"Courtyard Apocalypse"

Duration:

·         The tempo is moderately fast but still legato. The tempo sounds a lot slower than it actually is because of the longer sustained notes being played particularly by the string section

·         The tempo is 4/4; simple time

·         The melody is straight but the timpani plays a syncopated rhythm on beats 2& and 3. This rhythm is a continuous rhythmic ostinato.

·         In general, both the melody and accompaniment are straight with exception to the timpani.

·         The melody is played by both the strings and brass, each at separate times. In a way, it kind of acted as a call and response, with the strings playing the melody and then the brass.

·         The timpani’s rhythm uses accents and is quite short and punchy. This is in comparison to the very legato melody of the strings and the brass.

·         At 1.33 the brass section in particular, plays a descending line to end the song. This line also decreases in dynamics to create a soft end to the piece. The strings don’t play a descending line, instead they hold a sustained note that fades out toward the end.

Pitch:

·         Major key

·         The melody moves mostly in steps as does the accompaniment.

·         The range of the melody is in a comfortable range for both the brass and the string instruments

·         The main melody is repeated several times in the piece, with the timpani playing a constant ostinato underneath the melody

Texture:

·         The texture is homophonic-melody and accompaniment

·         There are 2 layers of sound; hence the piece being of homophonic texture

·         The timpani play the accompaniment as does the brass when the strings have the melody and vice versa.

·         The texture is quite dense for the entire piece. The use of timpani, brass and string instruments is a cause for this as these families consist of very full and strong sounds, in particular brass and the lower stringed instruments.

·         Towards the end of the piece, however, the texture does get thinner as the subtraction of instruments becomes apparent. This allows the piece to fade out softly and with a sense of lightness

Tone Colour:

·         Orchestra; brass, strings and percussion.

o   Double Bass (melody)-bowed (arco)

o   Cello-arco

o   Viola-arco

o   Violin-arco

o   Tuba (melody)-blown using mouthpiece

o   Trombone-blown

o   Trumpet-blown

o   French Horn-blown

o   Timpani (accompaniment)-hit using mallets

o   Cymbals-hit with mallets

·         The use of all these instruments creates a soft, warm feeling/mood in the song and also a very strong and punchy rhythm when the dynamics are increased and the mood is much more intense.

·         The tone colour does vary but only at the beginning and end of the piece. The piece starts off with just the timpani and deep sounding drums playing. The strings come in shortly after as does the brass section. This can be term additive entry of instruments. The opposite happens at the end of piece as instruments fade out and just the tuba is left playing. A decrease in dynamics also affects this change in tone colour.

Dynamics and Expressive Techniques:

·         Generally, the dynamics are fairly loud but they do significantly decrescendo towards and at the end of the piece. The timpani begins the piece very strongly as it plays an accentuated rhythm with a small dynamic increase each time.

·         The melody is played using the technique of legato (smooth, flowing rhythms). Tenuto and slurs are also used in the melody and accompaniment. (brass and strings)

·         At 1.13 the dynamics increase (crescendo); particularly the strings. This leads up to the decrescendo and end of the piece

·         At 1.35 the decrescendo starts as the descending line is played

Structure:

·         Introduction-just timpani

·         A-strings and brass

·         B-slight variation within the melody

·         A-repeated A section again

·         C-new unheard rhythm, dynamics also increased

·         Outro-descending line and ‘fade out’ of instruments.