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Stylistic Matrix Template WK 4

The document provides instructions for analyzing and comparing two songs based on various musical characteristics. Students are asked to identify elements like lyrics, form, timbre, instrumentation, dynamics, tempo, rhythm, melody, harmony, and visual style for each song. They then must compare the two songs and answer two questions - identifying the most distinguishing characteristic between the songs is the difference in tempo, as one song has a notably faster pace, while the least distinguishing is their similar use of guitar as the main instrument. The purpose is for students to learn musical analysis and comparison skills.

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Brandon Erb
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46 views3 pages

Stylistic Matrix Template WK 4

The document provides instructions for analyzing and comparing two songs based on various musical characteristics. Students are asked to identify elements like lyrics, form, timbre, instrumentation, dynamics, tempo, rhythm, melody, harmony, and visual style for each song. They then must compare the two songs and answer two questions - identifying the most distinguishing characteristic between the songs is the difference in tempo, as one song has a notably faster pace, while the least distinguishing is their similar use of guitar as the main instrument. The purpose is for students to learn musical analysis and comparison skills.

Uploaded by

Brandon Erb
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Music Style Matrix Assignment

Instructions:

1. For each of the categories listed below, identify and describe particular characteristics present in each song, then provide a brief comparison.
When possible, identify a specific moment in each song that exemplifies the given stylistic trait. To locate the moment, use either verbal cues
(first verse, intro, chorus, etc.), or a time marker (e.g., 1:34). Note the stylistic vocabulary suggestions on page two to help you describe
what you hear and see.
2. In one paragraph for each, answer the two questions found underneath the matrix (150 words max for each).

Song 1: [It Wasn’t God Who Song 2: [Amarillo] Comparison


Made Honky Tonk Angels]
Lyrics • Very narrative i.e. “Was • Also very narrative i.e. “Oh, I • Both songs are trying to tell a
because there always was a man lost him to a jukebox and a story and they are both about the
to blame “ pinball machine” downfalls of men
Form • Conventional from with the • Somewhat conventional form • Pretty similar forms between the
alternating verse and chorus with although at some parts it repeats songs but song 2 had more
a few the chorus and other parts goes instrumental solos than song 1
into a instrumental
Timbre (voice and • Sighing, longing, smooth and • A few raspy notes but for the • Song 1 was very consonant
instruments) consonant majority it is smooth and throughout whereas song 2 was
forceful kind of dissonant but was still
resolved
Instrumentation • Baseline of a guitar throughout • Lead singer had a guitar, a few • Both had a guitar as the main
and Texture the song and then some kind of backup singers had guitars, instrument but song 2 had more
bowed instrument in between the drums, steel guitar solo instruments in general
verses
Dynamics • Very static dynamics • Only change in dynamics is • Both songs had very constant
throughout, no sudden changes when she sings “played a trick and static dynamics but in song 2,
on me” and it is sung much more there were certain words that had
Song 1: [It Wasn’t God Who Song 2: [Amarillo] Comparison
Made Honky Tonk Angels]
forcefully more inflection and force on them
than you would expect
Tempo and • Slow tempo, heavy syncopation • Quick tempo, crescendos up • Song 1 was very slow while song
Rhythm until the word “jukebox” and 2 had a much quicker tempo. Song
then decrescendos on the words 2 had some crescendos and
“pinball machine” decrescendos while song 1 was
static
Visual Style (if • No visual style • Basic concert visual style with • Song 2 was the only one with a
applicable) the band in the back and the lead visual style but it was very down
singer in the front to earth outfits and very western
• Down to earth outfits looking
Melody and • Stepwise motion, static • Stepwise melody, lots of • Same stepwise melody in each
Harmony harmony, simple cyclical chord unusual chords that creates song although song 2 was much
patterns dissonance for parts of the song faster
that are later resolved

Q1. What is the most significant and relevant stylistic characteristic that distinguishes your two example songs, and why?

The tempo was the most distinguishing factor because song 2 was so much more notably faster paced than song 1 was. Song 2 also had more
variants of dynamics while song 1 was almost boring and static.

Q2. What is the least significant characteristic in distinguishing between your two examples, and why?
The least differentiating characteristic between the songs was their instrumentation. They both has the main instrument as a guitar throughout.
Song 2 did have a few more instruments in general, but they both contained a lot of string instruments causing them to sound similar.

Stylistic Vocabulary:

Lyrics: narrative, episodic, sexual, nostalgic, raw, sophisticated, metaphorical, political, individualistic, etc.

Form: repeated sections, cyclical, verse, chorus, bridge, strophic, through-composed, intro/outro, irregular, blues form, conventional,
unconventional, surprising, phrase length, cadences, etc.

Timbre: harsh, mellow, raspy, breathy, moaning, crying, sighing, forceful, percussive, legato, smooth, rough, dissonant, consonant, guttural,
distortion, etc.

Instrumentation and Texture: what instruments?, unusual instruments, instrumental techniques (finger-picking, slide, trills, etc.), solos,
instrumental sections vs. tutti (everyone at the same time), accretion (adding instruments one-by-one), etc.

Dynamics: loud, soft, static vs. fluid, crescendo, decrescendo, terraced dynamics, sudden dynamic changes (when and for how long), etc.

Tempo and Rhythm: fast, slow, static vs. changing, accelerando, ritard, meter (triple, duple, odd, shifting), syncopation, groove, triplets, march,
rhythmic motif (hook), etc.

Melody and Harmony: stepwise motion vs. skips and leaps, melodic motif (hook), rate of harmonic change (static vs. moving), dissonance,
consonance, unusual chords, major, minor, key changes, extended chords (jazzy), cyclical chord patterns (blues, gospel, etc.), complex vs. simple,
formulaic vs. unexpected

Visual Style: conventional vs. unconventional, exciting vs. sedate, sexuality, bodily movement (which parts of the body?), formal vs. casual,
fashion, gender conventions, aggressive vs. passive, effort vs. ease, intimacy, down-to-earth vs. artistic or edgy, group vs. solo, choreographed vs.
spontaneous, serious vs. playful, etc.

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