Class 11: Four-lined tripodic tunes (№ 187–199)

Although in Class 10 we have seen tunes with four tripodic lines that could be taken for four-lined schemes, their structure has not petrified yet and the two-lined foundation is easily discernible. This class contains descending tripodic tunes which are four-lined without doubt. The typical (4) and (5) cadences, the descending melody outline and the rhythmic scheme of +|+|&@character lend this class some degree of homogeneity. All this notwithstanding, there are quite different tunes (starting low or high, descending or ascending, conjunct or disjunct, etc.) gathered here, but the groups are all rather small.

It is easy to find Hungarian analogies to the popular tunes in group 11.1 with 5/7(b3)b3 cadences (№ 187 and Ex.11.1). Between lines 1 and 2, and 3 and 4 there are fourth/fifth-shift.

Ex.11.1. a) four-lined tripodic tune with 5(b3)b3 cadences and b) its Hungarian analogy (Vargyas 2002:064)

Group 11.2 contains tunes moving on Aeolian-Phrygian (Ex.11.2) and mixo­lydian scales (№ 197–198), whose melody outlines are fairly similar despite the 5(4)1 and 8(4)1 cadences.

Ex.11.2. Four-lined tripodic tune with 5(4)b3 cadences

The three tunes in group 11.3 are cohered by the marked cadential sequence of 5(4)4/5 (№ 188–189 and Ex.11.3).

Ex.11.3. Four-lined tripodic tune with 5(4)4 cadences

Group 11.4 includes a Kumyk tune of minor character (№ 190) and a finely arched mixolydian Karachay tune of a broad tonal range (№ 198), tunes of different scales but similar melody contour and 8(4)4 cadences.

The majority of minor-character tunes in group 11.5 with 5(5)x cadences are held together by the first and second lines descending from the octave to the fifth degree. Between lines 2 and 4 there is often parallel motion, if not quintal shifting (№ 191–195). Only lines 2 and 4 of № 194 and Ex.11.5 are tripodic, while both the 4(5)2 cadences and the melody contour of the mixolyd­ian № 199 ranged here for no better place are both different.

Ex.11.5. Four-lined tripodic tune with 5(5)5 cadences

The only zikir tune of 11.6 with 7(5)b3 cadences is a fine example of non-pentatonic fifth-shifting (№ 196).