GCSE MUSIC - Release

What style of music are the 8 bar phrases from?

celtic

How are certain notes emphasised?

use of accents

What does the African style of music add to the piece?

syncopation, polyrhythmic textures and ostinato

What techno features appear at the start?

drone and panning

What language are the african vocals?

malinkan

What is structure?

ABA ternary

Describe the general use of loops in the piece

4 bars long, repeated

What tonality is it?

Modal which is typical of celtic music

What does the melody provide?

two main vocal lines and use of chromatic movement

What harmonic feature is used?

static harmony

What note value do the instrumental solos mainly consist of?

semiquavers

What instrument is the rhythmic backbone and give a rhythmic feature of it?

Bodhran, its rhythm is syncopated

Give the 3 West African instruments used

kora
djembe
talking drum

Give the 6 Celtic instruments used

hurdy gurdy
uillean pipes
low whistle
bodhran
fiddle
accordion

What is a modern feature of the texture?

multi tracking and layering

Give 6 uses of music technology

multi tracking
panning
reverb
delay
loops
synthesiser

give 5 sounds and techniques of modern electronic dance used in release:

male and female vocals
synthesiser and samples
electric piano
drum machine
shaker and tambourine

Give a textural feature

sudden drop outs for new sections

What is the texture?

polyphonic

What key is it in?

C natural minor

What is most of the melody based on?

the aeolian mode (natural minor scale)

Explain the structure

seven sections:
intro
verse 1
verse 2
solos
verse 3
build
outro

What do the seven sections of the piece have in common?

they are each eight bar phrases

What is used during the Uilleann pipe solo?

dorian mode

What is the time signature?

4/4

What does use of loops do?

creates a layered texture

What is the effect of polyrhythm?

By combining many repeating rhythms, an exciting effect is created, while maintaining a
strong sense of pulse.

How is the rhythm thrown?

use of cross rhythms, syncopation and metre changed

what is the metre in the opening section?

free time

where do the loops start and what happens?

at 0:48, there is a moderately fast tempo in 4/4 time

give two features of the rhythm

it is slightly swung
the vocal melodies use syncopation

what do the instrument solos and some of the instrumental loops feature?

strings of rapid short noes, echoing the fast decorative style of much irish folk music

what rhythmic feature do the low whistle solo and fiddle loops have in common?

triplets

what does repeating loops create the effect of?

ostinatos/riffs

what does the figure 4 above the final rest in loops 13,17,24,26 and 28 indicate?

that the rest lasts for 4 bars

What is the tonality of the piece?

modal but it has drones and repeating patterns of C minor

what is a drone?

a folk music term for a continuous pedal note

what is the harmonic pace of the music?

it has a slow harmonic pace- static harmony and is mainly diatonic

what is the texture?

mainly homophonic

how is the accompaniment constructed?

from loops, built up in layers.

what does the melody in verse 1 consist of?

the pentatonic minor scale

give 5 features of the melody

use of reverberation
mostly syllabic
mainly conjunct movement
repetition
mainly modal

describe the repetition in the melody

there are many similar 2 bar phrases that fall from G to C

compare the male and female voice

the male voice has a much wider range and the female vocal has a narrow range and low tessitura

give 3 features of the instrumental solos

more wide ranging in pitch
disjunct movement
emphasise G and C as the main notes of the mode

give 2 features of the build

there is a long crescendo and thickening of texture

give 2 features of the outro

it fades out and features electric piano loops 25 and 26

describe the synth drum in the intro

it has electronic effects, panned left and right

describe the use of different languages through the vocal parts

the intro has a softly spoken introduction in Maninka, in verse 1 the female vocal is sung in english and in verse 2, the male vocal is sung in irish

describe the fiddle in verse 2

it has a double stopped pattern and tenners very quietly

which three instruments have solos in the solo section?

uillean pipes,
low whistle,
hurdy gurdy

how does sinéad O'connor contribute to this track?

she wrote the lyrics and sung the first verse