Songs
Farmers, soldiers, cooks, and sailors all have something in common: singing. Music is a large part of Themblise day-to-day life, and is used to both pass the time and create a stronger community. It is not uncommon to hear songs echoing through the orchards and vineyards, with all joining in no matter their musical talent. It can be risky to bring cherished musical instruments into the fields, so Themblise happily use their voice. Rounds and shanteys are particular favorites, and songs range on a variety of subjects, to the point of being singing stories. Comedies, tragedies, prayers, and even histories are passed down through song. A melancholy song about the beauty of rain might be quickly followed by the hysterical “Clumsy Ol’ Esat .” For many Themblise, the best part of singing is that it transcends specie, as anyone with a voice can join in, no matter what they are.
Musical Instruments
However, musical instruments often join in the singing outside of the fields. Drums, clappers, shakers, rattles, tambourines, and bells are some of the most common and popular musical instruments in Themble, and are most often used to enhance a song. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and tones, and are usually played all together in a group than by oneself. Wind instruments like the recorder, ocarina, and flute, as well as stringed instruments such as the fiddle (violin), mandolin, and sitar. The harpsichord is an instrument seen typically only in the houses of the rich, although a new instrument, the pianoforte, has been becoming more popular in the recent years.
Dancing
Dancing is a popular during events, from feasts to fairs, weddings, and even funerals. In Themble, dancing is done in large groups, and very occasionally set couples. Dancers do not touch anyone around them, but rather move all together to the beat. Dancers tend to line up either in rows, or in circles, depending on the dance, which then can break up into partners then back to its original shape. Due to the variety of sizes of creatures dancing, it is not uncommon for there to be three or more dancing rings happening at once (sometimes separate from another, sometimes layered, with the smaller circles inside the larger circles). This prevents accidental injuries from larger animals on smaller animals, and helps everyone find a partner more suited for their size. Themblise dancing requires a lot of expressive body movement, and is often fast paced. For special occasions, dancers may wear bells and ribbons around their ankles, which create a lively and often deafening accompaniment.
There are special dances that are specific for certain types of creatures. For instance, there are the “feather dances” that focus on the dips and flares of wings. There are also “dances of the hooves” where hooved animals like equines, bovines, sheep, pigs, deer, and more will use the sound of their hooves to create a catching rhythm, like step dancing.