what do these songs have in common?
let's dig deeper into the tracks you've been listening to ------->
I wish we could have had more time to discuss all of the songs you listened to for the class.
I have loved reading all of your responses - below is a word cloud made from the thoughts you all shared from listening in the chat.
You were all right on the money - hearing the connective tissue of the "lament bass" that unites all of these pieces of music!
so what's on the playlist ?
a little more info about who wrote these pieces of music and when (listen above on YouTube) --->
Feeling Good
Written by: Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse (1964)
Performed by: Nina Simone (1965)
Key: G minor (bass line = G, F, Eb, D)
Ciaccona
Written by: Tomaso Vitali (1745)
Performed by: Ensemble Clematis (2011)
Key: G minor (bass line = G, F, Eb, D)
View the manuscript HERE.
Bye Bye Bye
Written by: Kristian Lundin and Jake Schulze (2000)
Performed by: *N'SYNC (2000)
Key: G# minor (bass line = G#, F# E D#)
Passacaille
Written by: Jean-Baptiste Lully (1685)
Performed by: La Petite Bande (2000)
Key: G minor (bass line = G, F, Eb, D)
***but...it sounds like it is in F minor with a bass line of F, Eb, Db, C because it is being played at A=392, French baroque pitch, a whole step lower than what we use today, A=440
View the manuscript HERE (see page 147)
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​
Hit The Road Jack
Written by: Percy Mayfield (1960)
Performed by: Ray Charles (1962)
Key: G# minor (bass line = G#, F# E D#)
Lamento della ninfa
Written by: Claudio Monteverdi (~1614-1638)
Performed by: Montserrat Figueras and Jordi Savall
Key: A minor (bass line = A, G, F, E)
View the manuscript HERE
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La Blanche Biche
Written by: Emi Ferguson (2017)
**based on an anonymous folk melody
Performed by: Emi Ferguson (2017)
Key: B minor (bass line = B, A, G, F#)
***but...it sounds like it is in Bb minor with a bass line of Bb, Ab, Gb, F because it is being played at A=392, French baroque pitch, a whole step lower than what we use today, A=440
View the manuscript HERE (see page 147)
​
​
Music to Watch Boys to
Written by: Lana Del Rey and Rick Nowels (2015)
Performed by: Lana Del Rey (2015)
Key: C# minor (bass line = C#, B, A, G#)
Midnight Train to Georgia
Written by: Jim Weatherly (1970)
Performed by: Gladys Knight and the Pips (1973)
Key: Db Major (bass line = Db, C, Bb, Ab)
Just Give Me A Reason
Written by:P!nk, Jeff Bhasker, and Nate Ruess (2011)
Performed by: P!nk and Nate Ruess (2011)
Key: G Major (bass line = G, F#, E, D)
...we could keep going, adding many more songs to this playlist including...​
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Bach: Chaconne, from Partita no.5 for solo violin
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Biber: Passacaglia for solo violin
the lament bass
a repeating, cyclical, bass line from
one (tonic) descending to five (dominant) ---->
Musicians took these four descending notes and built (and still build!) harmonies and melodies on top of it.
All of the songs in the playlist use this fundamental structure in someway - thus connecting all of them, from 17th century composer Monteverdi, to 'NSYNC.
the lament bass is usually found in a minor key, but one can also create the same concept in a Major key ---->
click on the slides below to learn a little more about how all of these songs are connected and why the lament bass has it's power ------->