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