World of the Music

Here is the comment. I just copy and paste here.

Hi Wan Xin,

For some reason, I could upload my comments on your blog, so here they are for you:

You've identified the periods and sentence structures correctly, except for the double period, which sounds more like a varied repetition of the preceding simple period. Note too that, under your first point on "Phrase Structure", the word 'sequence' is wrongly used. What I think you are wanting to point out is that it is a parallel period as opposed to a contrasting one. (Please refer to your textbook for definitions if need be.)

The opening tonic expansion involves a double-neighbour elaboration: 8-7-8-9-8 (Clara, given these n-n's, we normally do not then regard the G as a pedal note.) At bs. 5-6, 8-7-8-9 is counterpointed by 4-3-4-3 in the tonic expansion. Note that when the harmony changes to vi, the elaboration becomes 3-2-3-4-(3), can you work out what it is when the harmony then changes to IV and eventually to V?

As for the suspensions, Clara has correctly pointed out a couple. Note, however, that the F# in b. 25 is not a suspension; it is actually a p-n between G and E, introduced at the end of b. 24 but is suspended over into b. 25. This illustrates the idea of dissonance resulting from rhythmic displacement (imagine the two F# being tied) that can be traced back to 4th species counterpoint. (Clara, the tie itself is not a preparation for suspension, it is the consonant note retained to create the suspension that constitutes the preparation.)

Finally, Wan Xin, you are right to remark that the hypermetric organization is generally regular here, since all except one of the phrases are 4-bar long. Nonetheless, Jay Chou introduced an element of interest for the chorus. Notice that all the 4 phrases in the verse begin with either a semiquaver anacrusis or at most a 3-quaver one; we therefore hear the hypermetric downbeat very easily. The chorus phrases actually start with an anacrusis that is more than half a bar long, almost bringing the hypermetric downbeat forward by half a bar. Whether one hears this hypermetric shift, there is no denying that on the surface, the chorus appears to enter earlier than expected. Turning now to the exceptional phrase (bs. 32-37), please note how the phrase is extended by one bar.

Hope the analytical perspectives you’ve been exposed to in AAI 182 has helped you better appreciate some of the nuances in the pop songs you enjoy, and perhaps inspire you to compose some yourself.

That's all from my email. Thanks, Mr Eddy. Hope to see you around in NIE as I will become a teacher. I am a MOE Teaching Award Holder. :)

Thanks again.

Chord progressions and harmonic functions are also written in the score. :)

Chord progression

1. There is no modulation or key changes in this pieces. It remains in G major.

2. Bar 1 to bar 3: It is the introduction of the music by using chord I.

3. Bar 4 to bar 7: There are only 4 chords used in this sentence, I-vi -IV-V.

4. Bar 12 to bar 19: The same 4 chords are used in this simple period, I-vi -IV-V.

5.Bar 20 to bar 28: There are 8 bars in this phrase, which ends with a imperfect cadence (ii - V ).

6. Bar 28 to bar 37: The same chord progression are repeated in this phrase but ended with a perfect cadence.

Harmonic Function

1. The harmonic function for this phrase is tonic (bar 4 to bar 6) - predominant (bar 7 to bar 10) - dominant (bar 11 and bar 12). The predominant harmonic function is extended with 2 chords, chord vi and chord IV.

2. Bar 13 to bar 19: The harmonic function for this phrase is the same as the previous period.

3. Bar 20 to bar 28: The harmonic function for this phrase is tonic (bar 20 to bar 22) - predominant (bar 23 to bar 27) - dominant (bar 28). The predominant harmonic function is extended with a few chords, chord vi, chord IV, chord iii, chord vi and chord ii.

4. Bar 28 to bar 37: The same harmonic function are repeated in this phrase but ended with a tonic.

Phrase Structure

1. From bar 4 to bar 7, it forms a 4 bar phrase while from bar 8 to bar 11 is another 4 bar phrase which both have the same sequence. Both phrases (antecedent phrase and consequent phrase) forms a simple period.

2. From bar 12 to bar 15, it is a repetition of bar 4 to bar 7, which is also an antecedent phrase. From bar 16 to bar 19, it is a consequent phrase. Another simple period is formed.

3. From bar 4 to bar 19, it is a double period.

4. From bar 20 to bar 37, it is the chorus of the song which forms a simple period. From bar 20 to 28 is an antecedent phrase while from bar 28 to bar 37 is a consequent phrase.

5. From bar 20 to bar 28, it is a short-short-long subdivision. From bar 20 to bar 22, it is a short subphrase and from bar 22 to bar 25 is another repeated short subphrase. From bar 24 to bar 28 consists a shorter short-short-long subdivision, which forms a long subphrase.

Hypermetre

The hypermetric structure is the same as the phrase structure. The standard 4 bars forms a phrase with typical strong (bar 1),weak (bar 2), medium (bar 3) and weak (bar 4). The standard 8 bars then forms a simple period. There is no much surprise of hypermetre in this song.


I am quite impressed that this nice song is not that difficult to compose after analysed. Well done, Jay Chow!! ( Don't think he will see this.)

Enjoy the song ya! :)

I feel a bit uneasy to write the blog in English since I am majoring in Chinese and seldom write in English. Well, since I take this AAI 182 module, I understand that English is not the only thing I need to overcome. I has stopped my piano lesson since I came over to Singapore and studied JC. Many things occurred and ended my music life. The education life in NTU is not easy either. After clearing all the core subjects and elective subjects, I am glad that I still have 3 aus to clear something I like in the final year. I like music theory more than practical and this is the reason I choose this subject. Somehow I feel a bit lonely to attend the lesson as I do not know anyone around me in the class. Although a lot of works and theories that I need to learn, I will try my best to complete them. Hope that I can compose nice songs in the future. :)