Courtney Pine Flashcards
What styles does Courtney Pine use?
Jazz, Soul, Blues, Reggae and hip.hop
What instruments does Courtney play?
Saxophone clarinet flute bass - clarinet keyboard
How is Inner State of Mind notated?
Staff notation with chord names
(inner State) What is the key?
Dorian Cm
(inner state) why is the performance material freely varied?
Improvisation nature
(inner state) give the overall structure
motif intro verse rap verse rap link verse link motif instrumental coda
(inner state) what is the tempo throughout?
Quadruple time
(inner state) Name four rhythmic devises used
Dotted rhythm riff
prominent syncopation
triplets
cross-rhythms
(inner state) What is the recurring motif?
the two bar setting of ‘inner state of mind’
(inner state) What is the line Eb-C called?
pentatonic line
(inner state) how is it harmonised?
In 3rds, broadening out into a triad
(inner state) Is the melody fragmented?
yes
(inner state) How long do phrases last?
No more than 5 beats
(inner state) how is the melody developed?
Blues notes and ornamentation
(inner state) what is referenced in the melody line?
George Gershwin - Summertime
(inner state) what do the notes E and Eb played together create?
Dissonance
(inner state) What is the melodic interest of the rap section?
Interjections from the sax - second of which is pentatonic
(inner state) How is the melody varied in verse 2?
Higher notes
(inner state) What blues notes appears in the vocal parts?
Gb/Fsharp
(inner state) what is the scat passage supported by?
slightly broader range of chords
(inner state) how is the second rap[ section altered?
second bar of the riff is altered and more lyrical vocal line
(inner state) What further changes in verse 3?
riff
(inner state) name 4 melodic landmarks
frequent appearance of the motif
virtuoso sax solo - rapid scales
scat singing
concluding trill
(inner state) what does the piece open with?
distorted and irrational sounds
(inner state) name 5 of the range of textures
homophonic voices broken chord figure free counterpoint monophonic trill at close mel-dom-hom
(lady day) who’s this song covering?
Gil Scott - Heron
(lady day) who is it a homage to?
Billie Holiday and John Coultrane
(lady day) what is the general style?
free jazz with hip-hop influences
(lady day) name 3 ways in which it differs from the original
shape of the vocal line
instruments
structure expansion
(lady day) what do the cross symbols indicate?
multiphonics and key clicks
(lady day) how is the pulse relaxed towards the end?
indication of freely
(lady day) what is the key
Cm
(lady day) what is the tonality based on?
12 bar blues
(lady day) what is the general structure?
intro verse 1 link verse 2 instrumental verse 1a coda (strict time) code (free time)
(lady day) what is the metre?
quadruple time
(lady day) what is the tempo?
160 crotchet bpm
(lady day) name the rhythmic devises
syncopation
triplets
sustained notes
repetition
(lady day) describe the vocal part
syllabic with melisma at the end of phrases
generally conjunct
narrow range
(lady day) what is notable about the sax solo?
wide range
chromatic scales
ornamentation
extended techniques
(lady day) what note is the extended chord sequence based on?
C
(lady day) what does the instrumental continue using?
extended chords
(lady day) what does it avoid?
the basic blues progression
(lady day) how is the coda indicated?
Dramatic semitonal shifts
repetitions of a direct progression and a slowing of the harmonic rhythm
(lady day) name the instruments used
voices horns keyboard drums sax dubbed voices
(lady day) what is the texture?
mel-dom-hom
(lady day) what provides close harmony?
horns
(lady day) what adds to the texture?
riff and vocal fills
(love and affection) who wrote the original?
Joan Armatrading
(love and affection) How is Pines version different from the original?
larger instrumental range
extended end section
improvisation and the presence of a new countermelody
(love and affection) what key does Pine open with then what does it settle into?
open in Csharp minor
settles into relative major of E
(love and affection) what is the general structure?
intro link developed intro further development bridge refrain instrumental refrain outro
(love and affection) what is the metre?
quadruple time
(love and affection) what is the tempo?
moderate - 86 crotchet bpm
(love and affection) name 4 rhythmic devises used
offbeat chords
syncopation
cross rhythms
triplets
(love and affection) how are the opening vocals characterised?
rising conjunct figures
ornamentation
repetition
(love and affection) describe the vocal range
an octave
(love and affection) how is the bridge section enhanced?
repeated notes
conjunct movements
melisma
blues notes
(love and affection) what are the strings playing in the final section?
recurring minor pentatonic line
(love and affection) what devises are used in the instrumental melody?
chromaticism
blues notes
slides
(love and affection) what’s harmonically avoided early on?
extended chords and a sense of cadence
(love and affection) what are used more at the beginning?
minor chords
(love and affection) what dominates the song?
riff
(love and affection) describe the harmony of the bridge
rising triads
chromatic descent
false relation - B against Bb
(love and affection) what sound isn’t used?
dubbed
(love and affection) what two textures are used?
mel-dom-hom
polyphony
(love and affection) what is the overall dynamic?
a crescendo
super soft at the beginning then gradually gets stronger
(love and affection) when are drums introduced?
bar 15
(Lady Day) What are the two main chords?
C7(sharp9), F7(sharp9)
(Lady Day) What’s the chorus chord sequence?
Gm7, Fm7, Bb13, C7 (sharp9)
(Lady Day) Instrumental chord sequence
F9, G9, C7(sharp9)
(Inner State) What is the main chord sequence?
Cm7, Dm7,
(love and affection) What’s the underlying bass riff/main chord sequence?
E, E/Gsharp, A, Badd4,
(love and affection) What are the contrasting chords of the middle 8?
A, B, Csharp minor
Summertime context
George Gershwin
Porgy and Bess
Lullaby sung by mother Clara to her baby
Why does my heart feel so bad context
1999
Moby
electronica/dance
Why does my heart feel so bad structure
verse-chorus
alternating male and female samples
Why does my heart feel so bad electronic effects
sample from a gospel choir echo eg reverb synths drum machine sequencer
Why does my heart feel so bad harmony
verse 1: Am, Em, G, D
verse 2: C,Am and F,C
Why does my heart feel so bad texture
homophonic
Thins out
snare drum on beats 2 and 4
Why does my heart feel so bad rhythm
4/4
steady tempo
syncopation
accented backbeats
Miles Davis All Blues context
1959
Modal Jazz
All Blues improv
no rehearsal
given the overall structure, basic chord sequence, main melodic idea and the mode/scale
All blues tonality/harmony
Gmajor with flattened 7th - modal feel
12 bar blues
Jazz harmony e.g Gm7 and G7
All blues structure
Head arrangement
All blues texture
homophonic
All blues rhythm
swung quavers constant piano ostinato riffs subtle changes syncopation 6/4 = jazz waltz
All blues sonority
trumper - miles davis- muted- short and syncopated
alto sax - wide range of notes and quick
Tenor sax - fast scales
piano - tremolo, simple
All blues melody
conjunct contrasting angular section ornamented repetitive built on riffs
comparisons
Omar - be thankful Roy Hargrove - Strasbourg Saint Denis The brand new heavies - Dream on Dreamer John Coltrane - Blue Train Moby - why does my heart feel so bad? Mile Davis - All Blue Alicia Keys and Jay Z - Empire State of Mind
Courtney Pine context
born 1964
combines jazz and popular music
soprano plus tenor sax, flute and keyboard
debut recording - ‘journey to the urge within’ 1986 = first jazz album to enter U.K top 40
OBE and CBE
Back In the Day context
2000
produced by him
Lady day written by Gill Scott-Heran = homage to Billie Holiday and John Coltrane
Love and Affection written by Joan Armatrading in 1976
