The Technique of Hocketing

Odd Theory with Lora-Faye Åshuvud airs Tuesdays at 9 pm on New Sounds Radio. Repeats throughout the week, including Fridays at 3 pm and Sundays at 7 pm. 

This is an episode on “hocketing,” which is an old technique that has roots in Central Africa, Western Europe, and Indonesia, and has more recently made its way over to the US. Many believe that it was developed by all these cultures, separately, in isolation (barring the US), although this is a contentious claim.

Hocketing is a very difficult practice that requires a deep level of concentration and communication between its performers, as it usually involves the quick passing back and forth of the notes in a melody or rhythm by two or more individuals. Because of this, there’s something uncanny about the sound that people across cultures and continents have been drawn to throughout time.

Hear a hocketing recording from the Aka People of Central Africa, and then one from Meredith Monk, with context provided by Dave Longstreth of the Dirty Projectors.

Hocketed trumpet sections from Duke Ellington’s “Braggin’ in Brass” live on the same playlist at Steve Reich’s “Clapping Music,” and with examples of the “contra tiempo” hocketed clapping patterns in Flamenco palmas.