Introducing: Phrygian Gates and Surface analysis

For my extended analysis, I have chosen the piece Phrygian Gates.  Phrygian Gates is a minimalist piece composed by American Composer John Adams in 1977.  It is based on "a repetitive cell structure", and follows the circle f fifths.

Tempo: The tempo seems to be somewhere between Moderato and Lento.  Though with just the bpm, it is hard to tell which.

Meter:  The meter is 8/8 for the majority of the piece, but momentarily changes to 12/8 at times.

Texture:  Texture changes multiple times, throughout the piece.  It is mostly either monophonic or polyphonic, but is also occasionally Homophonic.

Timbre:  The only instrument is a piano, which is a chordophone.

Structure: Again, this piece is based on "a repetitive cell structure", and therefore has no recognizable structure.  Nothing is repeated once it has been played through.

Journal #3: Chord Progressions Option B

For this assignment, I have found that both Justin Bieber's "Baby" and Rebecca Blacks "Friday" have the same chord progression, which is I-vi-IV-V in E flat major and B major respectively.

Interval ID

Song #1: Boston- Augustana

interval: Perfect 3rd

Song #2: Apologize- OneRepublic

interval: minor 6th

Song #3: Tubular Bells- Mike Oldfield

interval: Perfect 4th

Music Review #1: How you like me now?

How you like me now? by the Heavy

Tempo: The tempo in this song is about 110 bpm, or moderato, meaning moderately.

Meter: The meter in this song is quadruple simple.  The song follows by four groups of two beats, which stays consistent throughout.   Although it may seem like duple simple at first, there is a small accent at the end of every fourth pair of beats.

Texture: In some parts of the song, the texture is light, such as when the lead singer and piano are the only ones playing, and the beginning. Throughout most of the rest of the song, the texture is medium, with the chorus being very rough.

Timbre: There are idiophonic, membranophonic, electronophonic, and chordophonic timbres in this song.  The idiophonic is the cymbals on the drum set, the membranophonic is the drums on the drum set, the electronophonic is the electric guitar, and the chordophonic is the piano.

Structure:  Like was mentioned in the section on texture, the piece has a clear exposition, A theme, chorus, and B theme.  The order is exposition, A theme, chorus, A theme, Chorus, B theme, Chorus.