Grace

Question 1

When and where was Grace released?

Answer 1

1994 in America

Question 2

Instrumentation of Grace

Answer 2

• Lead vocals (Buckley), backing vocals, bass guitar, guitars (electric, acoustic), drum kit, synth, strings
• Guitars tuned to ‘drop D tuning’
• Drums and guitars play rhythmic patterns and broken chords

Question 3

Texture of Grace

Answer 3

• Guitars and Drums accompany Buckley throughout most of the song whilst synth and strings less prominent, they drop in and out to vary texture
• Texture thickens at end especially in coda
• Homophonic
• Varied

Question 4

Use of technology in Grace

Answer 4

• Modulation on synth at start
• Distortion and flanging on guitars in coda
• Overdubbing on guitar parts creates thicker sound and extra vocal parts in bridge
• EQ in final verse

Question 5

Structure of Grace

Answer 5

• Verse/Chorus structure
• Intro, Verse 1, Pre chorus 1, Chorus, Link, Verse 2, Pre Chorus 2, Chorus, Middle 8/Bridge, Link Verse 3, Outro
• Intro used as link

Question 6

Tonality of Grace

Answer 6

• E minor

- Often ambiguous

Question 7

Harmony of Grace

Answer 7

• Some harmonies very dissonant

- Unusual chord progression, many are chromatic and move in parallel motion

Question 8

Melody of Grace

Answer 8

-Frequent ornamentation used in melody line e.g. glissandos
Vocals=
-Improvised quality
-Wide range
-Mostly falling to reflect melancholy mood of song
-Word setting mostly syllabic
-Melisma on word ‘love’
-Vocalisation in Bridge, Buckley uses falsetto
-Word painting e.g. ‘slow’ set to long note

Question 9

What is the rhythm and metre of Grace?

Answer 9

• 12/8
• Bass drum on beats 1 and 3, snare drum accents 2 and 4 (backbeats)
• Syncopation
• Cross rhythms

Question 10

Tempo of Grace

Answer 10

64 BPM