4- Release Afro Celt Sound System - James McNally Flashcards
Afro Celt Context
Fusion of African, Celtic and electronic dance music
released 1999
Melody Afro- celt
- use of nonsense lyrics (vocables)
main verse is syllabic
Some spoken parts
Short phrases
limited range for the female vocals (6th)
Male - more extended range of 13ths
Vocal samples
Repetitive
sense of improvisation from opening female vocals
Use of glissando (sliding)
Use of ornamentation (acciaccatura)
use of reverb - in whole track
vocal part - repeated
Repeated loops create ostinato
The fiddle melody uses double stopping
Fig 4 – male vocal – chromatic and accenting line
Loop 10 – Low whistle – Chromatic rising 8ves
Syncopation
Triplets
Articulation Afro- Celt
Slides
Acciaccatura
Dynamics
gets louder when more instruments e.g. verse (other ways as well)
as made of loops and sounds (no dynamic markings)
Editing techniques used to make dynamics
Texture
Constantly changing
use of layering
loops
Homophonic
Heterphonic texture (during outro) (solo instruments play same thing with slight variation)
Monophonic start
Polyphonic texture moments - overlapping loops
Structure
verse form
intro, solos, breaks and outro
no choruses
Harmony
Diatonic
Modal
Chord Sequences are repetitive
hint of chromaticism
use of extended chords (7th, 9th)
Slow harmonic pulse
use of drone on C
Chromatic noted
Low synth strings
Accented chromatic lines
Harmony rhythm is slow – feels like it stays on the same chord for whole piece- common for dance music
Instruments
made of looping
African instruments - kora and talking drum
–-> kora (plays a simple riff which is repeated twice) (verse 1 - panned left has new riff) , talking drum (used to create an effect rather than to provide a steady pulse)( also provided fills at end of 4 bar phrases)
Celtic instruments- hurdy-gurdy, uilleann pipes, bodhran, fiddle, whistle, accordion
–> bodhran (backbone of piece. It is syncopated genially stays stay with bits of elaboration)
fiddle ( double stopping, accents and triplets),
Electronic dance music- male Vox, female Vox, synthesisers, breath samples. drum machine, electronic piano, shaker, tambourine
–> male/female voice, synthesiser (ascending chromatic line) , breath samples, drum machine, electronic piano, shaker, tambourine (takes over from shaker at 2 min)
Glissandos, ornaments, double stopping, open and closed hi- hat
Reverb
Loops, multitracking, reverb, synth, panning, pads, samples
Bass part uses c and b flat which gives a §
Synthesiser drone uses a filter –gives a “sweeping” sound - on c used to establish key
Vocalisation - sense of improvisation
Verse 3 - bass, drums and bodhran drop out creating a sense of suspense as the vocal line soars over the other parts.
Rhythm, tempo, metre
Free tempo at the start
steady tempo
simple quadruple meter
slightly swing semiquavers (gives a relaxed quality to the music)
Syncopation
triplets
sextuplets
accents
time signature 4/4
rhythmic ostinato
use of loops
use of riffs
short rhythmic phrases
2 and 4 bar phrases
Tonality
C minor
modal feel
Swung rhythm
two notes of the same value are played with the first lengthened and the second shortened
Heterophonic
When two or more parts play the same melodic line simultaneously but there are small variations between them.
Double stopping
Playing 2 notes at once on a string instrument
Reverb
an echo effect
Drone
The extended sustaining or repeating of a note or a harmonic interval (usually a 5th)
