Monday, March 29, 2010
Blog 10 - Otello
I chose act three because it gives many dynamics to the play without giving anything away. It begin with the conductor introducing the pit orchestra. The scene begin with just them playing the music is already quite ominous . The act shows Otello and another man plotting to set up Cassio, the man at question. The music seems to become more complex when the “handkerchief” has a deeper meaning attached to it. The music isn’t completely once sided, seemingly mixing mystery with curiosity, overall creating a sense of instability in Otello mind. When his wife enters there is more mixing of joy and mystery. Otello himself is speaking with his wife about how lovely her hand is but yet it is tainted some how. Otello allows her to rest her head on his chest, the music is light and calm until it the orchestra rests. The music remains at rest only for a pause, it becomes violent at the wife’s inquiry about Cassio, and at the same time Otello throws her off of him to show is disgust. The music also changes to emphasize the wife’s feelings as well. She yells “you frighten me!” and the music seemingly yells along with her. The music also moves as Otello’s accusations become more clear. Otello tell his wife to declare herself “chaste” would be to damn herself. Even so she does and then we get that sense of the world “spinning out of control”, but it is perceived musically at first through runs exchanged between the upper string to the cellos and violas back and forth. Then, before the end through long descending then ascending runs performed by the upper strings and heavy down beats from the bases.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Blog 9 - Avatar
The Na'vi people are supposed to be primitive when compared to humans, but they sure do posses a music culture that, at least, makes them sound equal. Why? The music used to create the sound scape of pandora was modeled after music we have heard from around the world. The sample music comes from many of the film soundtracks composed by James Horner himself. The films include "Aliens" and "Titanic". Titanic had a lighter sounds, using more instruments that mimicked the sound of a woman's voice in that case Celine Dion. The Na'vi people tended to be represented more by these types of tones as well as vocals. Only time we hear the introduction of a heavier tonality was during time of distress for the people and when humans we present. When it come to creating a theme for the humans it resembles more so to the soundtrack of "Aliens". In the main theme for "Aliens" there is heavy drumming. And unlike the minor cords used with the Na'vi, that create some sense of awe, the minor cords that didn't resolve gave me more of a feeling of suspense or danger awaiting.
Although these are the obvious aspects of the music, there are sounds that don't relate to these two films. In the main theme of the "Avatar" sound track there is "singing". I heard something that extremely resembles melismas (if in fact there are syllables in those vocals). To create the dreamlike (but no actual dream) stage of Jake's entrance into the avatar they based it off of India's mythology, believe it or not! So who is to say some of the music didn't fall in as well.
Although these are the obvious aspects of the music, there are sounds that don't relate to these two films. In the main theme of the "Avatar" sound track there is "singing". I heard something that extremely resembles melismas (if in fact there are syllables in those vocals). To create the dreamlike (but no actual dream) stage of Jake's entrance into the avatar they based it off of India's mythology, believe it or not! So who is to say some of the music didn't fall in as well.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Musical Ethnography
Musical Ethnography: The Big Daddy Band of Dallas
Introduction: There are many “cover” bands around the world today that play the music of their favorite artists whether it is in tribute or just for the sheer pleasure of getting paid to perform the songs that move them. This particular band performs the music starting from the 1960’s to the music of today.
Most of the information provided in this ethnography unfortunately had to come from the internet, and previous knowledge about the music culture. The band didn’t seem to be to open to the public outside of networking. I began sending emails to the band members two weeks before the performance, with no replies. I went to Sherlock’s Pub where they perform every Tuesday night at 9:45pm in Addison, Texas on Belt Line Road. I was only allowed to stay there for fifteen minutes, because I was not of drinking age. It was about enough time to get in three songs and a glass of water. I was hoping, since an interview with a band member wasn’t likely, to get a interview with one on the “regulars”. But to my surprise I found that many of the people next to my closely monitored table, where already very inebriated. But I must say if you are of drinking age and are looking for a nice break from the sounds today, this would be a great get away.
• Ideas about music: When dealing with cover bands like The Big Daddy Band there comes this general consensus that the music being performed or the music or going to listen to is music that everyone seems to appreciate. Sometimes it comes in the form of just hearing something that was familiar during one’s younger years and enjoying that familiarity or it may even be simply “I love that song!” Music in this culture is usually selected by popularity. Here in the United States we would most likely associate this with our “top ten lists” when it comes to pop music. Lesser known areas of the culture tends to involve musical styles like classical. All though classical music cover groups necessarily don’t have a “top ten list” to report on, their choice of music still depends on popularity. They may use record sales or scholarly assessments to determine popularity amongst their listeners. Bringing back the music of the past helps bring the worlds of the new and old together. The radio (not xm satellite or it counterparts) is playing more of the popular music today, and it is getting harder to find the music of previous times. This particular band is of the many bands that help keep the music of the 20th century alive.
• Activities Involving Music: The music played is music that can be found where ever it will be had. Cover bands serve more of a public and social source of the music, which is one of the reasons cover bands have been able to sustain themselves. Big Daddy is usually found in adult venues like bars and pubs as well as personally booked venues. Apart from getting itunes or pirating these songs off your favorite torrent site, there is really no other way to bring an unfragmented music database (fragmented source i.e. radio). Usually we find that the same people who are looking for social sources of this music become the source they crave. They may be people musically inclined or not, but all of them will start out playing and performing for personal enjoyment or for the enjoyment of friend with similar interests. The groups a little more musically trained may find that they are decent in the recreation of the music. This is where an amateur group may become professional. As time progresses music preferences change inspiring the addition of new music groups, fans, and followers.
• Repertoires of Music: Music played by cover bands range from one genre to the next, it all depends on popularity. The music played by the Big Daddy Band has lyrics, some of the songs may have dances that came out with the song during its time; songs like “The Twist” or “C’mon and Swim”. A main goal of the band is to inspire listeners to get up and dance. Popularity is truly a personal preference. If it can inspire just one person, one person can become a true basis to build on. The music is of course composed by people ranging from “still in the game” to deceased. A great example of the two extremes may be Kiss tribute bands and Elvis Presley fanatics.
• Material Culture of Music: Cover bands have many different ways of meeting the demands for the recreation of the music they choose to play. Usually in these bands the music being performed is performed just as it would be if the real deal where there. Bands may sometimes choose to stick to one genre and one genre only because of preference or due to the fact that they do not have the capacity to take on the instrumentation of other genres or pieces from other composers. The Big Daddy Band only has two guitarists, one drummer, and a single vocalist. But because their repertoire entails a wide range of music they must use a synthesizer to make up for missing instruments and to beef up the sound. There is an example of this below.
Introduction: There are many “cover” bands around the world today that play the music of their favorite artists whether it is in tribute or just for the sheer pleasure of getting paid to perform the songs that move them. This particular band performs the music starting from the 1960’s to the music of today.
Most of the information provided in this ethnography unfortunately had to come from the internet, and previous knowledge about the music culture. The band didn’t seem to be to open to the public outside of networking. I began sending emails to the band members two weeks before the performance, with no replies. I went to Sherlock’s Pub where they perform every Tuesday night at 9:45pm in Addison, Texas on Belt Line Road. I was only allowed to stay there for fifteen minutes, because I was not of drinking age. It was about enough time to get in three songs and a glass of water. I was hoping, since an interview with a band member wasn’t likely, to get a interview with one on the “regulars”. But to my surprise I found that many of the people next to my closely monitored table, where already very inebriated. But I must say if you are of drinking age and are looking for a nice break from the sounds today, this would be a great get away.
• Ideas about music: When dealing with cover bands like The Big Daddy Band there comes this general consensus that the music being performed or the music or going to listen to is music that everyone seems to appreciate. Sometimes it comes in the form of just hearing something that was familiar during one’s younger years and enjoying that familiarity or it may even be simply “I love that song!” Music in this culture is usually selected by popularity. Here in the United States we would most likely associate this with our “top ten lists” when it comes to pop music. Lesser known areas of the culture tends to involve musical styles like classical. All though classical music cover groups necessarily don’t have a “top ten list” to report on, their choice of music still depends on popularity. They may use record sales or scholarly assessments to determine popularity amongst their listeners. Bringing back the music of the past helps bring the worlds of the new and old together. The radio (not xm satellite or it counterparts) is playing more of the popular music today, and it is getting harder to find the music of previous times. This particular band is of the many bands that help keep the music of the 20th century alive.
• Activities Involving Music: The music played is music that can be found where ever it will be had. Cover bands serve more of a public and social source of the music, which is one of the reasons cover bands have been able to sustain themselves. Big Daddy is usually found in adult venues like bars and pubs as well as personally booked venues. Apart from getting itunes or pirating these songs off your favorite torrent site, there is really no other way to bring an unfragmented music database (fragmented source i.e. radio). Usually we find that the same people who are looking for social sources of this music become the source they crave. They may be people musically inclined or not, but all of them will start out playing and performing for personal enjoyment or for the enjoyment of friend with similar interests. The groups a little more musically trained may find that they are decent in the recreation of the music. This is where an amateur group may become professional. As time progresses music preferences change inspiring the addition of new music groups, fans, and followers.
• Repertoires of Music: Music played by cover bands range from one genre to the next, it all depends on popularity. The music played by the Big Daddy Band has lyrics, some of the songs may have dances that came out with the song during its time; songs like “The Twist” or “C’mon and Swim”. A main goal of the band is to inspire listeners to get up and dance. Popularity is truly a personal preference. If it can inspire just one person, one person can become a true basis to build on. The music is of course composed by people ranging from “still in the game” to deceased. A great example of the two extremes may be Kiss tribute bands and Elvis Presley fanatics.
• Material Culture of Music: Cover bands have many different ways of meeting the demands for the recreation of the music they choose to play. Usually in these bands the music being performed is performed just as it would be if the real deal where there. Bands may sometimes choose to stick to one genre and one genre only because of preference or due to the fact that they do not have the capacity to take on the instrumentation of other genres or pieces from other composers. The Big Daddy Band only has two guitarists, one drummer, and a single vocalist. But because their repertoire entails a wide range of music they must use a synthesizer to make up for missing instruments and to beef up the sound. There is an example of this below.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Blog 8
I'm not sure if the absence of information on the big daddy band website is intentional or not. When you choose to receive emails from the group it tells you that "You're on the list". Maybe it is to inspire some type of V.I.P. feel to it. I highly doubt this though. I was hoping by going to their site I would find something more on their relationship and history with one another, as well as their individual musical background. Most of this insight, if it can be found, seems to be solely coming from the short synapses fans have to offer on general review sites for the city of Dallas. For all I know they could be busier than their schedule lets on or they don't care to look at emails. I wanted a few words with someone with the group. I volunteered to work around any conflicts even travel to meet their needs. Not one email came back to me...not one. Another problem I faced when trying to study this music culture was the venues they seemed to stick to. They tend to perform at adult venues and private parties only. The only reason I was able to see them was to call the manager of the Pub ahead of time..and even with that I only got 15 minutes.
Friday, March 5, 2010
My Ethnography-in 50 seconds
My Ethnography is focused on a cover band called The Big Daddy Band of Dallas. They have been together since 2000 singing everything from Bon Jovi to Justin Timberlake. They are the epitome of local music in Dallas. They are well known for their private events. Upon request (and payment of course) play what my generation would call "oldies" and older generations would call "goodies". I had a chance to watch them perform and they aren't too bad. The music is what makes the band, adult rock, soft rock; funk is the best way to describe the music they play. They really choose music that probably was on the top ten lists at some time or another. You can go to and listen to some of their recordings where you can hear for yourself the diversity of the music. You can also continue through the site and find events near you.
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