Exploring Music in Context Stimulus Selection & Analysis (AOI3) + 1

Links

Jazz in Paris Sheet Music for Piano (Alto Sax Piano Duet) | MuseScore.com
AOI

Egmont Overture – Ludwig van Beethoven Egmont Overture for Strings Sheet Music for Violin, Viola, Cello, Woodwinds (other) (String Ensemble) | MuseScore.com
AOI







Jazz in Paris

Medium

Although the score uses piano, the original song begins with drums and a bass which begins playing lower and lower, until the harmonica takes over for the main melody. After this, the song transitions to a saxophone solo, giving a second melody, and then going back to the original harmonica theme.

Melody
The melody begins with the harmonica and then is taken over by the saxophone. In the middle, there is a guitar solo, played high, giving a slightly new feeling, but then going back to the original melody. The melody is swing jazz style and sounds upbeat through the song.

Harmony
Although there is only one melody present at any time in the song, the background bass gives a nice harmony, creating a happy and outgoing harmony. The multiple notes fused together give a chill and relaxing, but happy and interesting feeling. The tone created by the harmony through different instruments and octaves is very soothing but keeps the listener on their toes for new harmonies, giving new feelings.

Texture
The texture is very soft, but with purpose. the string bass in the background plucking gives a steady beat to the song, while keeping it light, along with the slight drums, followed by the occasional piano. It stays consistent throughout the song, with supporting background instruments to keep it bouncy but relaxed.
Meter
The song is played in 4/4-time signature, but with a swing style. It is bouncy and upbeat, but light and easy going at the same time. It is played around a speed of. quarter note=100-120 bpm. It is easy to tap your foot to the song and follow the swing.

Form
The form of the song stays consistent through, with a main melody that repeat played by the harmonica, and then a 2nd and 3rd melody which are played once by the saxophone and guitar respectively. The melody switches slightly for the Harmonica the second and third time it is played. The form of the song is:

1. Harmonica Melody
2. Saxophone Melody
3. Harmonica Melody
4. Guitar Melody
5. Harmonica Melody
6. Saxophone Melody

Style
The style is 1930s-1950s European Swing Jazz. The song is very much upbeat, and happy, and can also be classified as cafe jazz. The song has modern themes as well and is used in the background of many YouTube videos.

Context
Jazz in Paris is a song used very often in the background of YouTube videos but can also be listened to casually. It resembles the swing jazz style of the 1930s-1950s, but with a modern upbeat touch. It evokes a feeling of Paris, France, and other famous cities in eastern Europe.

Vocals
NA

Expression

This song is very expressive and communicates to the listener through the various melodies and rhythms that explore different notes yet feel alike to each other. The composer wishes to relax the listener with this tune but also make them feel joyous. The emotion throughout the peace stays relatively the same, staying consistent with upbeat melodies.

Egmont Overture


Medium
This overture is played with all the instruments in a philharmonic orchestra. This includes stings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. The strings, woodwinds, and brass, all have interchangeable roles as the main melodies, supporters, and background music, while the percussion adds effect.

Melody
The melody constantly shifts from section to section, giving each instrument a chance to display its unique sound, as the song slowly unfolds. The same melodies are played by various instruments, almost as if each one has its own interpretation of the same notes and gives its own unique feeling. One instrument can play a melody happily, where the another can play the same passage but with a different feeling. The background notes which support the melody. also affect the feeling being produced

Harmony

There are numerous harmonies throughout this piece, each having their own feeling, as the piece shapes itself and changes. Common instruments to come together to create harmonies in this piece include Violas + Violins + Flutes, Strings + Timpani, Woodwinds + horns, and upper strings + woodwinds. The harmonies in this song give an interesting feeling to the listeners, guiding them through the song.

Texture

This piece has a very thick and bold texture. The song begins with a strong chord, filled with power. However, it slowly splits itself into different parts, eventually coming back together in beautiful melodies. The song overall is very dark yet tells a story of triumph.

Meter
The time signature is in 3/2 for the most part. It constantly changes tempo and gives an eerie but calm feeling. By constantly going from slow to fast, but keeping the same time signature, this song gives the listeners different feelings throughout, yet they also connect to each other, and sound similar.

Form

This song is structured with a bold intro, and then minutes of quiet music building up to a slow but rushed sounding part. It then transitions into other various melodies but occasionally transitions back to its main many main themes. Near the end of the song, the melodies change and grow into happy and victorious themes, representing emergence from the depths of despair.

Style
This overture moves from quiet to loud, and slow to fast. It's constant change in tone, but consistency in depth gives a unique message. It is made in the style of early romantic classical music. The song was heavily influenced by other songs from the same genre made around its time.

Context
This song was made in the early romantic era of classical music, by Ludwig Van Beethoven somewhere around October 1809 to June 1810. This was around the time where classical music was changing fast, by becoming much more complex in its own way, and introducing new techniques and styles, evoking new feelings and emotions. The song was written for Goethe.

Vocals
NA

Expression

This song is very expressive in a way that it shows the darkness in things, but also triumph. It is about victory through tough times. Beethoven gives the listener a song with melodies to hold on to, but also forget, as they change, merge, and develop into a story.