eheään

Note: Eheään is a fictional term used here to describe a vocal tradition attributed to the imagined culture of Ehea. The word is presented with a constructed etymology from the fictional Ehean language, combining ehe- meaning authentic with ään meaning sound or voice.

Eheään denotes a capella polyphonic singing tradition. Performers typically arrange themselves in a loose circle or ranks, with no instrumental accompaniment. The music emphasizes natural resonances and close interval tuning, often producing warm, breathy timbres and prominent overtones. Performances proceed through communal cycles: an opening call, overlapping phrases, a drone-like foundation often sustained by a fixed pitch, and a culminating conclusion.

The repertoire centers on narratives from seasonal and coastal life, such as harvest songs, sea voyage laments, and epic chants. Texts are in the fictional Ehean language, though some pieces are adapted into neighboring languages for ceremonial events. Repetition, call-and-response phrases, and subtle tempo rubato are common features.

Historically, eheään is described in fictional annals as arising in the archipelago of Ehea during the early medieval period. It underwent revivals in modern times, culminating in ethnomusicology-inspired exchanges and occasional collaborations with contemporary composers. Festivals dedicated to eheään appear in the imagined regions and have been cited in cross-cultural music projects.

Because it is fictional, there are no real-world performers or recordings to reference. See also: epic chant, drone singing, overtone singing.