Summertime:from Catfish Row to the LBC

Interactions of Music, Text, Performance & Biography

• We began the year by focusing on ways • to “close-read” and interpret textual material.

• Then, we discussed ways of “close-reading” • and interpreting the “signs” apparent

• in visual “texts.”

• Now, let’s throw music into the analytical mix.

• Music Analysis Sections from Dr. Morse, Ch. 18 of Writer’s Handbook

Objectives

• Critical Listening• Compare & Contrast

v. Application• Music Analysis

(from lyrics to sound to image)

• Biography

On to Essay #6• Essay #6 asks you to write sample program notes for the opera Porgy

and Bess. Program notes are the parts of an opera program that tell the audience something about the plot of the opera and the composer's biography (the life & times of Gershwin) to help listeners better understand what they are seeing and hearing.

• What does someone who is coming to the opera who knows NOTHING need to know about Gershwin and his historical context? What do they need to know about Gershwin’s biograaphy that will illuminate THIS opera?

• But, and this is where it gets difficult, how do you balance summary & analysis?

• How do you get from “Gershwin went to Harlem and knew about jazz” to…. “Where is that evident in the opera?”

• In order to answer this question and write stellar program notes you will need to analyze the music! What are you hearing? What instruments are used? Who is singing. Can you listen critically?

• Remember… Professor Moeller said:

“The evidence is in the music!”

Let’s Practice Critical Listening• What is the connection between music and your identity?• How does music function in your daily life?

– Do you “listen” to music or does it create “mood” or “distraction” for you? Where do you “hear” music?

– When do you “listen” to music? Where do you listen?• How does music function in film?

– Have you noticed a pattern between the “genre” or style of music on a movie sound track and the themes in these films?

• What is the interaction between the “sound” and “lyrics” in a song?• Listen to the beginning of “Crossroad” and describe the “tone” of the

music you hear? (Listen)

• What do you anticipate about this song?– What kind of film might it be featured in?– Where might you expect to hear this song being played?

Lyrics• Now, let’s listen to the lyrics…

I went to the crossroads, fell down on my kneesI went to the crossroads, fell down on my knees

Asked the Lord above, have mercy now, save poor Bob if you please

Standin' at the crossroads, tried to flag a rideWhee-hee, I tried to flag a ride

Didn't nobody seem to know me, everybody pass me by

Standin' at the crossroads, risin' sun goin' downStandin' at the crossroads baby, the risin' sun goin' down

I believe to my soul now, po' Bob is sinkin' down

• How does the “mood” of the music interact with the “lyrics” of the song?

• How does this interaction lead to interpretation?• In music terminology is there a “dissonance” or “harmony” between

the “mood” and the subject matter of the “lyrics”?– What visual imagery might you imagine with this song?

“Staging” the Song

• Let’s see how Coredump “staged” this song… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd60nI4sa9A&feature=related

• What is your reaction to the song now that sound, text and image are interacting?

• How does this “staging” impact your interpretation of the song?

• Does the staging provide “evidence” for a thematic link between lyric & interpretation?

Biography• Now what if I told you that

Robert Johnson allegedly sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his musical abilities?

• How does this affect your interpretation of the music?

• Consider this secondary source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK4p432u8Ls&feature=related

• C/E/W:– In what ways do the tone, lyrics, and

staging of Crossroads support a “soul selling” claim/thesis?

– How would you “cite” the “evidence” of this secondary source?

– Can you now “make” a warrant?

On to Opera…• Consider the opening scene of the opera Porgy & Bess and be

prepared to discuss:– The “mood” set by the music and libretto.– How you would characterize the sounds you hear.– How you would characterize the images you see.– What the interaction is between the music and the images you

see.– What dramatic effect this has on your interpretation of the scene.– What the interaction is between the music and the performance

and the visual cues (expression, staging, etc.).– What dramatic effect this has on your interpretation of the scene.– How the interaction between music and image sets the stage for

the opera’s plot.

Let’s Practice!• Remember Professor Moeller said: “The evidence is in the

Music.”• So analyze the music:

– What are you hearing? – What instruments are used? – Who is singing? – Can you listen critically?

• And consider the “evidence”:– Bess NEVER has her own music. She’s always singing WITH

someone or the community. This is how she “integrates.” She doesn’t have a song.

– We have a story of masculinity. CROWN is hyper-masculine. We have a BIG guy, but we also have BIG music.

– Porgy BECOMES Crown in the moment he strangles him. This is told by the MUSIC.

Let’s Listen Critically…• What do you hear?

– Tone, Mood, Vocals, Pitch, Sounds, Instruments, etc.

• Aaron Neville:– Listen

• Bengt Jonsson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmMM6Bseyx4

• Billie Holiday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5ddqniqxFM&feature=related

• Janice Joplin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgFWibrTAKQ

Modern Summer?

• Now consider this song… what does it tell you?

• Listen• Do you think the “makers” of this song

watched and/or were influenced by Porgy & Bess?

• Is it a “sample” or does it speak to the themes of an “updated opera”?

• How do you know this? • Where is the evidence?

Your Turn…(For some good practice)

• Consider your favorite song. • Consider what you know about the

staging of the video, the tone of the song, and the biography of the “maker.”

• Now write 2 paragraphs (one about why you like the song the other addressing the previous points).

• You have 6 minutes. GO!

On Thursday…

• Attend Prof. Moeller’s lecture and consider what he has to say about race.

• What is biography? • What are historical and responsible ways of

using biography? • Who gets to “claim” culture? • Who gets to “make” culturally? • What are the restraints on makers?• Consider Eminem and his “political songs.”