes to the call; it carries far distances, of which have even been sealed off to the world; and it is passed down from mother to nature to daughter.

[beardedmrbean]

I'd be good with this audience for my concert too

[cursedwanderer]

Jonna Jinton Kulning - Ancient herdingcall - A farewell song to the cows

[titanus-nyx]

Usually, I don't get shifty when listening to music, but when I listen to kulning, it really evokes deep feelings in me that are difficult to explain...

Kulning in a forest evokes a feeling of myth and mystery, but for me it also evokes a deep longing...a sort of home sickness. A yearning to live in my hearthome.

[soothifying-sounds-asmr]

Kulning by Jonna Jinton

[mindblowingfactz]

The singing technique called “Kulning” is an ancient Swedish herding call used by women a long time ago to call the cattle (the cows and the goats) back home to the farm in the evenings. It was also used as a form of communication since high-pitched sounds can be heard through very long distances. [1, 2]

[lovewillthaw-j]

(please unmute and watch till the end)

Focus on Frozen (1) score (5/?)

What if the Kulning in F1 is Ahtohallan calling Elsa?

(edited 22 oct to add in Kulning from “Whiteout” - thanks @themountainsays)

So I was inspired by the youtube video that @greatqueenanna sent me to think about Ahtohallan and Kulning. This analysis uses my headcanon that Ahtohallan (not ghost Iduna) is the one calling Elsa. 

Some background - Kulning appears in F1 5 6 times, performed by Norwegian singer Christine Hals - who I just found out is the voice of Norwegian Iduna! You can hear her sing All Is Found and Show Yourself on youtube. 

Kulning was introduced by Christophe Beck into the F1 score. He was thrilled that Kulning became a part of F2′s story - but at the same time, he was a little sad that he couldn’t use Kulning in F2 score (as it would have confused the audience)

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, the Voice that Elsa hears in F2 (sung by singer Aurora) is Kulning. (ah-ah-ah-ah) This is the call that child Iduna used to call Gale, and is the call that Ahtohallan uses to call Elsa to her. (in my headcanon)

So, I believe Ahtohallan has been calling Elsa since she was a child, but Elsa couldn’t hear it till F2 (for various reasons explored in this analysis) But, what if at certain times of extreme emotional stress, Elsa was distraught enough and could actually hear Ahtohallan calling her? And what we are hearing in the score is what Elsa can hear? 

This is all hypothetical headcanon but humour me!

1. After little Anna’s accident - Elsa is terribly distraught and so is Ahtohallan, weeping for the sisters.

2. Pabbie says the words that will change Elsa’s life forever to Conceal, Don’t Feel. (I blame Pabbie, I do not blame the parents). Ahtohallan vehemently disagrees with Pabbie!!

3. Elsa runs away from Arendelle in terror and fear. Ahtohallan calls to Elsa to come to her for refuge.

4. After Anna’s heart is frozen - Ahtohallan is in pain again.

5. Ahtohallan is in anguish as Elsa’s life is in danger; but Ahtohallan is also warning Elsa to not give into the dark side and use her powers for evil.

6. (new! 22 Oct) Ahtohallan pleads with Elsa to stop the snowstorm as Anna is freezing to death.