MusicAppreciation

Listening, Research &

Analysis

M MATTHEWS 2013

© M Matthews 2013

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Copyright

The photographs are used courtesy of pixabay.com who offer images under Creative Commons Deed CC0.

All score extracts included have been created by the author and are traditional pieces out of copyright.

CHAPTER 1

Irish Folk Songs

Irish folk songs come from many differ-ent categories. The categories developed over time including songs about work, lullabies and patriotic songs to name a few.

Songs include:She Moved Through the FairRocky Road to DublinRed is the RosePreab san Ol

LISTENING & RESEARCH

1. Find two different artists who have recorded this piece (youtube will help).

2. Describe the accompaniment for each version.

SECTION 1

She Moved Through the She moves through the fair is a famous traditional Irish folk song.

ANALYSIS

Use the music provided for you.

1. Is the music major, minor or modal?

2. Are there any Flattened 7ths? If so mark them.

3. Are there repeated notes at the end of phrases?

4. Is the rhythm strict? (Hint think about the recordings you have heard)

5. What is the shape of the melody?

6. What is the metre?

7. Explain the time signature marked?

8. What is the general structure/form?

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IMAGE 1.1 She Moved Through the Fair

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LISTENING & RESEARCH

1. This is an unusual Time Signature. Research what type of Irish Dance it is used in.

2. A very famous Irish Group Recorded this.

SECTION 2

Rocky Road to Dublin The Rocky Road to Dublin is a much faster paced piece than She Moved through the Fair. It is also a very famous Irish piece.

ANALYSIS

Use the music provided for you or any other source for the sheet music.

1. Is the music major, minor or modal?

2. Are there any accidentals?

3. Are there repeated notes at the end of phrases?

4. Is the rhythm strict? (Hint think about the recordings you have heard).

5. What is the metre?

6. Explain the time signature marked.

7. What is the general structure/form?

8. Describe the tempo

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LISTENING & RESEARCH

1. Compare and contrast two recordings of the song.

2. This song is usually transcribed in the key of F. This has been deliberately transposed to make it easier to learn. Practise playing in an Irish Traditional style. Remember that the written version is not strict rhythmically.

SECTION 3

Red is the RoseRed is the Rose is an example of an Irish Tradi-tional Song where multiple versions exist. If you research the lyrics you will find that some begin with the verse on the left, others begin with the chorus “Red is the Rose”.

ANALYSIS

Use the music provided for you.

1. What key is this version in?

2. Are there any bars which are variations of each other?

3. Are there repeated notes at the end of phrases?

4. Is the rhythm strict? (Hint think about the recordings you have heard)

5. What is the metre?

6. What is another name for the time signature shown?

7. What is the form?

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CHAPTER 2

Folk Songs from Other Countries

Irish Folk Songs are not the only type of folk songs. Like Ireland songs developed over time and were passed down orally over the years.

Songs Include:Scarborough FairSkye Boat SongThe Banana Boat Song

LISTENING & RESEARCH

1. Perform a google image search for the sheet music for the song. What do you notice about the time signatures? Explain your answer.

2. This song will allow you to practise low C on the recorder. Learn to perform the piece.

SECTION 1

Scarborough Fair ANALYSIS

Describe the song musically. Discuss the following:

1. Key

2. Time Signature

3. Rhythm

4. Range

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REVIEW 2.1 Scarborough Fair Quiz

Question 1 of 9What Key is this piece in?

A. A

B. B

C. C

D. D

LISTENING & RESEARCH

1. This is a type of Calypso song. Research this style of song and create a poster showing the main characteristics of the style.

2. Choose a version of the song to listen to. Describe the texture of the song.

SECTION 2

Banana Boat Song

ANALYSIS

Describe the song musically. Discuss the following:

1. Melody

2. Rhythm

3. Tempo

4. Intervals

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CHAPTER 3

Historical and Modern Ballads

Historical Ballads developed from the folk song tradition and are often based on major events.Modern Ballads are generally slow style Love songs.

Songs Include:The Fields of AthenryThe Streets of London

SECTION 1

The Fields of Athenry

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Unusually for an Irish song, the Sheet Music for this song is not in the public domain and is still licensed. It is available via several sources, here is one:Musicnotes.com

LISTENING & RESEARCH

As the sheet music is not widely available this is a good example for listening exercises.

1. Listen to one version of the song. Describe the overall form of the song and explain what the song is about.

2. Now listen to a second version of the song. How does it differ to the first? Listen for instruments, texture, voice and harmony.

3. This song is used in several movies and is popular at football matches. Create a poster describing the history of the piece and its use.

REVIEW 3.1 Analysis (Uses Musicnotes edition)

Question 1 of 6What key is the song in?

A. Gm

B. B flat

C. F

D. C

SECTION 2

The Cliffs of DoneenLISTENING & RESEARCH

1. Planxty recorded a version of this song with Christy Moore. Planxty are a famous Irish Folk Group. Create a profile of this group including their members, instruments and famous songs.

2. Compare the instrumentation used by Tommy Fleming, Planxty and Paddy Reilly. Create an instrument profile of each of the instruments including famous performers of each instrument and whether they were traditionally an Irish instrument.

ANALYSIS

1. Describe the form of the piece. Rewrite the score into your manuscript, highlighting the differences between each phrase.

2. This is an Irish piece. Analyse the score and your recording and list all features of Irish Music you find. Give an example and explanation of each one in the context of the piece.

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IMAGE 3.1 Cliffs of Dooneen

CHAPTER 4

Pop songs, Negro Spirituals, Jazz & BluesThis is a very broad category covering older songs from American History, right through Jazz, Blue and Pop Songs.

Songs Include:Down to the River to PrayFeeling GoodHit The Road JackAnother One Bites the Dust

LISTENING & RESEARCH

1. The song is a negro spiritual. Listen to a gospel version of this song. Describe the texture, instrumentation and voices in the song.

2. Is the song major or minor? Concentrate on recognising this by ear.

3. Practise singing or playing the song. Remember to transpose it into a suitable key if you are singing.

SECTION 1

Wade in the Water ANALYSIS

1. This piece is in a minor key. What key is it? Describe the two methods you use to identify it as a minor key. What is the relative major?

2. There are a lot of thirds in this piece. Identify the major thirds and minor thirds. Mark them in your piece.

3. What is the range of the piece? Is this wide or narrow? What implication does this have for singers?

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LISTENING & RESEARCH

1. Listen to a sample of the song. Can you identify the time signature? Is it simple or compound? Describe how you identified it.

2. Describe the tempo of the piece. Does it change?

3. Compare the Nina Simone version with the Michael Buble cover. Which do you prefer? Justify your answer using musical references.

SECTION 2

Feeling GoodANALYSIS (USES MUSICNOTES.COM EDITION)

1. There is more than one time signature in this piece. Find both and explain each of them.

2. What Key is the piece in? How can you identify this from the score?

3. Explain the marking “moderately slow, in 4” in the context of the time signature

4. Does this piece change key? If so, what key does it move into? (Hint: check the whole piece!). Complete the sentence, “The word for changing key is m_____”

5. At the bottom of page four describe the left hand of the final stave.

6. What is the marking Led in the final bar?

7. Who composed the piece?

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The Sheet Music for this song is not in the public domain and is still licensed. It is available via several sources, here is one:

Musicnotes.com

ANALYSIS (USES THE MUSICNOTES EDITION)

1. The first four bars are marked as N.C. Explain this marking and why it applies to these bars.

2. This is an unusual key signature, what is the major key signature? What would the minor key signature be? Is this piece major or minor?

3. The Bass line (left hand of the bass clef) has a distinctive musical feature. Describe it.

4. Explain the key signature in the score.

5. Why is there a capo marking on the score? What impact does using a capo have?

SECTION 3

Hit The Road Jack

LISTENING & RESEARCH

1. This song is very popular. Find two versions of the song. Listen to both and describe how they differ.

2. This song is often blended with another song in this book. Research to discover it on the internet.

3. Practise both songs and try playing them together. Hint: this cannot be done using our

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The Sheet Music for this song is not in the public domain and is still licensed. It is available via several sources, here is one:

Musicnotes.com

LISTENING & RESEARCH

1. Listen to the introduction of the piece. Describe the music.

2. List all the instruments you can hear in the piece. Listen first, then use youtube to confirm your answers.

3. The song has a strong and steady beat. It was used for medical purposes. Use the internet to research why and write a short article explaining why it was picked.

4. Practise and learn the handclap. Your teacher will clap it for you.

SECTION 4

Another One Bites the DustANALYSIS (USES THE MUSICNOTES EDITION)

1. Analyse the bass line of the piece. Describe it mentioning rhythmic and melodic features.

2. What is the range of the piece? What impact does this have on singers?

3. What does the symbol at the start of the piece (beside Em) mean? What D.S. Al Coda mean?

4. Identify the key of the piece.

5. One note features repeatedly in the bass line.

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The Sheet Music for this song is not in the public domain and is still licensed. It is available via several sources, here is one:

Musicnotes.com