Muse

Question 1

Give an example of 4 themes muse often write songs on

Answer 1

• war
• religion
• technology
• politics

Question 2

what is a concept album?

Answer 2

an album in which all the tracks are linked by a specific theme

Question 3

Give an example of a Muse song where the phrasing is heavily syllabic

Answer 3

0’23” - 0’39”

‘Starlight’ (Black Holes and Revelations)

Question 4

Give and example of a Muse song that includes melisma

Answer 4

0’50”-1’06”

‘Supermassive Black Hole’

Question 5

Give an example of a Muse song that includes a vocal hook and describe it

Answer 5

• Chorus
• ‘Time is running out’
• repeated ascending and descending semitones between E and F

Question 6

Give an example of a Muse song that includes large intervals in the vocal line

Answer 6

• ‘Sunburn’

- 1’01” - 1’22”

Question 7

Give an example of a Muse song that includes a guitar riff

Answer 7

‘Supermassive Black Hole’

0’00”-0’34”

Question 8

Give 3 examples of effects Muse commonly use in guitar melodies - with examples

Answer 8

• Glissando - ‘Sunburn’
• Distortion
• Electronic pitch shifting - ‘Knights of Cydonia’

Question 9

describe a glissando

Answer 9

sliding across various pitches

Question 10

describe a motif

Answer 10

a short melodic idea that is repeated or developed within a piece

Question 11

describe a pitch bend

Answer 11

varying the pitch of a note by a continuous value

Question 12

describe pitch shifting

Answer 12

the electronic manipulation of the pitch of an instrument or voice

Question 13

What type of chords can be heard at the start of ‘Stockholm syndrome’?

Answer 13

Power chords

Question 14

describe a diminished 7th chord

Answer 14

a 4 note chord

• root
• minor 3rd
• diminished 5th
• diminished 7th

Question 15

describe a diminished triad

Answer 15

• root
• minor 3rd
• diminished 5th

Question 16

describe a half diminished chord

Answer 16

a 4 note chord

• root
• minor 3rd
• diminished 5th
• minor 7th degree

Question 17

describe a power chord

Answer 17

• root

- 5th

Question 18

which scale reflects Muse’s classical influences?

example?

Answer 18

The chromatic scale

- piano part at 0’00” - 0’14” in ‘Exogenesis: Symphony Part 2’

Question 19

Give an example of a Muse song that includes various modulations

Answer 19

‘Knights of Cydonia’

Question 20

describe a blues scale

Answer 20

- a minor pentatonic with chromatic passing notes between the 4th and 5th degrees
minor 3rd
perfect 4th
augmented 4th/ diminished 5th
perfect 5th

Question 21

describe a chromatic scale

Answer 21

a scale moving in semitones

Question 22

describe the Phrygian dominant mode

Answer 22

major 3rd
perfect 4th
perfect 5th
minor 6th
minor 7th

Question 23

name a Muse song that uses the Phrygian Dominant Mode

Answer 23

‘Stockholm Syndrome’

Question 24

describe a relative minor

Answer 24

a minor key who’s tonic is the 6th degree of the home major key

Question 25

what is muses most common song structure?

Answer 25

Verse - chorus form

Question 26

describe the term ‘through-composed’

Answer 26

ideas constantly change and develop throughout a song, no verses or choruses

Question 27

How was ‘Exogenisis: Symphony’ influenced by classical music?

Answer 27

• 3 parts (movements)
• through composed structure
• each song leading into the next

Question 28

Name a Muse song that includes polyphony

Answer 28

‘Supermassive Black Hole’
- backing vocals harmonised in 3rds and 4ths
(1’06”-1’22”)

Question 29

which compound metres do Muse commonly use?

Answer 29

6/8

12/8

Question 30

What is the time signature of ‘Take a Bow’ by Muse?

Answer 30

3/4

Question 31

What is the time signature of ‘Blackout’ by Muse?

Answer 31

6/8