The elements of music to consider
Structure
The song employs 28 loopA small section of music, usually between four and eight bars, that is continually repeated. of 8-bars that are inserted and removed throughout the course of the song. The overall structure shape follows that of a common pop musicMusic which has general appeal and is often linked to styles of the 1950s. Driven by a strong rhythmic element. song:
- introduction
- verse 1
- break section
- verse 2
- solos
- verse 3
- drum break
- outro
Melody and rhythm
The song is built upon the repeated loops - both the melody and rhythm are fixed and do not vary in the song. The points to refer to are:
- the descending vocalThe voice as a musical instrument. melody phraseA short section of music, normally a melody, that could be thought of as a musical sentence. Phrases are like building blocks in music. - the female line descends each time, however, sometimes the male melody rises as heard in bar 6
- the instrumental solos feature semiquaver movement
- the bodhrĂĄn part features a syncopationRhythm patterns where stressed notes are placed off the beat.ostinatoA repeated melodic or rhythmic pattern. In film music an ostinato can create energy, excitement or tension.
- Rhythmic layers have contrasting patterns, creating cross-rhythm An effect created when two or more conflicting rhythms are heard at the same time. Eg one may be in simple time and another in triple time.
Metre and tempo
The metreRegular pattern of beats and is indicated by a time signature. and tempoThe speed that the music is played at. in the song are:
- the opening is free timeMusic without a time signature or clear first beat in a bar.
- the time signature is 4/4
- the tempo is 100 bpmBeats per minute.
Instrumentation
Release houses both traditional instruments and music technology to produce what is heard on the record. Bear in mind:
- that the loops fade in and out from a mixing desk
- the Celtic instruments include the hurdy gurdy, accordion, low whistle, bodhrĂĄn and fiddle
- the West African instruments heard are the djembe and the talking drum
- the popular music influences include the bass guitar and the synthesiserAn electronic keyboard that allows the player to change the sound.
Texture
The elements of texture to refer to are:
- the texture comprises of melody and accompanimentA type of texture where there is only one clear melody and an accompaniment that plays different notes and rhythms but is supporting the melody.
- the gradual build in texture by layering loops and sampleA section taken from another song and used in a new composition or a recording of a sound taken from a specific environment.
- there are moments where the texture breaks
- the song has moments of heterophonicMultiple variations of the same melody heard simultaneously.
Tonality and harmony
The song depends on modesThe predecessor to the major/minor key system. rather than common major and minor key signatureA pattern of sharps or flats at the beginning of a piece of music indicating which are to be played. often heard in popular music. Remember that:
- the song is based on an aeolian modeA scale with the intervals, T-st-T-T-st-st-T (T represents tone interval and st represents a semitone interval). in C
- dorian modeA scale with the intervals, T, st, T, T, T, st, T (T represents tone interval and st represents a semitone interval). is implied at times through the use of A naturals
- the song is harmonically staticA lack of movement. It means inactivity or stillness. due to the C droneTwo notes sounded together as an accompaniment, often a 5th apart.
Dynamics
There is a very limited range of dynamics because the bringing in and out of textured loops gives the illusion that the song is getting louder. In fact, Release maintains a steady dynamic level of mezzo forteA dynamic level meaning to play moderately loud - can be shortened to mf. (mf).