Fusions - Shankar - Burn - TEXTURE

Question 1

What is the basic texture of Burn (as heard at the opening)?

Answer 1

Melody dominated homophony

Sitar melody accompanied by chords in the string accompaniment

Question 2

Features of texture in Burn - a summary

Answer 2

• chords vary in density
• as piece develops, additional melodic content appears in strings
• octaves appear in string melody
• lively synth bass octave figure (bar 22)
• percussion ostinato introduced (bar 22)
• vocal part = initially single line
• vocal part later doubled a 3rd below
• texture thins to two parts (bar 86)
• third vocal part added at the climax (bar 99)
• densest textures at the climax (bar 98)

Question 3

Why does the sitar counter-melody contrast with the main melody?

Answer 3

• different timbre
• lower pitch
• less continuous
• more diverse and vigorous in rhythm