Breathing Under Water

Question 1

What is the first section in the song?

Answer 1

Verse 1 (No introduction)

Question 2

How many bars are in verse 1?

Answer 2

8

Question 3

Which instrument plays the solo in verse 1?

Answer 3

Sitar

Question 4

Which instruments accompany the sitar solo in verse 1?

Answer 4

Strings

Question 5

Describe what the strings play in verse 1?

Answer 5

Block chords

Question 6

What is the tonality for most of the piece?

Answer 6

Db major

Question 7

What is the bpm of the song & how would you describe the tempo?

Answer 7

120bpm & it is a fast medium tempo

Question 8

Describe the sitar solo in verse 1.

Answer 8

Decorative (lots of shorter notes to make the melody more interesting & intricate)

Question 9

Identify a playing technique used by the sitar.

Answer 9

Glissando (slide)

Question 10

Describe the texture of the accompanying strings in verse 1.

Answer 10

Homorhythmic (chordal & same rhythm)

Question 11

Identify the rhythmic device at the start of the 2nd sitar phrase (bar 5). The same rhythmic device is also at the start of the 3rd phrase (bar 7).

Answer 11

Anacrusis

Question 12

Identify the rhythmic device played by the sitar in bar 6.

Answer 12

Triplet quavers

Question 13

Which section follows verse 1 (ie bar 9)?

Answer 13

Refrain 1

Question 14

The sitar continues to decorate the melody with ornaments in refrain 1. What is the musical word for this in Indian music?

Answer 14

Alankara

Question 15

Identify the rhythmic device played by the sitar in bar 12?

Answer 15

Quintuplets (5 notes in the space of 4)

Question 16

The sitar is fairly free (not a strict tempo), what is the musical term for this?

Answer 16

Rubato

Question 17

Vibrato is used by the sitar part. What is the musical term for this in Indian music?

Answer 17

Andolan

Question 18

Name the third section (verse 1 - refrain 1 - ….).

Answer 18

Middle 8

Question 19

What happens to the tonality at bar 18 (middle 8)?

Answer 19

There is a tertiary modulation (Db major to C#)

Question 20

The middle 8 uses a modal/major scale. Name the mode & major scale.

Answer 20

Lydian A major

Question 21

The sitar plays mordents. What is the musical word for this in Indian music?

Answer 21

Gamak

Question 22

Identify the chord in bar 26.

Answer 22

Diminished

Question 23

Name the fourth section (verse 1 - refrain 1 - middle 8 - ….)

Answer 23

Link

Question 24

How many bars in the link?

Answer 24

3 bars

Question 25

Which part starts in the link?

Answer 25

Vocals

Question 26

Describe what the vocalist sings in the link.

Answer 26

Ah (vocalisation)

Question 27

Describe the texture in the link section (34 - 36)

Answer 27

Polyphonic (dialogue between the vocals & sitar)

Question 28

Name the fifth section (verse 1 - refrain 1 - middle 8 - link - ...)

Answer 28

Verse 2

Question 29

What happens to the tonality in verse 2?

Answer 29

Returns to Db major