Aural Perception, Monday the 3rd of December 2018

Within music they are two types of listeners, ones Active and the others Passive. 

Active listening is a technique that is used in many things not just music. It is used in counselling, training, and solving disputes or conflicts . It requires that the listener fully concentrate, understand, respond to what has been played said and or done. 

Passive Listening is listening without reacting, for example it is like allowing someone to speak, without interrupting and not doing anything else at the same time or reacting to what is the matter at hand.

The first song of our lesson today is called ‘Higher and Higher’ by Jackie Wilson. 

• Time Signature – 4/4
• Tempo – 190bpm (Allegro)
• Timbre
• Style – R&B/Soul/Jazz
• Instrumentation – Bass, Drums, Guitar, Bongos, Male Vocalist, Keys/Synth and a Mixed Female Vocal Choir.
• Structure 
• Pitch 
• Dynamics

Next up would have to be the man himself, Paul Simon’s – ‘You Can Call Me AL’.

• Time Signature – 4/4
• Tempo – 126bpm (Allegro)
• Timbre
• Style – Pop
• Instrumentation – Bass, Drums, Male Vocals, Male Backing Vocals, Synthetically created Horns (Keys/Synth) and a Penny whistle.
• Structure 
• Pitch 
• Dynamics

Here is another one by Paul Simons called ‘Diamonds on the soles of Her Shoes’.

• Time Signature – 4/4
• Tempo – 104bpm (Andante)
• Timbre
• Style – Pop / South African Jazz
• Instrumentation – Male Vocals (Call and Response), Mixed Male African Vocal Choir, Bass (Fretless), Drums, Conga/Bongos, Trumpets and Saxophones.
• Structure 
• Pitch 
• Dynamics

Next up is the iconic song by Dave Brubeck called ‘Take Five’. 

• Time Signature – 5/4
• Tempo – 174bpm (Presto)
• Timbre
• Style – Jazz
• Instrumentation – Drums, Grand Piano, Double Bass and Saxophones in E flat.
• Structure 
• Pitch 
• Dynamics

My favourite track from today’s lesson is called ‘Money’ by Pink Floyd.

• Time Signature – Although Roger Waters and David Gilmour have made recent comments stating that the song had been composed primarily in 7/8 time, it was composed in 7/4, as stated by Gilmour in an interview with Guitar World magazine in 1993. The song changes to 4/4 time for an extended guitar solo.
• Tempo – 126bpm (Allegro)
• Timbre
• Style – Jazz
• Instrumentation – Cash Register, Coins, Bass, Guitar, Drums, Male Vocals, Saxophone and Pre-Recorded Vocal Tracks. 
• Structure 
• Pitch 
• Dynamics

Finally the last song for today is by Peter Gabriel and it is called ‘Solsbury Hill’.

• Time Signature – The song itself is unusual given its 7/4 time signature, which settles into 4/4 only for the last two measures of each chorus.
• Tempo – 102bpm (Andante)
• Timbre
• Style –Rock
• Instrumentation 
• Structure 
• Pitch 
• Dynamics