AoS4 Release Flashcards

1
Q

Name the two African instruments used in Release

A

Kora

Talking drum

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2
Q

Name the six Celtic instruments in Release

A
Hurdy-Gurdy 
Uilleann Pipes
Bodhran 
Fiddle
Whistle
Accordion
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3
Q

Name the EDM forces used in Release

A
Male-vox, female-vox 
Breath samples
Drum machine
Synthesiser
Shaker
Tambourine 
Bass guitar
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4
Q

What is the overall key of Release?

A

C (Aeolian) Mode

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5
Q

How would you describe the tonality of Release?

A

Modal - not the traditional major or minor

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6
Q

How describe the harmony of Release?

A

Mostly diatonic, using chords I, II, IV and V, but with some extended chords such as 7ths and 9ths, creating more of a varied texture (chords in this piece are more textural than harmonic). The harmony is “static”.

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7
Q

How would you describe the harmonic rhythm of Release?

A

Slow - the chords change slowly

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8
Q

What is the main texture of Release?

A

Mostly homophonic - melody and accompaniment

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9
Q

What is the texture in the Uilleann Pipe and Hardy-Gurdy section towards the end?

A

Heterophonic - playing very similar things, but they are different

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10
Q

Describe the texture of Release

A

Constantly changing, and use of layering to add parts one or two at a time. Sudden drops creat dramatic interest

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11
Q

Are the verses in Release mostly syllabic or melismatic?

A

Syllabic - one note per syllable

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12
Q

Describe the structure of Release

A

Strophic - no chorus at all. Includes an intro, a solo section, a build up and an outro

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13
Q

How does the rhythm change from the intro into Verse 1 of Release?

A

It starts off in free time, then a more strict pulse joins when the shaker and then the Bodhran loop is played

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14
Q

What is the metre of Release?

A

4/4 - simple quadruple metre

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15
Q

Why is the name of the ensemble suitable for the genre of Release?

A

Afro-Celt Sound System is a suitable name as it includes all three genres which are heard as a piece of fusion music in Release - African, Celtic and EDM.

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16
Q

Would you say that the development of Release was based around mainly texture or harmony and tonality?

A

Texture - the harmony is slower moving and based mostly around the note of C, so doesn’t give as much interest as the texture

17
Q

What are loops and how are they used in Release?

A

A short repeated pattern which adds to the texture

18
Q

Why make the tonality of Release suggest C instead of Eb Major?

A

The drone uses the note C from the start.

19
Q

What helps the chords to define the harmony of Release?

A

The melody - all the parts playing different things helps to define the tonality and shapes some of the harmony

20
Q

Which instrument in Release only plays a CMinor chord throughout, but with different rhythmic patterns?

A

Accordion

21
Q

Does the Talking Drum provide a steady beat at the start of Release?

A

No - it’s more just for effect

22
Q

What is the tempo of the song after the initial section of the intro of Release?

A

100bpm (beats per minute)

23
Q

What does syncopation mean?

A

Off-beat rhythms - played a lot by the Bodhran in Release

24
Q

What is an ostinato?

A

A persistent phrase or motif repeated over several bars or more.

25
Q

What is an accent?

A

And accent (> over a note) is used to emphasise certain beats of the bar which aren’t the main beats, creating an interesting driving like rhythm in Release

26
Q

How many singers are featured in Release?

A

Two - one male and one female. The male part is in Celtic with a small amount of African speaking at the start of the song. The female vocals are sung in English

27
Q

How would you describe the melodic motif sung by Sinéad O’Connor?

A

Pentatonic - it only uses five notes

28
Q

In Release, what is the difference between the two vocal parts, other than the language?

A

They start with the same motif, but the male vox develops and goes higher at points.
The vocal range is larger in the male vox, and spans a tenth.

29
Q

What are the instrumental solos based around in Release?

A

These folk inspired melodies are based around the note C.

30
Q

What does “idiomatic” mean?

A

The parts suit the instruments they were written for; the parts were written with the instruments characteristics in mind.

31
Q

Name four rhythmic elements in Release

A
Syncopation
Triplets
Sextuplets 
Polyrhythms 
Cross Rhythms
32
Q

What is multi tracking and how is it used in Release?

A

The process of recording all of the parts individually so that the musicians can improvise their solos over them.

33
Q

What is the reason that some parts drop out of the texture in Release?

A

To leave space and allow others to come to the front of the mix to be heard, as well as creating dramatic entries for some instruments

34
Q

Why is mixing important in Release?

A

So that the instrument playing the main part at the time is heard most of all. Other parts are turned down for this to happen.

35
Q

What is a synthesiser and how is it used in Release?

A

A device which can be programme to sound electronic and create other sorts of timbres

36
Q

How long are the phrases in the verse?

A

Either two or four bar long - very short

37
Q

What is glissando?

A

Sliding from one note to another

38
Q

Are the rhythms in Release straight or swung?

A

Slightly swung to add to the hypnotic, lilting feel