Kulning is an ancient vocal art that is so hauntingly beautiful and mysterious. Originating in the forests and mountains of Scandinavia, it was how people in those times called to their cattle who were grazing in the wild. In the same way as yodeling is used as a means to call over long distances, kulning was used to call livestock. And yet they sound so different from each other.
Jonna Jinton is a Swedish photographer, singer, artist, and blogger. And yes, this is her calling out to the cows.
The description of her video says it all,
“In the middle of the bright summer night I went out to call for the cows. I thought that maybe, something deep inside them, remember the sounds from the ancient times when people called for them over far distances. They came running, together with a million mosquitoes :) But what a magical night.”
What it doesn’t capture though, is the timeless serenity of the Swedish countryside.
The fog enveloping the grey sky, trees covering the better part of the meadow and mountains in the distance. Jonna looking every bit the part in her long, flowing white dress and golden hair as she stands in the meadow with her back towards the camera.
Her Kulning sounds every bit as ancient as the feel of the video.
How ancient? Try the middle ages. In a time when women were tasked to watch over livestock while processing milk and wool, they would let the cattle roam free and graze elsewhere but when it was time to call them back, you guessed it, Kulning.
Just listen to how Jonna does it!
It takes a few moments of calling but eventually, the cows with their cowbells, do make their way back to her. It’s very Pied Piper as they walk back to her. How cool is that?
One viewer said,
“Imagine hearing this when alone in a forest. Sounds like the beginning of a fairy tale.”
There is something magical about it. It’s certainly not something you’ll ever hear in the modern world. Not in the busy streets and congested roads where everyone is in a rush to get somewhere. The cows even form a sort of line when they assemble in front of her.
Look at them! Alert eyes and ears all around!
Why the women? Well notice how the vocal style of Kulning result in high tones? The vocal style was really developed for a woman’s voice. They were perfect for carrying those high notes across the open fields where the livestock could hear them.
Believe it or not, the songs have actual meanings to them. They expressed the realities of day to day life including the hopes and fears of the women who sang them. Lots of songs were about the beauty of life and nature, while some spoke of loss. The loss of an animal back then meant a lot to the men and women of those ages.
Losing a cow meant no milk, no meat, and no leather. And with the winters they had, it meant comfort or starvation. Not easy during the middle ages. Jonna has given us a glimpse of what life was like during those times with just a song. Those hills are alive with the sound of Kulning.
Click on the video below and listen to a sound you’ve never heard before!
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Source: YouTube, ancient origins, atlasobscura
