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.