Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 58 views

    Active Listening Assignment

    Uploaded by

    Bob Martinez
    The document describes an analysis of a song based on its pitch, rhythm, dynamics, melody, and form. Regarding pitch, both voices and instruments are present and the scale is mostly major. The rhythm is generally slow to bring out the lyrics. Dynamics include contrasts, crescendos, and subito changes. The singer has the main melody while the orchestra provides support. Elements of sonata form are present but it could also be considered an aria based on expressing emotion through the lyrics.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Active Listening Assignment

    Uploaded by

    Bob Martinez
    58 views3 pages
    The document describes an analysis of a song based on its pitch, rhythm, dynamics, melody, and form. Regarding pitch, both voices and instruments are present and the scale is mostly major. The rhythm is generally slow to bring out the lyrics. Dynamics include contrasts, crescendos, and subito changes. The singer has the main melody while the orchestra provides support. Elements of sonata form are present but it could also be considered an aria based on expressing emotion through the lyrics.

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document describes an analysis of a song based on its pitch, rhythm, dynamics, melody, and form. Regarding pitch, both voices and instruments are present and the scale is mostly major. The rhythm is generally slow to bring out the lyrics. Dynamics include contrasts, crescendos, and subito changes. The singer has the main melody while the orchestra provides support. Elements of sonata form are present but it could also be considered an aria based on expressing emotion through the lyrics.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    58 views3 pages

    Active Listening Assignment

    Uploaded by

    Bob Martinez
    The document describes an analysis of a song based on its pitch, rhythm, dynamics, melody, and form. Regarding pitch, both voices and instruments are present and the scale is mostly major. The rhythm is generally slow to bring out the lyrics. Dynamics include contrasts, crescendos, and subito changes. The singer has the main melody while the orchestra provides support. Elements of sonata form are present but it could also be considered an aria based on expressing emotion through the lyrics.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 3

    Pitch

    1. Do you hear voices, instruments, or both?

    There are both voices and instruments in the song.

    2. What kinds of instruments (if any) do you hear?

    Many of the basic instruments in an orchestra including, flute, clarinet, oboe, violin,
    and a little bit of cello.

    3. Does the scale sound happy (major), sad (minor), or both at different times?

    The scale changes throughout the piece but it stay mostly happy throughout, except for
    a few measures when it seems to be minor.

    4. Does the harmony sound pleasing (consonant) or displeasing (dissonant) to your ears?

    The harmony sounded pleasant and melodic to me.

    Rhythm

    1. Is the piece generally slow (adagio), medium (moderato), or fast (allegro)?

    The piece is generally adagio to help bring out the singer’s lyrics and chord progressions
    in the orchestra.

    Dynamics

    1. Is the piece mostly loud (forte) or soft (piano)?

    The piece has many dynamic contrasts but the massive crescendos make the piece
    have a more forte tone.
    2. Do you hear any subito dynamic changes? When*?

    Yes there were many subito dynamic changes, most notably during the line “Moon,
    stay with me for a while,” which was a subito forte. (1 minute, 26 seconds.)

    3. Does the music gradually get louder (crescendo) or softer (decrescendo)? When?*

    The music get louder gradually many times during the piece, one example of this is the
    line, “You travel the whole wide world,” where the singer slowly crescendos. (35
    seconds.)

    Melody

    1. Is there one main melody? Why or why not?

    It can be debated that the singer has the main melody because it seems as if the
    orchestra is merely supporting the singer and helping to bring out her melody through
    the lyrics.

    2. Can you hear a specific tonality? Can you tell when the music is returning “home” to a
    tonic chord?

    Yes, there is a tonality that keeps the song stable and consistent throughout. To bring a
    sense of completeness and resolution, the song goes back to it’s original root chords
    that we’re played at the beginning of the piece.

    Form

    1. Does the melody repeat?

    There are no lyrics that repeat in the song but there is a reoccurring note progression
    that comes up multiple times during the piece.
    2. What form (12 bar blues, concerto, sonata, other) do you think this piece is in?

    This piece could be considered to be in sonata form as it has an exposition,


    development, and recapitulation, however could also be an aria as the lyrics of the song
    seems to express an emotion the composer has towards the moon.

    This active listening exercise helped me to pick apart different sections of a song and
    instead of just listening to the lyrics, look for what made the song so interesting (ie dynamic
    contrast, melodic lines, musical form). I was most surprised by how the orchestra was almost
    unnoticeable, yet they played a huge part in supporting the singer, and the song would not be
    at all the same without them. I most enjoyed listening to how the melody would fade away and
    a new idea would take it’s place, but then it would return after that idea to bring a conclusion
    to the piece.

    You might also like