patterns and performances in speech and music
DESCRIPTION
Patterns and Performances in Speech and Music. Mark Liberman University of Pennsylvania http://ling.upenn.edu/~myl. Skip-a to my Lou (Ruth Crawford Seeger, American Folk Songs for Children, 1938). - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Patterns and Performances in Speech and Music
Mark Liberman
University of Pennsylvaniahttp://ling.upenn.edu/~myl
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 2
Skip-a to my Lou (Ruth Crawford Seeger, American Folk Songs for Children, 1938)
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 3
E C E G (pitches) X X X X (1/4 notes) X X X X X X X X (1/8 notes) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X (1/16 notes)little red wa- gon pain- ted blue
E C E G (pitches) X X X X (1/4 notes) X X X X X X X X (1/4 notes) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X (1/16 notes)pig in the par- lour what'll I do cat in the but-ter milk lapping up cream rab-bit in the corn field big as a mule hogs in the po-ta- to patch rooting up corn dad's old hat and ma- ma's old shoe
“…this song has hundreds of stanzas and is always picking up new ones. One collector alone gives 150, from which the above 22 were selected as encouragement to further improvisation."
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 4
X . | X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X . | X XXX | XXXWell, the sun is sure- ly sink- in' down,
X . | X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X . | X XXX | XXXbut the moon is slow- ly ris- ing.
X . | X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X . | X XXX | XXX So this old world must still be spinnin' round,
X . | X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X . | X XXX | XXX and I still love you.
You can close your eyes (James Taylor, 1971)
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 5
X . | X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X . | So close your eyes,
X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X . | XXXX | XXXX | You can close your eyes, it's all right.
X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X I don't know no love songs,
. | X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X | XXXX and I can't sing the blues an- y-more.
. | X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X But I can sing this song,
. | X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X | X XXX | and you can sing this song when I'm gone
(refrain)
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 6
“Syncopation in Rock,” David Temperley. Popular Music 18(1), 1999.
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 8
Jodies
• Rhymed couplets – used in counting cadence while marching– traditional or improvised
• History?– References back to Civil War– Attributed to
Pvt. Willie DuckworthFort Slocum, N.Y., May 1944“Duckworth cadence”
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 9
Cadence calls are songs (usually delivered in an eight count movement) that the military sing when marching or running. The songs require a Caller, who normally sets the pace and leads the formation. The caller starts each line on his left foot. The formation then repeats the line, starting on the left foot. If everything goes well, the caller and the formation develop a sort of rapport. The effect can be mesmerizing. The way a unit sounds while running or marching tends to reflect on that unit's morale and leadership.
-Drill Sgt. Timothy P. Dunnigan, US Army
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 10
Who’s Jody?
Got a letter in the mailGo to war or go to jail
I used to date a beauty queenNow I date my M-16
Ain't no use in lookin' downAin't no discharge on the ground
Ain't no use in going backJody's got your Cadillac
Ain't no use in calling homeJody's got your girl and gone
Ain't no use in feeling blueJody's got your sister too
The guy back home who has the things a soldier leaves behind:
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 11
Examples
Traditional call and response couplet
Couplets embedded in other cadence counts
WWII era (?)
Role in group running
Many verses, old and new
stories
boasts
complaints, teasing, etc.
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 12
Other traditional couplets
I don't know but I been toldIf you die you don't get oldIf I die in the combat zoneBox me up and ship me home
Birdie birdie in the sky Dropped some whitewash in my eye I won't fuss and I won't cry I'm just glad that cows can't fly.
Jesse James said before he diedThere's five things that he wanted to rideBicycle, tricycle, automobileA one-legged hooker and a ferris wheel
Jesse James said in his final will He had five things that he wanted to kill A lion, a tiger, a kangaroo A long haired hippie, and a D.I. too And if'n he could kill just one He'd kill the instructor, let the hippie run
Content can be serious or silly, subversive or gung-ho.Syllable counts range from 7 to 11.
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 13
Acoustic and metrical patterns?
D D B G B B D x x x x x x x x x x x xAin't no use in go...ing home
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 23
o o o o o o o1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 ...o o o o o o o o oo o o o o o o o o o o
“Habanera rhythm” (from contradanza habanera):
8 beats divided as 3+3+2 or 3+(1+2)+2 or (1+2)+(1+2)+2
Musical notations:
Common theme:
Positions 1,4,7 of 8 are strong1 & 4 may be “resolved” onto 2 & 5
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 24
Slippin’ and a-Slidin’ (Little Richard)Habanera rhythm in the brass
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 25
o o o o o o o1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 ...o o o o o o o o oo o o o o o o o o o o
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o slippin and a slid- in peepin and a hid- in
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 o o o o o o o o o been told a long time ago
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 26
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8o o o oo o o o o o oo o o o o o o o o oI been told baby you been bold I won’t be your fool no more
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 27
X . | X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X . | X XXX | XXXWell, the sun is sure- ly sink- in' down,
X . | X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X . | X XXX | XXXbut the moon is slow- ly ris- ing.
X . | X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X . | X XXX | XXX So this old world must still be spinnin' round,
X . | X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X . | X XXX | XXX and I still love you.
You can close your eyes (James Taylor, 1971)
1/27/2005 Language and Poetic Form 28
X . | X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X . | So close your eyes,
X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X . | XXXX | XXXX | You can close your eyes, it's all right.
X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X I don't know no love songs,
. | X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X | XXXX and I can't sing the blues an- y-more.
. | X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X But I can sing this song,
. | X . X . X . X . | X . X . X . X | X XXX | and you can sing this song when I'm gone
(refrain)