Sacrificial+Dance+Analysis+by+Joey

= Joey’s Song: Sacrificial dance from the Rite of Spring =

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Duration

 * Allegro with sudden, abrupt changes in tempo from fast to slow and vice versa.
 * The main melody primarily consists of quavers throughout the composition.
 * Tempo correlates with dynamics in composition.
 * Trumpets are staccatoed throughout the piece.
 * Time signature is consistently changing, fluctuating between different irregular quadruple times (e.g. 3/16 and 2/8).
 * Syncopations are very prevalent throughout the composition.
 * Different polyrhythms are frequently conflicting each other.

Dynamics

 * Working with correlation to the fluctuating tempo within the piece, the general dynamics also experiences sudden crescendos and decrescendos, along with accented notes.
 * The first bar of the bass clef in the composition begins with pianissimo dynamics which is then heavily contrasted with the next bar which is played in forte by the treble clef section of instruments. However, the bass clef section still stays playing pianissimo in the second bar.
 * Many of the melodical instruments are heard playing very abrupt “crescendos” throughout the composition.
 * Bass clef notes in the second bar then then to play very strongly in fortissimo.
 * The piece then continues to fluctuate between crescendos and decrescendos until bar 34.
 * All instruments from bar 34 are to play in piano ‘subito’, which is to play subtlely.
 * The composition then resumes to play in forte from bar 49.
 * From bars 1-33 it consists of irregular accents
 * However, as soon as the composition reaches 34-115 the general dynamics of the piece are then harshly diminished.

Pitch

 * Sacrificial dance does not have a ‘defined’ key signature but is rather atonal. However, it does not follow the strict 12-tone structure.
 * Has a series of motifs consisting of:
 * A - 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
 * B - 1
 * C - 1,2,3,4
 * However, the beginning of Sacrificial Dance is transposed to C sharp major.
 * Bass notes of the piece consist of notes: D, E flat, B, B flat and F.
 * The piece has some minor key signature connotations within it.
 * From bars 1-33 it consists of harsh dissonance

Structure

 * Has a series of motifs consisting of:
 * A - 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
 * B - 1
 * C - 1,2,3,4
 * Sacrificial dance is the very last composition in Part II: Le Sacrifice (The Sacrifice) of the orchestral concert Rite of Spring.
 * The melodic structure of the song consists of:
 * 1) Section A
 * 2) Section B
 * 3) Section A
 * 4) Section C
 * 5) Section A
 * 6) Section C
 * 7) Section A

Texture

 * As well as the bass and harmony, the composition consists of different melodies and countermelodies which constantly conflict with each other.
 * Polyrhythmic textures
 * Texture and dynamics build with the addition of woodwind ostinatos.
 * The composition has a discordant complexity within the harmonic texture.

Tone colour

 * Brass including:
 * 8 Horns in F (7th and 8th doubling Tenor Tuba)
 * Piccolo Trumpet in D
 * 4 Trumpets in C (4th doubling Bass Trumpet in Eb)
 * 3 Trombones
 * 2 Tuba
 * Strings including:
 * Violin I
 * Violin II
 * Viola Cello
 * Double Bass
 * Percussion including:
 * Timpani (2 players)
 * Bass Drum
 * Tam-tam
 * Triangle
 * Tambourine
 * Guiro Antique
 * Cymbals in Ab & Bb
 * Woodwind including:
 * Piccolo
 * 3 Flutes (3rd doubling Piccolo 2)
 * Alto Flute
 * 4 Oboes (4th doubling Cor Anglais 2)
 * Cor Anglais
 * Piccolo Clarinet in D & Eb
 * 3 Clarinets in Bb & A (2nd doubling Bass Clarinet 2)
 * Bass Clarinet
 * 4 Bassoons (4th doubling Contrabassoon 2)
 * Contrabassoon