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Monday, January 18, 2010
Lux Aeterna (from Requiem for a Dream) - Clint Mansell
This is the "more difficult" version of the song on piano, as in just more comprehensive of all the notes which are actually in the song, but it's still quite fun to play.
The composition is clearly a theme and variations, with the variations beginning on measures 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 27, 31, and a coda on measure 35. With each variation ending on the dominant, this is clearly a case of continuous variations as opposed to sectional variations.
In the variations beginning at measures 17, 21. and 31, Mansell works a subtle twist on tradition by varying the ostinato but leaving the treble voice the same. With the variations inserted at measures 25 and 27, we see somewhat of an AABA structure.
On pages 105-109 of Form in Tonal Music, Douglass M. Green discusses ways in which a composer could arrange the sections in a series of variations. He lists rhythmic crescendo, grouping, logical scheme, increasing complexity, and contrast. The best of these choices would be either rhythmic crescendo or increasing complexity.
Harmony: What impresses me about the piece is the composer's marvellous use of the submediant chord and the second inversion of the tonic.
Counterpoint: Notice the contrary motion between the bass and the treble. Also, notice the extra ostinato added as a third voice in the theme and the second variation. Never since the Baroque Era have we seen such exquisite contrapuntal craftsmanship.
I hope that the professor will be impressed not only with my analysis, but with my choice of such an excellent musical composition. Is there anything else you can add?
oh, thanks so much for sharing all these sheets, it's not very usual to find them easily, no matter what you're looking for XD I'm impressed for all the work that is on this page
Hi! Wow, thanks so much for the info! Am trying to do a presentation for it myself, but your vocabulary is way past my comprehension. The terms I have are on a list and it's the first I hear of them as it is... am very confused lol. But it's for tomorrow you can't help. I'll show the teacher your comment! Hope he likes it. I had picked up on the fact it was theme and variations, like clubbed to death matrix, comtine d'un autre ete amelie poulin... all three epic films set in Western world. Plus this instrumental style is derived directly from the classical music style. With lyrics, things work differently, there are words, they are sung... everything changes. Anyway, I chose this song because I spent a whole day listening to it on repeat and crying, worried I was gonna end up like that. :D Why did you?
The composition is clearly a theme and variations, with the variations beginning on measures 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 27, 31, and a coda on measure 35. With each variation ending on the dominant, this is clearly a case of continuous variations as opposed to sectional variations.
ReplyDeleteIn the variations beginning at measures 17, 21. and 31, Mansell works a subtle twist on tradition by varying the ostinato but leaving the treble voice the same. With the variations inserted at measures 25 and 27, we see somewhat of an AABA structure.
On pages 105-109 of Form in Tonal Music, Douglass M. Green discusses ways in which a composer could arrange the sections in a series of variations. He lists rhythmic crescendo, grouping, logical scheme, increasing complexity, and contrast. The best of these choices would be either rhythmic crescendo or increasing complexity.
Harmony: What impresses me about the piece is the composer's marvellous use of the submediant chord and the second inversion of the tonic.
Counterpoint: Notice the contrary motion between the bass and the treble. Also, notice the extra ostinato added as a third voice in the theme and the second variation. Never since the Baroque Era have we seen such exquisite contrapuntal craftsmanship.
I hope that the professor will be impressed not only with my analysis, but with my choice of such an excellent musical composition.
Is there anything else you can add?
oh, thanks so much for sharing all these sheets, it's not very usual to find them easily, no matter what you're looking for XD
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed for all the work that is on this page
thank you so much for the music sheet. been trying to up my technical skills with this one without the score it's so difficult!
ReplyDeleteYou are so awesome!!!!! Thank you so much for the sheet music!
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks so much for the info!
Am trying to do a presentation for it myself, but your vocabulary is way past my comprehension. The terms I have are on a list and it's the first I hear of them as it is...
am very confused lol. But it's for tomorrow you can't help. I'll show the teacher your comment!
Hope he likes it.
I had picked up on the fact it was theme and variations, like clubbed to death matrix, comtine d'un autre ete amelie poulin... all three epic films set in Western world. Plus this instrumental style is derived directly from the classical music style.
With lyrics, things work differently, there are words, they are sung... everything changes.
Anyway, I chose this song because I spent a whole day listening to it on repeat and crying, worried I was gonna end up like that. :D
Why did you?