Soul Duet

The Rilanga custom of making music with a potential lover.

Execution

Invitation and Acceptance

When somebody was ready to take their relationship to the next level, they brought an instrument of their choice to a meeting or arranged said meeting in a place where the instrument was available. When an opportunity presented itself, they played music for their beloved and explored which kind of tune caught the other person's interest.
If all went well, their beloved responded by talking about their own preferred instrument and suggested another meeting where they could play together.

Harmony

The duet itself was an exercise in adapting to the partner and reaching mutual understanding. After choosing a particular tune, such as a traditional ballad, they started playing and gradually shifted away from the basic melody.
The exact goal varied between pairings. Some preferred to challenge each other in skill while others focused on getting lost in the music together.

Shared Memory

In most cases, the potential couple played several pieces together before settling on one that suited them best. If they agreed to become lovers afterwards, this tune usually continued to play an important role in their relationship, for example at anniversaries or during their wedding ceremony.

Components and tools

Any combination of instruments could be used. The main criterion for choosing an instrument was that the person playing it was capable of producing a pleasant melody. Since all Rilanga music was based on an established set of harmonies, attuning one instrument to the other was straightforward.

Alternative name(s)

Godesi Mi Konlaz

Related ethnicities

Rilanga