Release by Afro Celt Sound System

Question 1

Date

Answer 1

Album released on 25th January 1999

Question 2

Genre

Answer 2

Fusion- African, Celtic and Electronic Dance

Question 3

Where Performed?

Answer 3

Concerts and Festivals

Question 4

First performance

Answer 4

Recorded

Question 5

Structure

Answer 5

Intro, Verse 1, Break, Verse 2, Solo 1 & 2, Break, Solo 3 , Verse 3, Break, Outro

Question 6

Tonality and Harmony

Answer 6

Keybof C Minor but B natural is not used so it is in Aeloian mode.
Uilleann piles use Dorian Mode
Slow harmonic pulse and use of drone- opening synth on C note.
Diatonic with a hint of chromaticism
Chord sequences are repetitive with use of extended chords (7th & 9th)

Question 7

Metre, Rhythm and Tempo

Answer 7

Free time at start then a sense of simple quadruple metre starts with a shaker loop, rythmic ostinato, based on 2 and 4 bar phrases.
Steady tempo established- 100bpm- when bodhrán enters
Slightly swung semiquavers (gives a lilting/relaxed quality to music)
Syncopation, triplets, sextuplets, accents on different beats, loops and riffs.

Question 8

Melody

Answer 8

Two main vocalists (male and female) and solo instruments
Based on folk melodies, have nonsense lyrics, are syllabic,some spoken parts, short phrases and vocal samples, repetitive with an improvised feel from female vocals, include glissando and ornamentation
Limited range for female vocals (6th) , male has an extented range of a 13th
Melodies are idiomatic and often avoid 6th note of scale

Question 9

Instruments/Timbre

Answer 9

African Forces: Kora, Talking Drum
Celtic Forces: hirdy- gurdy, uilleann pipes, bodhrán, fiddle( includes double stopping), whistle, accordion
Western Forces: male vox, female vox, synthesisers (string and soft pad, bells, string bass), breath samples, drum machine, electric piano, shaker, tambourine
Western Forces are from electronic dance music

Question 10

Dynamics

Answer 10

Dynamics are determined by texture- quiet at start and fades at end

Question 11

Texture

Answer 11

Constantly changing with layering and loops

Main texture is homophonic, with heterophonic texture and some polythonic

Question 12

Other Information

Answer 12

A collaborative band
Music technology is integral to creation of piece eg textural layers are created my multi tracking ,reverb effect is added to melodies