HAROLD ARLEN

BIOGRAPHY:

Harold Arlen was born Chaim Arluck, in Buffalo, New York. He was born a twin, although his brother died the next day. He learned the piano while he was young and later played in a jazz band when he was older. In his early 20s, he worked as an accompanist in vaudeville. It was at this point that he changed his name to Harold Arlen.

In 1929, Arlen composed his first well-known song: "Get Happy" (with lyrics by Ted Koehler). Throughout the early and mid-1930s, they worked together to write shows for a popular Harlem nightclub, as well as for Broadway musicals and Hollywood films. Their partnership resulted in a number of hit songs including;

-       “Lets fall in Love”, and

-       “Stormy Weather”

Arlen continued to perform as a pianist and vocalist with some success, most notably on records with Leo Reisman's society dance orchestra.

Arlen's compositions have always been popular with jazz musicians because of his facility at incorporating a blues feeling into the conventional American popular song.

In the mid-1930s he spent increasing time in California, writing for movie musicals. It was at this time that he began working with lyricist E.Y. "Yip" Harburg and was hired by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to compose songs for the popular movie The Wizard of Oz. The most famous of these is the song "Over the Rainbow”.

In the 1940s, he teamed up with lyricist Johnny Mercer, and continued to write hit songs like;

-       “Blues in the Night”

-       “That Old Black Magic”

-       “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive”

-       “Any Place I Hang My Hat is Home” and

-       “One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)”

Arlen was an amazing composer and he made the movie ‘The Wizard Of Oz’ inspiring with his score.

SONG ANALYSIS:

“OVER THE RAINBOW” - The Wizard of Oz (performed by Judy Garland)

1.   Tone Colour

2.   Duration

3.   Pitch

4.   Dynamic and Expressive Techniques

5.   Structure

6.   Texture

“GET HAPPY” – Summer Stock, 1950 (performed by Judy Garland)

1.  Tone Colour

2.   Duration

3.   Pitch

4.   Dynamic and Expressive Techniques

5.   Structure

6.   Texture

“AC-CENT-TCHU-ATE THE POSITIVE” – Original song (performed by The Pied Pipers & Johnny Mercer)

1.   Tone Colour

2.   Duration

3.   Pitch

4.   Dynamic and Expressive Techniques

5.   Structure

6.   Texture

Hard to Handle - The Commitments

HARD TO HANDLE - THE COMMITMENTS

Duration

1. What is the tempo? The tempo in the piece is fast throughout
2. What is the time signature?  4/4
3. Is the time signature simple or compound? Simple
4. Does the time signature change or remain the same? Stay’s the same
5. Is there rhythmic repetition? If so notate an example. Yes there is rhythmic repetition with the drums and other accompaniments.
6. Is the rhythm straight or syncopated? Refer to both the melody and the accompaniment. The rhythm is syncopated (in bass line and melody line)
7. Are there different rhythmic layers? If so how many? 6 layers, piano, drums, trumpet, congas, main singer, bass, guitar, tambourine
8. Are there any continuous rhythmic ostinatos?

Yes the drum line is a continuous rhythmic ostinato.

The tempo in this piece is fast throughout and the time signature is simple and in 4/4 and it remains the same during the whole song. There is rhythmic repetition with the drums and other accompaniments. The rhythm is syncopated in the bass line and the melody line and there are around 6 different rhythmic layers including piano, drums, trumpet, congas, main singer, bass, guitar and the tambourine.

Texture

1. How many layers of sound are there? There are three main layers of sound. The vocal layer, the bass layers and the melody.
2. What is the role of each layer? Melody, counter melody, harmony or accompaniment?
3. Is the texture Homophonic –melody and accompaniment. Mono Phonic – one solo instrument only or Polyphonic – many layers of equal importance.

The texture starts out to be Polyphonic with all of the different layers of sounds as important as each other but changes to Mono Phonic with the vocals being the only performance media for 2 bars.

4. Is the texture dense or sparse?
5. Does the texture remain the same through out? If so describe how it changes.

Use a diagram to show the variation in texture label it clearly. Give as much detail as possible.

Get Smart Theme Analysis of Concepts

GET SMART THEME SONG

DURATION:

• Simple time signature (4/4)
• Regular four bar phrasing that is balanced
• Metrical
• Syncopated
• Slight changes in speed of tempo which are gradual
• The beat is indefinite although steady
• Regular accenting
• The bar lengths are constant

TONE COLOUR:

• Played by a brass ensemble.
• Performing media include; Trumpets, Saxophones, Trombones, Drums, Keyboard/Piano
• The mood created in this piece is very mysterious due to the texture created through the different layering of the performing media.
• In the beginning of the piece it starts suddenly with most of the instruments playing. In the middle section it begins to change with only two instruments being heard one being the piano. Lastly the instruments are all introduced back in and the rhythym changes and the music begins to build suspense and then the music finally drops out until the final notes are played on beats 1 and 3 of the last bar.

TEXTURE:

• Polyphonic Texture; there are many different melodies playing at the same time by different instruments that fit together. 
• The texture of this piece is rich, thick and full as there are many different layers to the piece. The background is played by instruments with a low pitch like the tuba and trombone, the middle ground is played by instruments like the saxophone and the foreground is mostly played by trumpets.

Coca Cola Composition

1) Watch the following three commercials and comment of the way music has been used to support the visuals in each of the advertisements. 

Coca Cola Seige

Beginning of the advertisement starts with a deep drumbeat (timpani), which instantly creates suspense and a feel of action. The brass that then begins playing adds another layer to the piece. The piece uses a full orchestra using varied instruments including a string section. The use of rhythmic repetition coincides with the marching. The high strings create excitement in the piece. The pitch descends as the ice is melting in the video and gives uncertainty as to what will happen next. A decrescendo takes place and all the tension has been released when the coke is seen and then as the dragon drinks the coke the music turns to something that shows confusion with the French horn. The French horn usually represents triumph in films and the music then changes to an easily recognisable famous music piece (William tell overture). The final scene of the advertisement, which is the edited in piece with the coca cola logo, ends on a single final note and changes from major to minor.

Coca Cola Hardtimes

The music is played by a Dixieland Jazz Band. Some of the instruments that are used are a Muted Trumpet, Whistling, Temple blocks, Tuba, Snare Drum (Brushes, Rim Clicks), Double Bass, Cello (later introduced). The music of the advertisement is up Tempo in a Major Key, it’s rhythmically predictable. A new textural layer of whistling is introduced. The tempo slows down. The pitch changes from major to minor and the cello is then introduced. The sustained lower notes played on strings show darkness in tone colour. All instruments come back in, quick pulse, regular rhythm, thickened texture to intensify emotion. Finally the whistling at end finishes the advertisement (Coca Cola theme).

Music for Radio, Film and TV

Star Bucks Glen Glen Glen

Eye of the Tiger

Listen to the two versions of ‘Eye of the Tiger’ and comment on the atmosphere created in each example, refer to Tone Colour, Dynamic and Expressive Techniques in your answer.

Starbucks

Rocky

·      Different atmosphere created due to change in lyrics and context ·      Comical lyrics used to create humour ·      Same melody used with words that fit well with it. ·      Punchy sound also creates humour, as it’s unexpected. ·      Film clip also shows humour with unrealistic locations (bathroom, bus stop etc.) ·      Characters costuming is also humorous ·      Character expressions showing emotion that the song creates (the main character Glen can’t hear the band and continues with life as usual) This is funny because of the fact that he is unaware.

·      Guitar creates anticipation ·      Seriousness ·      Short clips changing to the bass drum beat ·      Fast paced ·      Climax of song (chorus) coincides with the climax of the clip being the main boxing scene ·      Rock band -       Bass Guitar -       Electric Guitar -       Drum Kit -       Keyboard -       Tambourine -       Cheering -       Fireworks -       Tenor Male Voice ·      Beginning of song creates tension, suspense and excitement. Beginning scenes show cheering and relate to the song. ·      4/4 time signature structure. Repeated pattern keeps the mood of excitement going. ·      Slowly reaching a climax in the song (ascending melody) ·