Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Music from around the World

Hello Music Appreciators!

This week, you'll listen to three videos that show some different styles and instruments from around the world.

Write four sentences about each style that you see (you should have a paragraph for each piece, with four sentences in each paragraph):
- One sentence that describes the texture (monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic) - 20 pts.
- One sentence that describes the instrument (timbre, type) - 20 pts.
- One sentence that describes the mood of the piece - 20 pts.
- One sentence that describes composition (improvised or composed - how can you tell?) - 20 pts.
- Good grammar and spelling, and you refer to each piece by the instrument names - 20 pts.

Make sure to have accurate information!

Please turn in by Monday, November 30 for full credit.

Here are the URL's, if the videos to the right are not working correctly:
Japanese Koto: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tczxw8bVMZM
Irish Fiddle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndd8bhlo-9E
Northern Indian Sitar, Tabla and Tanpura: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gWCiLexilY

-Mr. Ward

25 comments:

Ariana Williams said...

The Japanese Koto piece sounds familiar, it’s monophonic. The timbre of the piece is light and clingy, the tone is very light and sometimes the notes are bouncy. This piece had a sad mood because it has no joy in it in the way that it is played. This music sound more composed and less
improvised. I can tell that this piece was composed because the performer was following a score, and the music sounded organized and well put together.

The second piece, (Irish Fiddle) had a light sounds monophonic and it only has one player and that playing is the soloist. The rhythm and the melody is moderately fast. The Irish Fiddle has a very light and squeaky tone. This piece isn't improvised and I could tell because of the repeated melodies. This piece has a happy and dancing mood. This piece would probably be most like played for a celebration.

The third piece (The Northern Sitar) sounds like it is played in Africa. This piece is polyphonic. The mood of this piece is happy and it can be danced to. The timbre in this piece can be described as clangy like the harpsichord. This piece sounds more improvised, I can tell because all of the different types of made up rhythms.

Devon Dobbs said...

The video with the Japanese Koto was homophonic. The timbre of the piece was high. The mood was like a celebration or someone performing a traditional dance. This piece was composed because it sounded like someone put alot of time and effort into it.

The next video with the Irish fidle was monophonic. The timbre was loud. The mood of the piece was happy. I think the piece was improvised because it sounded like he was improvising.

The last video, Northern idisn sitar, Talbla and tanpura was polyphonic. The timbre was soft. The mood was excited. I think the piece was improvised because it sounded like he was making it up as he went on.

Donald Morgan said...

The Japenese Koto piece sounds like it is homophonic. The instrument being used sounds like a harpsichord because it seems to have somewhat of a clangy sound. The mood throughouthas a calm ,mellow mood throughout. The woman must be a very skillful muscian to be able to play this piece.The piece also sounds like it was composed.


The Irish Fiddle piece is polyphonic. Some of the piece sounds like it was improvised. The violin is the main instrument like it is many times. It sounds like the muscian was a pretty good one.


The Indian piece is polyphonic because it has many rhythms. The instruments being used are unique. The instrument that looks somewhat like a guitar has a clangy suond to it. The piece has much improvistion used . I can tell because the man playing tthe drums is following the man with the guitar.

Riane Nuby said...

The first piece, Japanese Koto had a soft timbre. The mood of the song was lively, like something you would see in a Japanese parade. I can tell this piece was composed, because it sounds like a traditional song and also before she started playing the song the man asked her what will she be playing.
The second piece, Irish Fiddle had a warm timbre. The mood of the song, was happy, or something you could dance to. I think this piece was improvised, since it carried the same melody through out the piece.
The last piece which was, Northern Indian Sitar, which had a warm timbre. The mood of the piece was very energetic, and it also reminded me of a song a snake charmer might have used. I don't think this song was improvised I think it was composed because it had so many tricky melodies.

Aubrey said...

In the Japanese Koto the texture of the piece is homphonic. The mood of this piece is is kind of like joyful or happy in the way that she is playing the Koto. This piece of music can make you want t oget up in dance a little. I think this piece is improvised because the lady is playing without no one telling her what music note to play.

In the second piece the texture is homophonic because there is one main melody. The mood of this piece is like calm and relaxing. To me this piece wouldn't have me up dancing to it. I think that this piece is improvised beacause the man is using his hand and not his lips to make the music.

The third piece is Polyphonic because there is many melodies. Also this piece would make you want to do a lot of things to it like dance rap or sing to it, or probaly step to it if it was a little soft and slow. The mood is like exciting and grooving. I think this piece is compose because the two men are watching each other as they stop more a second to know when to start back playing.

Quentin Pittman said...

The first piece was the Japanese Koto. The piece played was monophonic. The texture of the piece was simple,mellow, and sharp. It seems to have a calm like mood to it not happy or sad. I think the piece was composed because I see her looking at a music sheet or something similar to it.

The second piece is the Irish Fiddle. The piece is homophonic. The timbre is piercing, clear. and focused. The piece has sort o a festival mood to it. I think hat the piece was improvised because I did not see a music sheet and he seemed to just go with the flow.

The last piece is the Tabla and Tanpura. The piece is polyphonic. The timbre is complex, and bright. The mood seems to be a calm one also sort of a dancing mood. I think the composition is also improvised because they don't have a music sheet and they seem to be making it up as they go.

Montanna Ross said...

The texture of the Japenese Koto was polyphonic. The pice was centered around one melodie. To me the instrument at times sounded similr to a piano. The instrument also had a slow melodie. The mood of the piece was in major, it waas happy and in my opinion wasa callming. To me ethe pice wasa improvised. I say that because when i listened , to me most pieces who are improvised are able to make a conection throughout the piece, but to she didnt.

The piece with the Irish Fiddle sounded monophonic. The instrument of the piece wasa tuned diffrenet than most violin and the timbree was nice aand easy to follow. The modd of this piece was definaalty in maajor, it was fun and would probly be plaayed at a party or celebration. This pice was composed, i say that because the piece had a steddy beat behind it aand the notes connected.
The Nothern Indian Sitar, Tabla and Tanpura was homophonic. The instrument was similar to someone draagging a needle across metal. The way the instrument had some cadences. The moo d of the pice waas calming, and could be used during a festival. The piece seemed composed. I say that because the piece did have a continuing beeaat, rhythm to it.

Aleya Washington said...

The texture of th koto was monophonic. The tempo was moderate. The meter was in 3. There were gradual changes in the dynamics. You can tell that the piece was composed because she was reading it from a sheet of paper.

The texture of the fiddle was polyphonic. The tempo was fast. The meter wss in 4. There was terraced dynamcis. The piece seemed improvised because the notes were unpredictable.

The texture of this sond is homophonic. The tempo is fast. The meter is in 3. There is terraced dynamics. The piece was composed.

Torry Walkr said...

In the video, Japanese Koto, the piece was a monophonic piece, containing no other harmonies and melodies except the instrument. The timbre of the instrument was mellow and vibrato and the instrumenat was a string instrument. The mood of the piece is mostly calm with a few parts that showed some kind of agitation. The composition was composed because the lady is clearly focusing on the paper in front of her.
In the video, Irish fiddle, the fiddle's playing was monophonic for the were no other harmonies or melodies playing along. The timbre of the fiddle was warm and light. The fiddle is also a string instrument. The mood of the piece gives me the feeling of some kind of organized is to occur when this music is playted. The piece was composed because the player's eyes were focused elsewhere and the melodies seemed structured with much repition.
In the video, Northern Indian Sitar, the texture of the piece was homophonic because there instrument to the left provided some kind of harmony that played behind the sitar. The timbre of the instrument was striding because the noise the sitar makes can be quite irritating. The mood of the piece has a sense of anxiety in it as the shows rubato. The piece was improvised because the communication of the main player and the player to the left shows that the player to the left was only following the lead of the main player.

D'Angelo Hooks said...

The first piece was a monophonic piece. The timber of this instrument was a clear sound. This piece was a composed piece because the lady was reading from a sheet. The piece mood of the piece was a very cheerful and happy mood.
The second piece was also a monophonic piece. The timber of this instrument was a vibrating type of sound. I believe that this piece was composed because it had a lot of tricky rhythms. The mood of this piece was a joyous mood.
The third piece was a polyphonic piece. The timber of these instruments were vibrating and clanging. This piece was an improvised piece because they seemed that they were just making things up as they were going. The mood of this song was a happy mood.

Markita Kirkpatrick said...

The Japanese Koto is monophonic,you can hear that there's only one steady beat and sound;alone.The timbre was a light sound. The mood is sort of calm and relaxing,something you'd hear while lying on the beach.The compositon is composed.You can tell because there's not really any extra sounds...like some she added,it's just the staright rhythm.
The Irish fiddle's texture is homophonic.The timbre is sort of breathy,the violin sound.The mood is a kind of happy tune.I would say this peice is improvised.You can tell by the way he plays the violin,and how there's pitch changes from time to time.
The Northern Indian Sitar is homophonic,being that there's more than one player.The timbre is sort of deep and rich.The mood is also happyand wild.The compostion is composed,because each person had a seperate instrument to play,and they were pretty much playing the same notes and rhythms.

Aaron Booth said...

The Japanese Koto's texture was monophonic. The timbre was bright and sunny. The mood of this piece was calm and relaxing. This piece was composed because I see the book in font of her.
The Irish Fiddle's texture was monophonic. The timbre was light. The mood of this piece was excited but relaxed at the same time. The piece was improvised but he look down at his instrument the whole time but it could have been composed as well because most of it was repeated so it's hard to tell.
Northern Indian Sitar, Tabla and Tanpura's texture was polyphonic. The timbre of this piece was choppy. The mood of this piece was exotic. This piece was improvised because the people were just going off each other with no paper.

Adontis Larry said...

The Japanese Koto wis a monophonic piece. The tiembre is soft. Also it is improvised because there ist a group or orchestra playing with her.

The irish fiddle is polyphonic.The tiembre seems or be like your running away or something. the piece is improvised

The Nothern Indian Sitar, Table has a is a homophonic piece. The tiembre of this song is joyful. This piece was composed.

Fuischa said...

The Japanese Koto was a different type of instrument that i was not use to hearing. It carried a unique and different sound, than what i would normally hear. The song was traditional (chamber music). The mood was quiet, soothing and relaxing. The timbre was soft and light. The piece was composed because she was reading from a music sheet, and it did not seemed like she was making up melodies off the top of her head. The song was well thought out.

The Irish Fiddle played by Aidan was a composed piece as well. The timbre was light. It had a fast tempo.

The Northern Indian Sitar was not composed. You could hear the vibrato. It had a moderate tempo towards it that changed at some points to fast. It was also semi-light.

Monique Carpenter said...

The Japenese Koto was Monophonic.The timbre of this piece was soft and high.The mood of the piece was relaxed.The piece is composed.

The irish fiddle was Homophonic.The timbre of this piece is high pitch.The mood of this piece is jolly.This piece is improvised.

The Northern Indian Sistar Tabla and Tanpura is homophonic.The timbre is low pitch.The mood is mad and rhythm is danceful.This piece is improvised.

ashanti smiley said...

In the fisrt piece Japanese koto it was monophonic with only th einstrument playing.The instrument was a chordophone and sounded like a harpsichord. The mood throughtout the piece was very calm. Japanese koto was composed because you ca see the girl was reading from a peice of music.
Irish Fiddle was also monophonic. It sounds like something you can dance to. The instrument was a string and light. The piece was improvised because you couldn't see he was reading from a piece of music.
Northern Indian Sitar, Tabla, and Tanpura was polyphonic. It had alot of instruments two of them was chordophonic just like in the first piece. The mood seemed very dramactic. The piece seemed improvised because they kept looking at each other to know what eat to play next.

armani kelly said...

The Japanesse Kotto piece timbre was very soft. The mood of the piece seems calm and relaxing. The composition was composed , I can tell because she is reading the music from a book. The intrument is like a guitar and looks like a harp. The piece was monophonic.
The irish fiddle piece was monophonic. The timbre was smooth or soft or light. The mood was very fun and child like. I think the piece was impoverised because he wasnt reading a staff or anything but played the intrument and had his beat with his feet. The piece is also imporvised because he would go very low on the instument and then hit a high note.
The sitar piece was homophonic because of the other instrument playing with it.The timbre was very vibrating. The sitar has a unique sound. The mood was calm and looks serious by the faces of the men. I think the song was improvised because the other players seemed to add different sounds and beats.

Anonymous said...

Tashnequa Carter said.....
The texture of this song is a monophonic because it sounds like one sound that is being interpeted in her music. The instrument being played is similiar to a old rudimentary harp. The mood of this piece has a very extravagant mood to it. It is composed because u can tell she is looking at a sheet music while playing the koto music.

Anonymous said...

Tashnequa Carter said.....
The texture of this song is a monophonic because it sounds like one sound that is being interpeted in her music. The instrument being played is similiar to a old rudimentary harp. The mood of this piece has a very extravagant mood to it. It is composed because u can tell she is looking at a sheet music while playing the koto music.

Anonymous said...

Tashnequa Carter says....
The texture of this musical piece is a polyphonic because in his performance he has many different variations in the content. The mood of this piece was more of a enetergetic piece that you would dance to. The composition of this piece is improvised because the man is not reading from a sheet music. The instrument being used is in the string family and is called a fiddle.

Anonymous said...

Tashnequa says....
The texture of this piece is homophonic because in the performance they have three different instruments being showcased, you have the drums and two people playing guitar like instruments. The instruments in the performance are rudimenatary looking because the guitar like instrument looks like the basic version of a guitar. The mood is well mannered which means that they took there instruments and put there heart and soul into it. The piece is improvised because they did not use a sheet music or any written music.

Anonymous said...

Evelyn says....
The texture of this piece is monophonic because u can only here one sound. The instrument used in this piece is a harp shaped guitar used in japanese music. The mood of this song was very joyous. The composition of this song is improvised because she is reading from a sheet music.

Anonymous said...

Evelyn says....
The texture of this musical piece was monophonic because you only here one sound. The instrument used in this solo is from the string family and is called a fiddle. The mood of this song was very cheerful and entergetic. The composition of this piece is improvised because he doesn't use a sheet of music to play off.

Anonymous said...

Evelyn says...
The texture of this piece is polyphonic because there is a mix of different instruments and sounds in this. The main instruments in this piece were a guitar like instrument. The mood started out as a very soothing piece but later moved into a more entergetic piece. The piece was improvised because they didn't use any sheet music to play.

Armahd Williams said...

The Japanese Koto's texture was monophonic. The timbre was bright and sunny. The mood of this piece was calm and relaxing. This piece was composed because I see the book in font of her.

Also, the video with the Irish fidle was monophonic. The timbre was loud. The mood of the piece was calm. I think the piece was improvised because it sounded like he was improvising.

Evolution of Music

Background - Lecrae

Hansel and Gretel