Viva Voce

Viva Voce: A musical analysis of the songs "Zebra" and "Revolution' by John Butlet Trio

Zebra

Tone Colour:
- repeated ostinato played by a variety of different instruments throughout the song
- guitar uses technique of plucking strings to accentuate notes
- vocal techniques are loose, free, almost shouted.
- regae feel created by instrumentation and accentuated off beat

Duration:
- syncopation used by drums and in the instrumentation, guiat plucks the off beat in verse 1 ( creates the regae feel)
- continuouse rhythmic ostinato

Texture:
- rythmic ostinato, accents and staccatos make the song sund richer when its actually fairly thin
- homphonic texture: main melodic role is shared between the guitar and vocals
- instrumental has thin texture
- As song goes on, the texture in verses increases becuse of more complicated rhythmic and melodic ideas

Dynamcs and Expressive techniques:
- Guitar uses a form of distortion in the instrumental.
- Not that musch dynamic contrast
- crescendo into chorus, decrescendo into instrumental
- variety of accents used

Structure:
- intro, verse, chorus structure
- additional sections added to create interest

Pitch:
- main melody has narrow range
- backing vocals in chorus create contrast with staccato
- ostinato provides melodic repetition
- melody moves in steps
- melodic repetition in verses by chorus.

Revolution

Tone colour:
- more alternate sound in comparison to Zebra
- the strength of the sound increases in chorus. its airy in the beginning and then changes in the chorus to a stronger sound
- airy sound created by synthesizer
- vocals use shouting technique

Duration:
- guitar provides rhythmic role by playing short notes on the beat
- accents placed on beats 2 and 4- accentuated by guitar and drums
- vocals have rhythmic role in the bridge due to the technique of shouting on the beat.

Texture:
- texture increases a lot in chorus due to more complicated rhythmic and melodic roles
- homophonic texture with the main melodic role being the vocals
- the bridge has numerouse vocal parts which create thicker texture

Pitch:
- melodic repetition used by the vocals
- greater vocal range that moves in steps
- melodic repetition also used by electric guitar
- use of harmonies

Dynamics and expressive techniques:
- use of distortion of guitar in instrumental part
- crescendo into the chorus
accents on beats 2 and 4

Structure:
- intro, verse, chorus structure
- synthesized sound leads into a new melodic idea within the song