The Beatles, Revolver, Eleanor Rigby

Question 1

Why type of band were the Beatles/what music did they make?

Answer 1

1960s rock band
popular worldwide

Question 2

What techniques did the Beatles use to make music?

Answer 2

Electro acoustic music (electronics)
Avant-guard techniques
Thicker sound bc of multi tracking

Question 3

What were the Beatles’ influences?

Answer 3

Some classical pieces/influences
George Martin classically trained

Question 4

What was standard for pop about the Beatles sonority?

Answer 4

Guitars & drums

Question 5

What was the instrumentation of Eleanor Rigby?

Answer 5

String quartet but doubled (8) using multi tracking
(texture, sonority)

Question 6

Why were only strings used for Eleanor Rigby?

Answer 6

To match black & white scheme the film was shot in
(texture)

Question 7

What is divisi?
What was there occasional divisi on?
What was used more commonly?

Answer 7

Splitting parts in 2
On violins
Double stopping on violins (playing 2 notes at once)
(texture)

Question 8

Describe the chords in Eleanor Rigby

Answer 8

Mostly block chords throughout
Occasional accented (staccato - baroque style, no pedal back then) chords (cello esp)
(texture)

Question 9

Describe the texture of Eleanor Rigby

Answer 9

Melody dominated homophony
(texture)

Question 10

Describe the structure of Eleanor Rigby

Answer 10

8 bar intro
3 verses
Main 10 bar section (unusual)
Followed by 8 bar refrain
Outro
(structure)

Question 11

What is a classical influence in the structure of Eleanor Rigby?

Answer 11

Cello pedal note
(structure)

Question 12

What 4 bar phrase does the viola have?

Answer 12

Repeated descending chromatic phrase
(structure)

Question 13

What chords are used throughout?
What is the one exception?

Answer 13

C & Em
56 & 57 Am (relative Cm)
(harmony)

Question 14

Use an adjective to describe the strings

Answer 14

Nostalgic
(harmony)

Question 15

What is harmonic rhythm?
Describe the harmonic rhythm

Answer 15

How quick harmony moves one chord to another
Slow
(harmony)

Question 16

What chords are used in the refrain?
What adds dissonance to the refrain?

Answer 16

Single Em chord
Descending viola part
(harmony)

Question 17

When is there dissonance?

Answer 17

Refrain
Frequent & mild in vocals - mild as very syllabic so moves on quickly
(harmony)

Question 18

Describe the use of accidentals in the melody

Answer 18

Diatonic, accidentals uncommon
(melody)

Question 19

What mode is used on the vocal part?
Backing vocals?

Answer 19

Dorian II (C#)
Aeolian VI (C natural = flattened 6th)
(melody)

Question 20

What creates occasional false relations?

Answer 20

Melody & accomp (backing vocals) have different modes
C# & C natural
(melody)

Question 21

Describe the melody of the verse

Answer 21

Mainly conjunct
Pop characteristic
(melody)

Question 22

What is used for dramatic effect?

Answer 22

Rising leap in vocal; octave, later a 10th
(melody)

Question 22

How is Cloudbusting a WL for Eleanor Rigby?

Answer 22

Repeated dotted crotchet rhythm
Cloudbusting: quaver, quaver rest, quaver, quaver rest
(rhythm)

Question 22

What adds to the repeated dotted crotchet rhythm?

Answer 22

Vocal phrases gently syncopated throughout
(rhythm)

Question 23

What unconventional instrument is in all 3 Beatles songs?
WL

Answer 23

Theremin (hands free)
Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
The Beatles - Lucky In The Sky With Diamonds (about girl taking LSD)