A song is formed by a succession of sections, and a book is formed by successive chapters.
¿How do we recognize the sections of a song?
The acoustical landscape of each section is different and the transition between two sections is clear… at least in a well-structured song. On the other hand, in variance with the chapters of a book, sections in a song are very often repeated. Normally the repetitions are not identical, but in all pop songs there are fragments that are repeated several times.
In the following video the different sections of “I`ve Just Seen a Face” are highlighted in different colors, and their names included:
Friday, February 27, 2009
I`ve Just Seen a Face-I
This is my first post. This is a blog about the analysis of songs. I am not going to analyze the lyrics, but the music. It means that the analyses will be very subjective. I could simple list the chords used in a song. But this lacks interest. The most interesting thing about a song is the feelings that it arouses, and these feelings must necessarily be very subjective.
I will talk about things like form, tonic, dominant, chord function, section, phrase, motive, hyperrhythm, and many interesting concepts that help understand why a certain song sounds in a certain way.
We will plunge ourselves below the shallow surface formed by the character of different instruments, and penetrate into the core of the emotion delivered by music, that dwells in the realm of the notes and harmonies.
¿How should be these concepts explained?
We could just define them; but these could be very confusing. It would be like trying to explain the soccer rules reading the FIFA manual. The best way to learn the soccer rules is watching a match. Similarly, the best way to learn concepts dealing with song analysis is to listen to songs and analyze them.
¿What is the first step to analyze a song?
It is very simple: you must sit down, relax and… listen to it. You must pay attention and notice how the music evolves like a journey through diverse acoustic lands.
We will begin with a song from The Beatles called “I`ve Just Seen a Face.”
I will talk about things like form, tonic, dominant, chord function, section, phrase, motive, hyperrhythm, and many interesting concepts that help understand why a certain song sounds in a certain way.
We will plunge ourselves below the shallow surface formed by the character of different instruments, and penetrate into the core of the emotion delivered by music, that dwells in the realm of the notes and harmonies.
¿How should be these concepts explained?
We could just define them; but these could be very confusing. It would be like trying to explain the soccer rules reading the FIFA manual. The best way to learn the soccer rules is watching a match. Similarly, the best way to learn concepts dealing with song analysis is to listen to songs and analyze them.
¿What is the first step to analyze a song?
It is very simple: you must sit down, relax and… listen to it. You must pay attention and notice how the music evolves like a journey through diverse acoustic lands.
We will begin with a song from The Beatles called “I`ve Just Seen a Face.”
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