We had a very interesting time exploring the melodic structure of "Amazing Grace" and simple harmonies that can fit with it. That's a very Western (as in European/American) style of music. Here are a couple of clips of music that is very American, but inspired by the repetitions in African music in particular.
I like the clip below because it is people your age doing something absolutely extraordinary. And I think we could create some music inspired by this slowly-changing and deceptively simple music.
Unfortunately the window on my iPad is going crazy and won't let me post anything the video, so if after posting it I can't add by editing the post, I'll do another. It's also not showing the video in the preview window, so it you don't see it, it's here: http://youtu.be/CHVMVDhC-UA.
That's a promo video for a CD of a performance by college-age musicians. There's a full performance here: http://youtu.be/ZXJWO2FQ16c. Watch the first clip and then a chunk of the second, and POST A COMMENT about your reaction.
What I'm imagining is using a combination of drums, pianos, voices, and boomwhackers.
It's so simple and yet so complex! I really enjoyed listening to it. I don't know why but I really like listening to music that doesn't use 4/4, so that's why I really liked this. Was this written in 6/8 to better contrast the different rhythms?
ReplyDeleteI thought it was awesome how each person contributed something very simple but in combination each of the simple parts created something that sounds so cool. I definitely think we could do something like this as a class and it would be fun if to have a performance if we got really good at it.
ReplyDeleteI thought that performance was ballin'; all those little parts culminating into something bigger and better. I think it would be pretty sweet if we were able to pull something like that off.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea and I think we can do something like this!I really looking forward to participate in a concert or some rehearsal because I am not a student from Music school and I enjoy working with my classmates.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds great! My only gripe is, how are we supposed to develop such a rich harmony with just drums, a piano and boom-whackers? I don't mean to be such a pessimist about the idea, but looking into a more diverse range of instruments (that students are able to play) is critical to emulating the textures heard in this piece.
ReplyDeleteVoice parts can be added to create texture to the piece as well.
DeleteI like this, but since we are limited to instruments, perhaps we can create our own like Stomp! does...That is more is for percussion, I understand the point of this exercise is incorporating the music theory: chords and pitches... but it could still be awesome...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US7c9ASVfNc
It's interesting and it definitely requires a strong conductor I think to keep the beat and the variety of parts in order. It's completely possible, even if we can't do something as complex as their performance. It would be fun to see where we as a new group could take this!
ReplyDeleteI liked the piece and the use of all the different instruments. I thought there could be more variation to the piece, in that much of it sounded sort of redundant. This type of composition reminded me a little of blue man group and stomp because they vary the type of 'sound makers' they are using. Some are instruments you would see in an orchestra, and some are not. I think as a class we could develop a really interesting arrangement with all of the tools (boom whackers, pianos, voices, etc.) that we have to work with. I am excited to see what we do with it! Especially after using the boom whackers in class and improvising with chords.
ReplyDeleteI think the coolest part is that if each of this muscians stood alone with their instruments and played the same beat it would sound monotnous and dull. However when they come together they create something so wonderful. I think this alludes to the power of music and creating it with other people.
ReplyDeleteI think this composition sounds great but gets a little bit repetitive over time. Although we do not have a large variety of instruments to play for our own piece, I think the relatively large number of people in our class will allow us to still compose something complex.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed listening to this piece. The thing that I found quite interesting was all the little details. Each time I listened to it I heard something new that I didn't hear before. I'm excited to see what we'll come up with!!
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