Follow the ideas and principles found in the reading you did about Music Criticism to start your ideas flowing.
Here are some starter questions that come from the Beyond the Classroom section of your reading.
- What individual musical elements do you hear? What words might you use to describe each one?
- Does the music use instruments, voices, or both? Which specific instruments or voices do you hear? How many of each do you notice?
- Do any elements change as the composition progresses? If so, which elements change and in what way do they change?
- If you listen to a song, how does the music express the words through its melody, harmony, rhythm, tempo, dynamics, and accompaniment?
Your critique is due by 11:59 PM on Sunday of Week 1.
At Last, as performed by Etta James, is one of my all-time favorite songs. Her rich, decadent voice carries the listener into the emotions of her music. Even when I was at the end of a very troubled relationship, I could still listen to this song and want to love and be loved.
ReplyDeleteThe light and airy beginning by the violins (possibly two or three) remind me of spring time: the flowers blooming, light winds, warm sun. Then, in comes Etta’s smooth, rich, thick female alto voice dripping with strong emotion to draw the same emotions out of the listener. Her very thick, legato phrasing followed by the lightness of the strings keep it airy and light. The staccato homophonic accompaniment of the piano and drums, that keep the triple meter beat throughout the solo, keep it light and almost fun. Her beginning two solo notes, “At last”, are somewhat arpeggio to the major key in which she is singing. This ternary form (ABA) is expressed with the violins in the introduction and ending of the piece. Thus, the message of love is expressed as a light and airy desire with strong emotional connection.
It would not allow my YouTube attachment. If the copy and paste will work, this is the link.
http://youtu.be/LsSS9VcMidA