Afrocelt Sound System

Question 1

What are the African forces mentioned?

Answer 1

kora, talking drum

The kora is a stringed instrument, while the talking drum is known for its ability to mimic human speech.

Question 2

List the Celtic forces identified.

Answer 2

hurdy-gurdy, uilleann pipes, bodhrán, fiddle, whistle, accordion

These instruments are traditional to Celtic music, each contributing unique sounds.

Question 3

What are the Western (dance) forces used?

Answer 3

male vox, female vox, synthesisers, breath samples, drum machine, electric piano, shaker, tambourine

Synthesisers include string pad, soft pad, and bells.

Question 4

What compositional technique is primarily used in the piece?

Answer 4

looping

Looping is a technique where a segment of sound is repeated continuously.

Question 5

What playing techniques are mentioned?

Answer 5

glissando, ornamentation, double stopping, open and closed hi-hat

These techniques enhance the texture and expressiveness of the music.

Question 6

Describe the structure of the piece.

Answer 6

distinct verse form with intro, solos, breaks, and outro; contains three verses

Notably, there are no choruses in this piece.

Question 7

What are the African forces mentioned?

Answer 7

kora, talking drum

The kora is a stringed instrument, while the talking drum is known for its ability to mimic human speech.

Question 8

List the Celtic forces identified.

Answer 8

hurdy-gurdy, uilleann pipes, bodhrán, fiddle, whistle, accordion

These instruments are traditional to Celtic music, each contributing unique sounds.

Question 9

What are the Western (dance) forces used?

Answer 9

male vox, female vox, synthesisers, breath samples, drum machine, electric piano, shaker, tambourine

Synthesisers include string pad, soft pad, and bells.

Question 10

What compositional technique is primarily used in the piece?

Answer 10

looping

Looping is a technique where a segment of sound is repeated continuously.

Question 11

What playing techniques are mentioned?

Answer 11

glissando, ornamentation, double stopping, open and closed hi-hat

These techniques enhance the texture and expressiveness of the music.

Question 12

Describe the structure of the piece.

Answer 12

distinct verse form with intro, solos, breaks, and outro; contains three verses

Notably, there are no choruses in this piece.

Question 13

What type of sound filtering is used in the intro?

Answer 13

Low pass filters

These filters sweep through frequencies, modulating sound by removing and adding higher harmonic content while retaining the lower fundamental frequency.

Question 14

What instruments are used to establish the steady tempo at 50 seconds?

Answer 14

• Bodhrán (1)
• Shaker (2)
• Drum machine (3)

These instruments help to maintain the rhythm in the piece.

Question 15

How does the female vocalisation at 1’19” differ in its production?

Answer 15

It uses heavy reverb and is panned centrally

This contrasts with other elements in the mix, enhancing its presence.

Question 16

What musical texture is created by the main female vocal singing verse 1?

Answer 16

Homophonic texture

This texture is characterized by a single melody supported by chordal accompaniment.

Question 17

What instrument takes over from the shaker during the verse?

Answer 17

Tambourine (7)

The tambourine plays steady semiquavers, contributing to the rhythm.

Question 18

Which instrument enters at the end of the verse along with low synth strings?

Answer 18

Kora (9)

The kora adds to the texture with its unique timbre.

Question 19

What notes does the bass loop (12) play to create a modal quality?

Answer 19

C and B[flat]

This two-note riff contributes to the modal feel of the music.

Question 20

What effect is shown by the short flute effect?

Answer 20

Obvious delay FX (echoes)

This effect enhances the spatial quality of the sound.

Question 21

What type of vocal takes over after the female vocals?

Answer 21

Male vocals (Fig. 3)

These vocals sing a variation of verse 1.

Question 22

What type of drum pattern appears with the male vocals?

Answer 22

More complicated drum pattern (14)

This adds complexity and depth to the rhythm.

Question 23

What technique does the fiddle use in its accompaniment?

Answer 23

Double stopping, accents, and triplets (15)

These techniques add a rich texture and rhythmic variation.

Question 24

What enters towards the end of the piece along with the low chromatic synth strings?

Answer 24

A short drum and bass link

This transition leads into the solos, maintaining momentum.

Question 25

Fill in the blank: The intro starts with a _______.

Answer 25

drone

Question 26

True or False: The filtering in the intro is timed so that when the left channel is adding treble, the right channel is also adding treble.

Answer 26

False ## Footnote The filtering is designed to alternate between adding and removing treble frequencies.

Question 27

What instrument starts the solo section?

Answer 27

Uilleann pipe ## Footnote The uilleann pipe is a traditional Irish instrument known for its unique sound.

Question 28

Which instrument plays an octave higher during the solo?

Answer 28

Whistle ## Footnote The whistle is often used in traditional music for its bright and clear tone.

Question 29

What type of rhythm is primarily used by the whistle in the solo section?

Answer 29

Running semiquavers ## Footnote Semiquavers are notes that are half the duration of quavers, contributing to a fast-paced rhythm.

Question 30

What accompanies the solos?

Answer 30

Accordion loop and bodhrán ## Footnote The accordion provides harmonic support while the bodhrán is a traditional Irish hand drum.

Question 31

What does the low whistle play that is more complex than the pipe solo?

Answer 31

A more complicated version with increased rhythmic variety ## Footnote This includes the use of demisemiquavers, which are even shorter notes than semiquavers.

Question 32

What instruments accompany the low whistle?

Answer 32

Low synth strings and accordion ## Footnote The low synth strings add depth to the sound while the accordion continues to provide harmonic support.

Question 33

What happens towards the end of the solo section with the male vocals?

Answer 33

Joined by hurdy-gurdy and bass ## Footnote The hurdy-gurdy adds a distinct sound, while the bass provides foundation and depth.

Question 34

What texture is created when the hurdy-gurdy and uilleann pipe play underneath the main vocals?

Answer 34

Polyphonic texture ## Footnote Polyphony refers to the simultaneous combination of two or more melodies.

Question 35

What new element is introduced with the male vocal at 5'35"?

Answer 35

Accompanied by fiddle and chromatic low synth strings ## Footnote The fiddle adds a melodic layer, enhancing the overall texture of the piece.

Question 36

What does the bodhrán do at the end of the section?

Answer 36

Re-enters playing its original entry ## Footnote This helps to re-establish the rhythmic foundation of the piece.

Question 37

What is the nature of the bass part that re-enters?

Answer 37

More complicated drum part ## Footnote Complexity in rhythm can enhance the overall dynamics of the music.

Question 38

What melody does the electric piano play?

Answer 38

A syncopated two-note melody (F and G) ## Footnote Syncopation adds rhythmic interest and can create a sense of movement.

Question 39

What type of piano playing accompanies the electric piano?

Answer 39

Chordal/arpeggio semiquaver piano ## Footnote Arpeggios are formed by playing the notes of a chord in succession rather than simultaneously.

Question 40

What two notes are specified in the electric piano melody?

Answer 40

F and G ## Footnote These notes form the basis of the syncopated melody played by the electric piano.

Question 41

What does the female voice sing in the outro?

Answer 41

'Reach out and you'll touch me' ## Footnote This line is part of the concluding segment of the track, contributing to its overall thematic closure.

Question 42

What happens to the bass loop in the outro?

Answer 42

The bass loop drops out ## Footnote This change in instrumentation allows for a shift in the musical texture.

Question 43

What is the main verse characterized by?

Answer 43

Syllabic structure ## Footnote This means that each syllable corresponds to a single note.

Question 44

What type of lyrics are used in the melody?

Answer 44

Nonsense lyrics ## Footnote These lyrics do not have a specific meaning but contribute to the overall sound.

Question 45

What is the vocal range of the female vocal?

Answer 45

Limited range of a 6th ## Footnote This indicates the interval between the highest and lowest notes she sings.

Question 46

What is the vocal range of the male vocal?

Answer 46

Extended range of a 13th ## Footnote This indicates a broader interval in the notes sung by the male vocalist.

Question 47

What type of vocal samples are used?

Answer 47

Repetitive samples ## Footnote This repetition creates a hypnotic effect throughout the track.

Question 48

What musical technique is suggested by the term 'glissando'?

Answer 48

Sliding between notes ## Footnote This technique adds expressiveness to the vocal performance.

Question 49

What is the texture of the music described as?

Answer 49

Constantly changing ## Footnote This dynamic quality keeps the listener engaged.

Question 50

What type of texture is primarily used in the track?

Answer 50

Homophonic texture ## Footnote This means that there is a clear melody supported by harmonic accompaniment.

Question 51

What texture is present during the outro?

Answer 51

Heterophonic texture ## Footnote This texture involves variations of a single melody being played simultaneously.

Question 52

What type of chords are emphasized in the harmony?

Answer 52

Extended chords (7th, 9th) ## Footnote These chords add complexity and richness to the harmony.

Question 53

What is the key of the piece?

Answer 53

C minor ## Footnote This key contributes to the overall mood and character of the music.

Question 54

What is the harmonic pulse described as?

Answer 54

Slow harmonic pulse ## Footnote This slow pace creates a sense of calm and steadiness.

Question 55

Fill in the blank: The chord sequences in the track are _______.

Answer 55

Repetitive ## Footnote This repetition is a key feature in many musical compositions.

Question 56

What type of tonality is present in the music?

Answer 56

Diatonic and modal ## Footnote This indicates the use of notes from a specific scale, contributing to the overall sound.

Question 57

What is a characteristic of the use of reverb in the track?

Answer 57

Very obvious for the whole track ## Footnote This creates a sense of space and depth in the sound.

Question 58

What is the tempo range established in the piece?

Answer 58

50 - 100 bpm ## Footnote This indicates a steady tempo for the music.

Question 59

What type of meter is used in this musical piece?

Answer 59

Simple quadruple meter ## Footnote This refers to a time signature that typically contains four beats per measure.

Question 60

What rhythmic quality is achieved through slightly swung semiquavers?

Answer 60

Lilting/relaxed quality ## Footnote This swing creates a more fluid and relaxed feel in the music.

Question 61

Name two rhythmic elements present in the composition.

Answer 61

Syncopation and triplets ## Footnote Both elements contribute to the complexity and interest of the rhythmic structure.

Question 62

What is a rhythmic ostinato?

Answer 62

A repeated rhythmic pattern ## Footnote This technique provides a sense of continuity and foundation in the music.

Question 63

What are loops used for in this musical context?

Answer 63

To create repetitive musical phrases ## Footnote Loops can enhance the texture and build layers in the music.

Question 64

What is a riff?

Answer 64

A short repeated musical phrase ## Footnote Riffs often form the basis of a piece or section in music.

Question 65

How are rhythmic phrases structured in this piece?

Answer 65

2- and 4-bar phrases ## Footnote These phrases help establish the overall flow and form of the music.

Question 66

True or False: The piece features steady tempo established at the beginning.

Answer 66

True ## Footnote The steady tempo is a fundamental aspect of the musical structure.

Question 67

Fill in the blank: The music includes _______ to enhance its rhythmic texture.

Answer 67

Accents ## Footnote Accents can emphasize certain beats or notes, adding dynamics to the performance.