Download Analyze and Describe Percussion (Word doc.)

Analysis - Percussion
Name
Title of piece
Composer
Arranger
Key signature and Time Signature:
Find the key signature of this piece; does it change? Yes No
Find the time signature of this piece; does it change, and if so what changes and
what stays constant?
In the staff below write out your clef, initial key signature and time signature. If
you have changes, please indicate those with a bar line and write out the new key
signature and/or time signature. If your piece is in multiple movements please
indicate the movement number above the bar line.
Timpani: What notes will you tune the timpani to? Be sure to include the clef and
time signature. Does the tuning change, if so indicate the new notes after a bar
line.
Identify rhythms that are difficult for you and write in the counting. Pay close
attention to stickings that are marked in – it is expected that you will perform
stickings accurately.
Identify musical instructions:
Musical term or symbol
Meaning
Percussion instruments use many distinct stroke styles. Listed below are
several examples, indicate which ones you will use in your selection.
Accent – The accented note has weight or emphasis. Determine your accent stick
height, then use a lower stick height for all unaccented notes.
Buzz or Multiple Bounce Roll – Concert rolls are notated with 3 short diagonal
lines or a “z” imprinted on the stem.
Flam – This rudiment expands the beat. The large note or primary note is played
on the beat. The small note or grace note falls just before the beat.
Dampening - This technique is used to play notes marked staccato (especially bass
drum and timpani).
Let Vibrate (l.v.) - Let the sound ring freely without being dampened.
Rim – Play on the rim or counter hoop using the shoulder of the drumstick.
Rim Shot (r.s.) – Place the left drumstick tip on the drumhead while resting the
body of the stick on the rim. Strike the right stick across the body of the left
stick.
Stick Click – Produced by raising both drumsticks face high, then striking one stick
across the other.
How does the composer use stroke styles to enhance the character of the
piece?
Music is expressive and communicates an emotion or
affect. This is done with volume or dynamic contrasts,
nuance or tone color changes, and articulation. These
changes may range from sudden and abrupt to slow and
subtle.
Use adjectives to describe the mood of the piece. Does
the mood change in various sections of the piece? If so,
how?
What emotion(s) or affects are you trying to convey in
your performance?
Musical form refers to the type of composition or structure of a piece of music.
Very often you can find clues to determine the form of a piece by looking at the
title or tempo marking. What best describes the form your piece?
Facts about the composer:
Name:
March
Folk Song
Still living? If not, year died?
Dance
Theme and Variations
Medley
Rondo
Spiritual
Binary Form (AB or AABB)
Aria or Lyrical
Ternary Form (ABA)
Suite
Jazz/Blues/Dixieland
Year born:
Country of birth:
Musical training / teachers:
Other interesting facts about the composer or the
composition: