I choose to do my comparison on several arrangements of Lou Reed’s song “Perfect Day.”
The version recorded by Lou Reed (which is the original) begins with a short piano introduction before he begins to sing. Soon thereafter, you will hear strings join in and some soft percussion. It makes use of a device often used in Rock/Popular music, the quiet verse and the loud refrain, so there are some great contrasts in dynamics throughout the song that keep you interested. Overall the song is somewhat simple, but there are enough finishing touches on the song to really make it great. The introduction of the strings is one of them. With just the piano accompaniment in this song it would’ve been really bare, but the strings really fill out the sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYEC4TZsy-Y
The next version I found of this song sounded really interesting to me at first. It was a “One Man Band” version, with one guy playing the piano, singing, and playing foot drums and therefore providing a beat. The problem with this version was just that I think the guy was doing too much. One way he accomplished doing all of these things was to make the piano part really staccato. In doing so he really changed the feel of the original and I didn’t like it nearly as much. He lost a lot of what made the original great and that was the detail and thought put into all of the parts. It was an impressive feat however to see this guy play all these parts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3R3JgZF7Nk
The last version of the song was someone who had taken the music and arranged it all for one guitar. It contained both the vocal melody and the accompaniment. I thought this version was very well done. The guy did a pretty decent job of containing as much as he could of the song for guitar. Obviously again the fullness of the strings is lost but I actually enjoyed the somewhat mellow mood of this arrangement; and for it being one guitar, it was a pretty full sound he managed to pull out of the guitar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5B_opp0HhQ
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Veni Veni Emmanuel
I chose a choral piece that we are performing in the University Choir, Veni Veni Emmanuel. It is a 9th century Plainsong arranged by Allen Koepke for piano and SATB. I found several other versions of this piece on youtube.
The first example was the original plainsong. It is chantlike and simply arranged without paino accompaniment. It is performed by a women's choir and is very beautiful, I like the way the harmonies sound in the church they are singing in, they resonate and blend very beautifully. This particular recording is quite good I enjoyed listening to it several times.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtEnALtK-Yg
The second example is of a brass ensemble performing the peice. It is performed by the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble and the Hendricks Chapel Choir. It has an intro different from the arrangement I have, I like this intro a little better but they are both appropriate. I the arrangement is also different due to the number of different voices the brass ensemble has over the SATB version. Also there is no piano, which is something different about the version I have. The second half of the piece however has a choir and makes this version very unique and interesting. The arrangement is by James Spencer.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkyXk_dcyU
The third example is an arrangement of the melody and is played on the 51 bells of the K. Eijsbouts carillon in St. Nikolai Tower Memorial, Hamburg Germany. It is a very cool arrangement and very interesting. I have never seen this instrument before and it is played in a very interesting way, with the fists. I'm really glad I stumbled on this version it is very pretty and something I have never seen before.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkCPQySK_X8
The first example was the original plainsong. It is chantlike and simply arranged without paino accompaniment. It is performed by a women's choir and is very beautiful, I like the way the harmonies sound in the church they are singing in, they resonate and blend very beautifully. This particular recording is quite good I enjoyed listening to it several times.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtEnALtK-Yg
The second example is of a brass ensemble performing the peice. It is performed by the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble and the Hendricks Chapel Choir. It has an intro different from the arrangement I have, I like this intro a little better but they are both appropriate. I the arrangement is also different due to the number of different voices the brass ensemble has over the SATB version. Also there is no piano, which is something different about the version I have. The second half of the piece however has a choir and makes this version very unique and interesting. The arrangement is by James Spencer.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkyXk_dcyU
The third example is an arrangement of the melody and is played on the 51 bells of the K. Eijsbouts carillon in St. Nikolai Tower Memorial, Hamburg Germany. It is a very cool arrangement and very interesting. I have never seen this instrument before and it is played in a very interesting way, with the fists. I'm really glad I stumbled on this version it is very pretty and something I have never seen before.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkCPQySK_X8
Allison Vandenbosch song renditions
For my piece I chose Gymnopeidie #1 by Eric Satie. I have always loved this piece. It has a slow lilting feeling to it, and is very peaceful to listen to.
The first video I listened to was the original piano score of the piece. When played by a piano, the piece sounds slow, and lilting. The song seems to have a lot of emotion behind it. When played on a piano, the piece sounds very simple, but very peaceful. It is one of those songs that you curl up with a good book ,and a hot cup of tea, and play this in the background J The video for this is also really cute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al5U1WJ48rM
The second video was the piece done by an orchestra. In my opinion, the piece kind of loses it’s mysterious sound. It also sounds a lot faster, and has a bunch of diminuendos in the main theme. That being said, the piece does sound much fuller and richer. I especially love when the oboe is playing, it reminds me of the movie “the secret garden” from the 90s. This rendition sounds like it could be a movie score for a romantic movie or something.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8Vw459QbAw&feature=related
The third video was the piece played on a guitar. I must say, it sounded very lovely, but not quite as peaceful as when played on the piano. This rendition of the song is also played a little fast, with not as much dynamic changes. There is also some strumming for extra embellishment for the main theme. When the lady is playing, the way that she does her rhythms feels a little off at points (almost like she made a mistake or something). I think it may just be her style though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXmCWXo9bpc&feature=related
The first video I listened to was the original piano score of the piece. When played by a piano, the piece sounds slow, and lilting. The song seems to have a lot of emotion behind it. When played on a piano, the piece sounds very simple, but very peaceful. It is one of those songs that you curl up with a good book ,and a hot cup of tea, and play this in the background J The video for this is also really cute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al5U1WJ48rM
The second video was the piece done by an orchestra. In my opinion, the piece kind of loses it’s mysterious sound. It also sounds a lot faster, and has a bunch of diminuendos in the main theme. That being said, the piece does sound much fuller and richer. I especially love when the oboe is playing, it reminds me of the movie “the secret garden” from the 90s. This rendition sounds like it could be a movie score for a romantic movie or something.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8Vw459QbAw&feature=related
The third video was the piece played on a guitar. I must say, it sounded very lovely, but not quite as peaceful as when played on the piano. This rendition of the song is also played a little fast, with not as much dynamic changes. There is also some strumming for extra embellishment for the main theme. When the lady is playing, the way that she does her rhythms feels a little off at points (almost like she made a mistake or something). I think it may just be her style though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXmCWXo9bpc&feature=related
Isora HEckel comparison of "Amazing Grace"
Comparison of “Amazing Grace”
The first arrangement of “Amazing Grace” is for 2 parts, and piano accompaniment. The piece is arranged by Benjamin Harlan. I heard this piece performed by a women’s ensemble. The alto section sings the first verse with just open fifth chords as an accompaniment. There is a modulation and the sopranos sing the second verse with an increase in piano accompaniment. There is another modulation with the altos singing the third verse. The accompaniment for this part is contrary motion moving lines. Another modulation leads into the fourth verse with both sections singing the verse and chords are in the accompaniment. About half way through the verse is yet another modulation and amen. The alternating sections and accompaniment add texture and dynamics to the piece.
The second arrangement of “Amazing Grace” is a combination of two spirituals, entitled “The Gospel of Grace” with “Amazing Grace” and “I’m New Born Again” arranged by Mark Hayes. This is sung by a male soloist and piano accompaniment from a CD. Mark Hayes is known for combining spirituals into toe tapping and handclapping arrangements. This piece has a very challenging accompaniment and only one modulation for the final section of the song. There is rhythm and tempo changes in this piece as well.
The last arrangement of “Amazing Grace” is performed by Gary Karr, on You Tube. This arrangement starts with violin for verse one. The second verse has cello and organ. The third verse is just organ. The bass is playing the last verse with a faint organ accompaniment.
When looking for an internet arrangement, a fact that I noticed was that “Amazing Grace is performed at many funerals. The last arrangement could easily be heard at a funeral. The second arrangement, because of the combination of spirituals has a much lighter mood. The first arrangement could be used at many different kinds of settings or concerts.
The first arrangement of “Amazing Grace” is for 2 parts, and piano accompaniment. The piece is arranged by Benjamin Harlan. I heard this piece performed by a women’s ensemble. The alto section sings the first verse with just open fifth chords as an accompaniment. There is a modulation and the sopranos sing the second verse with an increase in piano accompaniment. There is another modulation with the altos singing the third verse. The accompaniment for this part is contrary motion moving lines. Another modulation leads into the fourth verse with both sections singing the verse and chords are in the accompaniment. About half way through the verse is yet another modulation and amen. The alternating sections and accompaniment add texture and dynamics to the piece.
The second arrangement of “Amazing Grace” is a combination of two spirituals, entitled “The Gospel of Grace” with “Amazing Grace” and “I’m New Born Again” arranged by Mark Hayes. This is sung by a male soloist and piano accompaniment from a CD. Mark Hayes is known for combining spirituals into toe tapping and handclapping arrangements. This piece has a very challenging accompaniment and only one modulation for the final section of the song. There is rhythm and tempo changes in this piece as well.
The last arrangement of “Amazing Grace” is performed by Gary Karr, on You Tube. This arrangement starts with violin for verse one. The second verse has cello and organ. The third verse is just organ. The bass is playing the last verse with a faint organ accompaniment.
When looking for an internet arrangement, a fact that I noticed was that “Amazing Grace is performed at many funerals. The last arrangement could easily be heard at a funeral. The second arrangement, because of the combination of spirituals has a much lighter mood. The first arrangement could be used at many different kinds of settings or concerts.
Sarah Shapiro- Theme Comparison
“Hedwig’s Theme” by John Williams, from the Harry Potter film series
Videos Comparing (from Youtube.com)
–Harry Potter Hedwig’s Theme, Piano (fesitolare)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLN6AU2WL8Y&feature=related
–Harry Potter Theme (harrythepiano) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwpBSHEHEek
–Harry Potter-Hedwig’s Theme (klaus195)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBxIJtkqiNg&feature=related
Both of these videos on Youtube present the famous “Hedwig’s Theme” from the Harry Potter movies, but in very different styles. The first video features a pianist playing the theme in a very simple manner, exactly as it appears in the movie series. Later, however, he makes the theme more complex and adds his own . He improvises on the left hand part and creates an intricate accompaniment that compliments the simple right hand treble part.
Meanwhile, in the second video, the pianist uses his creativity and musicality to center “Hedwig’s Theme” in many famous melodies such as Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean,” themes from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” and Beethoven’s “5th Symphony” theme. He also plays the theme in a very classical style, a Gershwin style, Chopin style and a jazz style. The pianist’s ability to improvise while a cameraman yells composers and genres to him while playing the same underlying theme throughout the video is stunning.
In the third video, the pianist’s role is different because he is not the soloist but the accompanist. He states the melody in the simplest of ways and then continues to play the melody but in an accompanist style as he is playing with a violinist. He plays more simple foundation chords and incorporates less of his own creativity.
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