Kate Bush: 'Cloudbusting'

Revision questions based on Kate Bush's 'Cloudbusting' from the album 'Hounds of Love'

Structure:

Name all the sections of the song.

Verse 1 - Bridge - Chorus - Verse 2 - Bridge - Chorus - Instrumental - Chorus - Outro

Tonality:

What is the overall key of the song? Does the key develop in any way?

C# minor, no changes in key

Tonality:

What mode is indicated and how?

Aeolian mode (Bnat)

Harmony:

Describe the presentation of cadences in the song.

Very few perfect cadences

Harmony:

Describe the features of the verse and outro chord progression. (3)

Modal chord sequence, moving by step, 7th and 9th chords

Harmony:

Name the chords in the verse and outro progression.

C#m7 - Badd9 - A6/9 - Badd9

Harmony:

Name the chord that is added in the bridge.

G#m

Harmony:

Name the chords in the chorus and instrumental chord progression.

C#m7 - Badd9 - F#7(sus4) - Badd9

Harmony:

What kind of chords create harmonic variety in the song? (4)

Added note chords, extension chords, sus chords, slash chords

Melody:

How does the vocal melody start?

Triadic shape

Melody:

Give two features of the chorus hook.

Rising 5th, rapid repeated notes

Melody:

Describe the melodic material in the violin riff in the chorus. (2)

Simple stepwise, repetitive material

Melody:

Describe the melody in the BV figure in the outro. (2)

Rising minor 7th leap, stepwise fall to (alternating) supertonic and subdominant notes

Texture:

Name the overall texture.

Melody-dominated homophony

Texture:

Describe the string texture for most of the song.

Homorhythmic string chords

Texture:

What can be heard in the second verse?

String countermelody doubled in 8ves

Texture:

What is added to the texture in the bridge sections?

Vocal sample

Texture:

Describe the texture in the chorus (and how that effect is created).

More polyphonic (violin riff acts as counterpoint to vocals)

Texture:

What happens as a preparation for the chorus?

Silence

Texture:

Describe the texture in the outro (and the parts included). (4)

Polyphonic interplay of 3 lines (lead vocals, instrumental in Keyboard 2, wordless BV)

Rhythm, Tempo & Metre:

Describe the tempo throughout the song (with the tempo marking).

Moderately fast (crotchet = 112)

Rhythm, Tempo & Metre:

Describe the metre.

Mainly 4/4 with some 6/4

Rhythm, Tempo & Metre:

Describe the metre of the bridge.

3/2 (noted as 6/4)

Rhythm, Tempo & Metre:

What kind of rhythm is used extensively in the song?

Two quaver crotchet rhythm

Rhythm, Tempo & Metre:

What rhythmic feature is present in the chorus hook?

Anticipatory syncopation

Rhythm, Tempo & Metre:

The accompanying string instruments become more active towards the end. Describe their rhythm.

Replace the 3rd beat with alternate quavers and semiquavers

Sonority:

What three conventional rock and pop instruments does this song lack?

Bass, electric guitar, restrained use of percussion/drums (no full kit)

Sonority:

What provides the main accompaniment?

Classical string sextet

Sonority:

What synth instrument is used in this piece? Give two examples of sounds it provides for the song.

Fairlight CMI, vocal sample, steam engine at the end

Sonority:

Describe the vocals in the outro.

Wordless singing

Sonority:

What instrument is heard near the beginning playing short phrases?

Balalaika