Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Extended Analysis: Part Three

These are the notation symbols I found on page one of "Phrygian Gates"

Music-slur.png  Slur- indicates that two or more notes be played in one physical stroke
Music dynamic forte.svg Forte- dynamic symbol/direction for Loud
Music dynamic mezzo forte.svg Mezzo Forte- dynamic symbol/direction meaning half as loud as Forte

Music dynamic pianissimo.svg Pianisimo-dynamic symbol/direction meaning very soft

Music dynamic piano.svg Piano- dynamic symbol/direction meaning soft

Music-pedaldown.png Apply sustain pedal symbol
Music-pedalup.svg Release sustain Pedal Symbol

Music-crescendo.svg Cresc.- Abbreviation for Crescendo, directing an increase in volume

Music-diminuendo.svg Decresc.- Abbreviation for Decrescendo, directing a decrease in volume

Ped.- Abbreviation for pedal, indicating use of damper pedal.

Sim.- Abbreviation for Simile, which means similarly, indicating that the following pssage is to be played similarly to the previous

Poco a Poco- Means Little by Little, modifies other directives given so that they be applied slowly.

PiĆ¹- Means more, modifies other directions given

Senza- Means without, modifies other directions given

Una Corda- Means one string, indicates that the soft pedal should be applied.

Tre Corde- Means three strings, indicating that the soft pedal should be relreased

Sempre- Means always, implying that any other directions given last infinitely, until others are given.

First Page of Phrygian Gates

Phrygian Gates

Friday, November 22, 2013

Introducing: Phrygian Gates and Surface analysis

For my extended analysis, I have chosen the piece Phrygian Gates.  Phrygian Gates is a minimalist piece composed by American Composer John Adams in 1977.  It is based on "a repetitive cell structure", and follows the circle f fifths.

Tempo: The tempo seems to be somewhere between Moderato and Lento.  Though with just the bpm, it is hard to tell which.

Meter:  The meter is 8/8 for the majority of the piece, but momentarily changes to 12/8 at times.

Texture:  Texture changes multiple times, throughout the piece.  It is mostly either monophonic or polyphonic, but is also occasionally Homophonic.

Timbre:  The only instrument is a piano, which is a chordophone.

Structure: Again, this piece is based on "a repetitive cell structure", and therefore has no recognizable structure.  Nothing is repeated once it has been played through.




Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Journal #3: Chord Progressions Option B

For this assignment, I have found that both Justin Bieber's "Baby" and Rebecca Blacks "Friday" have the same chord progression, which is I-vi-IV-V in E flat major and B major respectively.






Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Interval ID

Song #1: Boston- Augustana
interval: Perfect 3rd

Song #2: Apologize- OneRepublic
interval: minor 6th
Song #3: Tubular Bells- Mike Oldfield
interval: Perfect 4th

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Music Review #1: How you like me now?

How you like me now? by the Heavy

Tempo: The tempo in this song is about 110 bpm, or moderato, meaning moderately.

Meter: The meter in this song is quadruple simple.  The song follows by four groups of two beats, which stays consistent throughout.   Although it may seem like duple simple at first, there is a small accent at the end of every fourth pair of beats.

Texture: In some parts of the song, the texture is light, such as when the lead singer and piano are the only ones playing, and the beginning. Throughout most of the rest of the song, the texture is medium, with the chorus being very rough.

Timbre: There are idiophonic, membranophonic, electronophonic, and chordophonic timbres in this song.  The idiophonic is the cymbals on the drum set, the membranophonic is the drums on the drum set, the electronophonic is the electric guitar, and the chordophonic is the piano.

Structure:  Like was mentioned in the section on texture, the piece has a clear exposition, A theme, chorus, and B theme.  The order is exposition, A theme, chorus, A theme, Chorus, B theme, Chorus.