Afro celt

• Name the two African instruments used in Release

  Kora

  Talking drum
• Name the six Celtic instruments in Release

  Hurdy-Gurdy

  Uilleann Pipes

  Bodhran

  Fiddle

  Whistle

  Accordion
• Name the EDM forces used in Release

  Male-vox, female-vox

  Breath samples

  Drum machine

  Synthesiser

  Shaker

  Tambourine

  Bass guitar
• What is the overall key of Release?

  C (Aeolian) Mode
• How would you describe the tonality of Release?

  Modal - not the traditional major or minor
• How describe the harmony of Release?

  Mostly diatonic, using chords I, II, IV and V, but with some extended chords such as 7ths and 9ths, creating more of a varied texture (chords in this piece are more textural than harmonic). The harmony is "static".
• How would you describe the harmonic rhythm of Release?

  Slow - the chords change slowly
• What is the main texture of Release?

  Mostly melody dominated homophony - melody and accompaniment
• What is the texture in the Uilleann Pipe and Hardy-Gurdy section towards the end?

  Heterophonic - playing very similar things, but they are different
• Describe the texture of Release

  Constantly changing, and use of layering to add parts one or two at a time. Sudden drops create dramatic interest
• Are the verses in Release mostly syllabic or melismatic?

  Syllabic - one note per syllable
• Describe the structure of Release

  Strophic - no chorus at all. Includes an intro, a solo section, a build up and an outro
• How does the rhythm change from the intro into Verse 1 of Release?


  It starts off in free time, then a more strict pulse joins when the shaker and then the Bodhran loop is played
• What is the metre of Release?

  4/4 - simple quadruple metre
• Why is the name of the ensemble suitable for the genre of Release?

  Afro-Celt Sound System is a suitable name as it includes all three genres which are heard as a piece of fusion music in Release - African, Celtic and EDM.
• Would you say that the development of Release was based around mainly texture or harmony and tonality?

  Texture - the harmony is slower moving and based mostly around the note of C, so doesn't give as much interest as the texture
• What are loops and how are they used in Release?

  A short repeated pattern which adds to the texture
• Why make the tonality of Release suggest C instead of Eb Major?

  The drone uses the note C from the start.
• What helps the chords to define the harmony of Release?

  The melody - all the parts playing different things helps to define the tonality and shapes some of the harmony
• Which instrument in Release only plays a CMinor chord throughout, but with different rhythmic patterns?

  Accordion
• Does the Talking Drum provide a steady beat at the start of Release?

  No - it's more just for effect
• What is the tempo of the song after the initial section of the intro of Release?

  100bpm (beats per minute)
• What does syncopation mean?

  Off-beat rhythms - played a lot by the Bodhran in Release
• What is an ostinato?


  A persistent phrase or motif repeated over several bars or more.
• What is an accent?

  And accent (> over a note) is used to emphasise certain beats of the bar which aren't the main beats, creating an interesting driving like rhythm in Release
• How many singers are featured in Release?

  Two - one male and one female. The male part is in Celtic with a small amount of African speaking at the start of the song. The female vocals are sung in English
• How would you describe the melodic motif sung by Sinéad O'Connor?

  Pentatonic - it only uses five notes
• In Release, what is the difference between the two vocal parts, other than the language?

  They start with the same motif, but the male vox develops and goes higher at points.

  The vocal range is larger in the male vox, and spans a tenth.
• What are the instrumental solos based around in Release?


  These folk inspired melodies are based around the note C.
• What does "idiomatic" mean?

  The parts suit the instruments they were written for; the parts were written with the instruments characteristics in mind.
• Name five rhythmic elements in Release

  Syncopation

  Triplets

  Sextuplets

  Polyrhythms

  Cross Rhythms
• What is multi tracking and how is it used in Release?

  The process of recording all of the parts individually so that the musicians can improvise their solos over them.
• What is the reason that some parts drop out of the texture in Release?

  To leave space and allow others to come to the front of the mix to be heard, as well as creating dramatic entries for some instruments
• Why is mixing important in Release?

  So that the instrument playing the main part at the time is heard most of all. Other parts are turned down for this to happen.
• What is a synthesiser and how is it used in Release?

  A device which can be programme to sound electronic and create other sorts of timbres
• How long are the phrases in the verse?

  Either two or four bar long - very short
• What is glissando?


  Sliding from one note to another
• Are the rhythms in Release straight or swung?

  Slightly swung to add to the hypnotic, lilting feel