Stonewall Boys Of Belfast / The Girl I Left Behind

Question 1

Instrumentation (3)

Answer 1

• The two instruments which give this body of music its distinctive sound are the fife and the Lambeg drum
• Various predetermined patterns provide a rhythmic accompaniment to the fifers melodies
• Snare drum and high hat are also used in The Girl I Left Behind and an ostinato on a mix of Toms on the kit featuring a dotted rhythm at the start of the melody

Question 2

Melody (6)

Answer 2

• Boys of Belfast is in the myxolydian mode beginning on A (Basically an A major scale with a G natural instead of G sharp)
• This is common in Scottish music as it is the natural scale of the bagpipes.
• The group of four quavers is sometimes inverted
  and the second half of the melody contains a hint of descending sequence.
• The Girl I Left Behind is in G major and the rising scalic figure is also inverted.
• The basic melodies are ornamented by the addition of runs, mordents and other spontaneous decorations.
• This is a natural part of both the Irish and Ulster Scots traditions.

Question 3

Structure

Answer 3

• Both melodies share the standard A-A-B-B form and are played through twice
• This is binary form or rounded binary form since in both pieces section B contains a reference to the melody from section A

Question 4

Melody(3)

Answer 4

Boys of Belfast
- Myxolydian mode beginning on A (A major scale with flattened 7th)
- Group of Four quavers is sometimes inverted and the second half of the melody contains a hint of descending sequence
Girl I Left Behind
- Key of G major and rising scalic figure is also inverted. The basic melodies are ornamented by the addition of runs, mordants and other spontaneous decorations

Question 4

Rhythm (2)

Answer 4

• The pieces are both in simple duple time, probably 2/2.
• There are dotted patterns, and emphasis on the first note of each quaver group, either by slightly lengthening it, or by dotting it.

Question 5

Structure (2)

Answer 5

• Standard A-A-B-B form and played through twice (binary form)
• Could be rounded binary form as in both pieces the B section contains a reference to the melody from section