Thursday, January 26, 2017

Musical Culture Analysis Project Step Four

Musical Elements:
Meter: The meter is difficult to distinguish, but it seems to be in 3/4, making it simple triple.
Rhythm: The rhythm polyrhythmic, because all of the instruments have different rhythms. The bagpipes eventually take on the rhythm of the voice part, and the instruments carry on a similar rhythm before having their own again.
Texture: This piece is strophic, as there are verses and a clear chorus. The piece is in English, and does not include all of the original verses from the original song, because it is a more modern adaption.
Key/Tonality: The piece is atonal, and in the key of  G major.
Instrumentation: In this particular performance, there are two female voices, a snare drum, Scottish bagpipes, a flute, violins, violas, a Scottish bodhran, a Celtic pan-flute, and a Scottish fiddle. This means there are chordophones, aerophones, and membranophones.
Melody: The melodic intervals are conjunct, as they move mostly step-wise. The bagpipes repeat the voice melody at 2:41, and the strings repeat the beginning of the same melody at 3:05.
Structure: 
0:00-0:40: Chorus, a cappella voice
0:41-1:55: First (and only) Verse, introduction of strings
1:55-2:40: Chorus, more prominent and loud strings present
2:41-3:02: Bagpipe and snare drum interlude
3:03-3:24: Brief flute interlude, then rest of strings join
3:25-3:50: Chorus, voice joined by all other instruments
3:51-4:28: Snare drums bring song to an end
Context: The context of this piece, specifically the lyrics, are that it tells of the Bonnie Prince Charlie, and his escape to the Isle of Skye after his defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. This adaptation is original and modern, as the original aspects during the time period this was released would include the bagpipes, the bodhran, the Celtic pan-flute, and the fiddle (Scottish instruments), though the string instruments and modern flute are a more modern addition.

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