Kulning

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Kulning, also known as the ”Nordic Herding Call”, refers to high-pitched herding calls that were developed centuries ago in Sweden and Norway. Different regions have different names for these calls, such as kauka, lålla, kula, kulokk, and lockrop. These calls are part of Scandinavian herding music.

The songs and calls were used to guide the movement of livestock in the wilderness and to communicate inbetween farms.

Kulning consists of high-pitched, directed, non-vibrato calls, sometimes ending on a high note and sometimes on a low note. The melodies are often beautifully ornamented with the melancholy typical of Nordic folk music. Kulning also includes various lower-pitched calls and sounds that mimic animal sounds or are designed to catch the attention of animals.

Kulning was typically used mostly by women and girls, but also by some men.