Many races describe Dwarves as great singers. Something that all visitors of Dwarven cities will agree upon is that the halls of their cities echos with a harmony of song. The very presence of the city filled with the refrain “I am a Dwarf, and I’m digging a hole!” What many non-Dwarves don’t realize is that they are often not actually singing. The song is simply what a Dwarven soul sounds like.
When there is a single Dwarf in isolation, the song is typically not audible. If that Dwarf is feeling particularly passionate, they might burst into song and begin singing. However, typically it cannot be heard. However, precise equipment can still detect the Dwarf’s very being vibrating with the song.
When Dwarves begin to gather together, they resonate with each other. Each one making all of the other Dwarves grow louder. Eventually, the song begins to become audible as a soft murmur. As the numbers grow, so too does the volume.
When entire cities of Dwarves are present, the song can be heard for miles. Sometimes, a traveler will hear the Dwarven city before they can see it. When inside the city, every Dwarf functions as a speaker to repeat the song in unison with the rest. It makes the sign omnipresent. It does not sound like it is coming from any particular direction because it is coming from all directions.
When Dwarves visit non-Dwarven cities, they often describe the silence as depressing. Some assumed other races had their own song. Others never questioned the song and simply assumed it would always be there. Even those who consciously knew of the silence to expect found themselves unable to properly imagine it.
As a result, many Dwarves cite the lack of music as a major contributor to homesickness. Having other music playing can help, but it never meets the all-encompassing presence of music that is in Dwarven cities even if other races have a much greater variety of music.
As a way to help with this, some non-Dwarven friends of Dwarves have put in the effort to learn “Diggy Diggy Hole” so they can sing it. While it does not match how it sounds in a Dwarven city, hearing a chorus of various voices singing such a familiar song can help a Dwarf feel welcomed in a place that doesn’t quite sound like home.
Crayshack 