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2009�
Patrick�J.�Blair�
HUM�125���002�
Wednesday,�December�9,�2009�
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Patrick J. Blair
TABLE OF CONTENTS
12 STONES – “CRASH” 2
WEEK 1 – SEPTEMBER 14 TO SEPTEMBER 20 1
ATREYU – “FALLING DOWN” 3FOO FIGHTERS – “BEST OF YOU” 4EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY – “YOUR HAND IN MINE” 5AEROSMITH – “I DON’T WANT TO MISS A THING” 6LINKIN PARK – “EASIER TO RUN” 7METALLICA – “NO LEAF CLOVER” 8
BOB SEGER – “TURN THE PAGE” 10
WEEK 2 – SEPTEMBER 21 TO SEPTEMBER 27 9
METALLICA – “TURN THE PAGE” 11BREAKING BENJAMIN – “HAD ENOUGH” 12SEETHER – “RISE ABOVE THIS” 13DISTURBED – “INDESTRUCTIBLE” 14TURISAS – “BATTLE METAL” 15STAIND – “EPIPHANY” 16
EVANS BLUE – “OVER” 18
WEEK 3 – SEPTEMBER 28 TO OCTOBER 4 17
TAPROOT – “CALLING” 19SHADOWS FALL – “THE LIGHT THAT BLINDS” 20EARSHOT – “PUSHING TO SHOVE” 21DEVILDRIVER – “TIRADES OF TRUTH” 22COLD – “NO ONE” 23FINGER ELEVEN – “ABSENT ELEMENTS” 24
ALTRI STROMENTI – “LA SAVORGNANA” 26
WEEK 4 – OCTOBER 5 TO OCTOBER 11 25
EDWARD MARTIN – “SUITE IN C MAJOR – 1 PRELUDE” 27EDWARD MARTIN – “SUITE IN C MAJOR – 3 COURANTE” 28JENI MELIA – “YOUNG AND SIMPLE” 29KATHERINE ROBERTS PERL – “JS BACH SUITE 4 IN E FLAT MAJOR – ALLEMANDE” 30KATHERINE ROBERTS PERL – “JS BACH SUITE 3 IN B MINOR – ALLEMANDE” 31MEDIVA – “AMOR MI FA CANTAR” 32
WEEK 5 – OCTOBER 12 TO OCTOBER 18 33
i
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE – “BREAK THE SILENCE” 34THEORY OF A DEADMAN – “NOT MEANT TO BE” 35ANBERLIN – “THE FEEL GOOD DRAG” 36SONIC SYNDICATE – “WHERE THE BLACK LOTUS GROWS” 37CROSSFADE – “INVINCIBLE” 38T. TOMKINS & E. ZIVIAN – “SONATA IN D MAJOR OP. 102 NO. 2 ALLEGRO CON BRIO” 39 RICHARD SAVINO – “SONATA LA CORNARA A DUE VIOLINI” 40
CHEVELLE – “TO RETURN” 42
WEEK 6 – OCTOBER 19 TO OCTOBER 25 41
ACCEPTANCE – “SO CONTAGIOUS” 43BON JOVI – “WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE” 44STORY OF THE YEAR – “UNTIL THE DAY I DIE” 45SMILE EMPTY SOUL – “HERE’S TO ANOTHER” 46THE LAST GOODNIGHT – “PICTURES OF YOU” 47JET BLACK STARE – “IN THIS LIFE” 48
THE USED – “PRETTY HANDSOME AWKWARD” 50
WEEK 7 – OCTOBER 26 TO NOVEMBER 1 49
AMERICAN BAROQUE – “QUARTET IN G (K285A) – TEMPO DI MENUETTO” 51SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE – *EXPLORING WEBSITE NOTES* 52SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE – *EXPLORING WEBSITE NOTES* 53YO-YO MA – EXPLORING THE MORIN KHUUR 54*ARTIST NOT AVAILABLE* – EXPLORING THE PIPA 55KOJIRO UMEZAKI – EXPLORING THE SHAKUHACHI 56
QI ZHANG – ELECTRIFYING ORGAN PERFORMANCE 58
WEEK 8 – NOVEMBER 2 TO NOVEMBER 8 57
ERIC LEWIS – CHAOS AND HARMONY 59JAMES BURCHFIELD – INVISIBLE TURNTABLES 60VUSI MAHLASELA – WOZA 61PAMELIA KURSTIN – UNTITLED THEREMIN PIECE (PART 1) 62PAMELIA KURSTIN – UNTITLED THEREMIN PIECE (PART 2) 63IMOGEN HEAP – “WAIT IT OUT” 64
CARY CHOW – “CARNAVAL OPUS 9 – PREAMBULE” 66
WEEK 9 – NOVEMBER 9 TO NOVEMBER 15 65
DOC ROSSI – “SONATA I ARIA” 67ENSEMBLE MIRABLE – “SONATA III IN D MINOR (ALLEGRO:MODERATO) 68BUSH – “EVERYTHING ZEN” 69TOOL – “VICARIOUS” 70INSTITUTE – “BULLET-PROOF SKIN” 71BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE – “HEARTS BURST INTO FIRE” 72
ii
ALL THAT REMAINS – “TWO WEEKS” 74
WEEK 10 – NOVEMBER 16 TO NOVEMBER 22 73
BREAKING BENJAMIN – “WHAT LIES BENEATH” 75LINKIN PARK – “NEW DIVIDE” 76PHIL COLLINS – “TAKE ME HOME” 77LINKIN PARK – “WHAT I’VE DONE” 78FOO FIGHTERS – “TIMES LIKE THESE” 79LINKIN PARK – “NUMB” 80
ASSIGNMENTS AND EXTRA CREDIT
KINDLING AN INFINITE PLAYLIST 82
ASSIGNMENTS AND EXTRA CREDIT 81
REACTIONS TO “STRANGE FRUIT” 86REACTION TO A VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC 89LIVE MUSIC EVENT 90MICHAEL JACKSON DOCUMENTARY – EXTRA CREDIT 92VIEWING THE SOLOIST – EXTRA CREDIT 93LISTENING LOGS TABLE OF CONTENTS 94SELF EVALUATION 96
iii
Grade:
09
Listening Logs – Week 1 Introduction to Music – HUM 125-002
September 14th – September 20th
Patrick J. Blair
1
Patrick J. Blair
Grade:
09
Listening Logs – Week 5 Introduction to Music – HUM 125-002
October 12th – October 18th
Patrick J. Blair
33
Patrick J. Blair
Grade:
09
Listening Logs – Week 10 Introduction to Music – HUM 125-002
November 16th – November 22nd
Patrick J. Blair
73
Patrick J. Blair
Assignments and Extra Credit Introduction To Music – HUM 125-002
Patrick J. Blair 2009
81
Patrick J. Blair
Log # Week # Week Log # Title Artist Source Source 2 Date Completed Printed Turned In Grade1 1 1 Crash 12 Stones Last.fm none 9/14/2009 Mon 1 1 Y 12 1 2 Falling Down Atreyu Last.fm none 9/15/2009 Tues 1 1 Y 13 1 3 Best of You Foo Fighters Last.fm mp3 9/16/2009 Wed 0 = Check - 1 1 Y 14 1 4 Your Hand in Mine Explosions in the Sky Last.fm mp3 9/17/2009 Thurs 1 = Check 1 1 Y 15 1 5 I Don't Want to Miss a Thing Aerosmith Last.fm mp3 9/18/2009 Fri 2 = Check + 1 1 Y 1 Points 1056 1 6 Easier to Run Linkin Park Lossless none 9/19/2009 Sat 1 1 Y 1 Total 707 1 7 No Leaf Clover Metallica mp3 none 9/20/2009 Sun 1 1 Y 1 So Far 150.00%8 2 1 Turn the Page Bob Seger mp3 none 9/21/2009 Mon 1 1 Y 19 2 2 Turn the Page Metallica mp3 none 9/22/2009 Tues 1 1 Y 1 Printed 70
10 2 3 Had Enough Breaking Benjamin iTunes none 9/23/2009 Wed 1 1 Y 1 Total 7011 2 4 Rise Above This Seether mp3 none 9/24/2009 Thurs 1 1 Y 1 So Far 100.00%12 2 5 Indestructible Disturbed mp3 none 9/25/2009 Fri 1 1 Y 113 2 6 Battle Metal Turisas Last.fm mp3 9/26/2009 Sat 1 1 Y 1 Completed 7014 2 7 Epiphany Staind iTunes none 9/27/2009 Sun 1 1 Y 1 Total 7015 3 1 Over Evans Blue Last.fm none 9/28/2009 Mon 1 1 Y 1 So Far 100.00%
16 3 2 Calling Taproot Last.fm none 9/29/2009 Tues 1 1 Y 1 Remain 017 3 3 The Light That Blinds Shadows Fall Last.fm none 9/30/2009 Wed 1 1 Y 118 3 4 Pushing to Shove Earshot Last.fm none 10/1/2009 Thurs 1 1 Y 119 3 5 Tirades of Truth DevilDriver Last.fm none 10/2/2009 Fri 1 1 Y 120 3 6 No One Cold Last.fm none 10/3/2009 Sat 1 1 Y 121 3 7 Absent Elements Finger Eleven Last.fm none 10/4/2009 Sun 1 1 Y 122 4 1 La Savorgnana Altri Stromenti Magnatune none 10/5/2009 Mon 1 1 Y 123 4 2 Suite in C Major - 1 Prelude Edward Martin Magnatune none 10/6/2009 Tues 1 1 Y 124 4 3 Suite in C Major - 3 Courante Edward Martin Magnatune none 10/7/2009 Wed 1 1 Y 125 4 4 Young and Simple Jeni Melia Magnatune none 10/8/2009 Thurs 1 1 Y 126 4 5 JS Bach Suite 4 in E flat Major - Allemande Katherine Roberts Perl Magnatune none 10/9/2009 Fri 1 1 Y 127 4 6 JS Bach Suite 3 in B minor - Allemande Katherine Roberts Perl Magnatune none 10/10/2009 Sat 1 1 Y 128 4 7 Amor mi fa Cantar Mediva Magnatune none 10/11/2009 Sun 1 1 Y 129 5 1 Break the Silence Killswitch Engage Last.fm mp3 10/12/2009 Mon 1 1 Y 230 5 2 Not Meant to Be Theory of a Deadman Last.fm none 10/13/2009 Tues 1 1 Y 231 5 3 The Feel Good Drag Anberlin Last.fm mp3 10/14/2009 Wed 1 1 Y 232 5 4 Where the Black Lotus Grows Sonic Syndicate Last.fm none 10/15/2009 Thurs 1 1 Y 233 5 5 Invincible Crossfade Last.fm mp3 10/16/2009 Fri 1 1 Y 234 5 6 Sonata in D Major op. 102 no. 2 Allegro con brio T. Tomkins & E. Zivian Magnatune none 10/17/2009 Sat 1 1 Y 235 5 7 Sonata La Cornara A Due Violini Richard Savino Magnatune none 10/18/2009 Sun 1 1 Y 236 6 1 To Return Chevelle Last.fm mp3 10/19/2009 Mon 1 1 Y 137 6 2 So Contagious Acceptance Last.fm none 10/20/2009 Tues 1 1 Y 138 6 3 Wanted Dead or Alive Bon Jovi mp3 none 10/21/2009 Wed 1 1 Y 139 6 4 Until the Day I Die Story of the Year Last.fm mp3 10/22/2009 Thurs 1 1 Y 140 6 5 Here's to Another Smile Empty Soul Last.fm none 10/23/2009 Fri 1 1 Y 141 6 6 Pictures of You The Last Goodnight Last.fm none 10/24/2009 Sat 1 1 Y 142 6 7 In This Life Jet Black Stare Last.fm mp3 10/25/2009 Sun 1 1 Y 143 7 1 Pretty Handsome Awkward The Used Last.fm none 10/26/2009 Mon 1 1 Y 244 7 2 Quartet in G (K285a) - Tempo di Menuetto American Baroque Magnatune none 10/27/2009 Tues 1 1 Y 245 7 3 10/28/2009 Wed 1 1 Y 246 7 4 10/29/2009 Thurs 1 1 Y 247 7 5 Exploring the Morin Khuur Yo-Yo Ma thesilkroad.org none 10/30/2009 Fri 1 1 Y 248 7 6 Exploring the Pipa N/A thesilkroad.org none 10/31/2009 Sat 1 1 Y 249 7 7 Exploring the Shakuhachi Kojiro Umezaki thesilkroad.org none 11/1/2009 Sun 1 1 Y 250 8 1 Electrifying Organ Performance Qi Zhang TED.com none 11/2/2009 Mon 1 1 Y 251 8 2 Chaos and Harmony Eric Lewis TED.com none 11/3/2009 Tues 1 1 Y 252 8 3 Invisible Turntables James Burchfield TED.com none 11/4/2009 Wed 1 1 Y 2
Listening Logs Table of Contents
Exploring Website Notes Silk Road Ensemble thesilkroad.org none
94
53 8 4 Woza Vusi Mahlasela TED.com none 11/5/2009 Thurs 1 1 Y 254 8 5 TED.com none 11/6/2009 Fri 1 1 Y 255 8 6 TED.com none 11/7/2009 Sat 1 1 Y 256 8 7 Wait it Out Imogen Heap TED.com none 11/8/2009 Sun 1 1 Y 257 9 1 Carnaval Opus 9 - Preambule Cary Chow Magnatune none 11/9/2009 Mon 1 1 Y 258 9 2 Sonata I Aria Doc Rossi Magnatune none 11/10/2009 Tues 1 1 Y 259 9 3 Sonata III in d minor (Allegro:Moderato) Ensemble Mirable Magnatune none 11/11/2009 Wed 1 1 Y 260 9 4 Everything Zen Bush Last.fm mp3 11/12/2009 Thurs 1 1 Y 261 9 5 Vicarious Tool Last.fm mp3 11/13/2009 Fri 1 1 Y 262 9 6 Bullet-Proof Skin Institute Last.fm mp3 11/14/2009 Sat 1 1 Y 263 9 7 Hearts Burst Into Fire Bullet for my Valentine Last.fm mp3 11/15/2009 Sun 1 1 Y 264 10 1 Two Weeks All That Remains Last.fm mp3 11/16/2009 Mon 1 1 Y 265 10 2 What Lies Beneath Breaking Benjamin Last.fm mp3 11/17/2009 Tues 1 1 Y 266 10 3 New Divide Linkin Park Last.fm mp3 11/18/2009 Wed 1 1 Y 267 10 4 Take Me Home Phil Collins mp3 none 11/19/2009 Thurs 1 1 Y 268 10 5 What I've Done Linkin Park Lossless none 11/20/2009 Fri 1 1 Y 269 10 6 Times Like These Foo Fighters Last.fm mp3 11/21/2009 Sat 1 1 Y 270 10 7 Numb Linkin Park Lossless none 11/22/2009 Sun 1 1 Y 2
Untitled Theremin Piece Pamelia Kurstin
95
Patrick J. Blair
HUM 125
2 December 2009
Self Evaluation
1. What grade do I deserve?
� I Feel that I deserve an ”A”
2. How does my work reflect this grade?
� I feel that I have not only met the requirements for earning a “C”, but as I have received
a majority of check pluses on my listening logs, in addition to doing some extra credit as
discussed with the instructor, given some extra effort in regular assignments, and also
had perfect attendance and no late work. Though I will concede that my class
participation was not the best it could have been, I believe I was an instrumental part of
leading during the group work that took place. I have also demonstrated extra effort on
the portfolio containing my work for this semester, which will be displayed at my
evaluation meeting.
3. Beyond the grade, what did I get out of this class?
� This class not only gave me a greater appreciation for the ‘recorded sound’ I already
listen to, but introduced me to many new genres I had previously written off. I learned
that ‘Popocatépetl’ could be a word which causes a wide range of reactions, to say the
least. I learned of the beautiful and unique sound of the hang drum. I learned of the
famous oud, as well as many other Middle Eastern instruments. I learned not only these
things, but many more that will stay with me for many years, if not the remainder of my
life. This class has completely reshaped the way I view various forms of ‘music’ and
‘recorded sound’, particularly introducing me to the concept of the latter, as opposed to
the common use of the former.
I represent this document to be fully truthful and in complete accordance with my beliefs and actions with respect to this class and my evaluation thereof.
(X) Date: December , 2009
96
Patrick J. Blair
Patrick J. Blair
HUM 125
Date: Monday, October 12, 2009
Week #: 5
Log #: 1
Title: “Break the Silence”
Artist: Killswitch Engage
Source: Last.fm (Internet Radio) / mp3 Format
The song begins abruptly with a thrashing electric guitar melody, complemented by some light and
gradually increasing drums in the background. After a brief pause, a male vocalist begins screaming
hoarsely, accompanied by some heavy chords from at least one guitar, possibly another as well as the
earlier drums. This continues until the vocalist screams out a long note, and the melody changes, going
faster, and seeming to flow more smoothly than it had previously. Following this chorus, the song
returns to the previous format, and as the vocalist again screams out a long note, there is a brief guitar
solo and this leads to another chorus. This chorus is followed by a brief interlude with some light notes
on at least one guitar, with light tapping on a cymbal of some sort. This leads into a slow build up with
the instruments, adding in the vocalist, and continuing into the chorus format as before when the song
abruptly ends.
34
Patrick J. Blair
Patrick J. Blair
HUM 125
Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Week #: 5
Log #: 3
Title: “The Feel Good Drag”
Artist: Anberlin
Source: Last.fm (Internet Radio) / mp3 Format
The song begins with the tapping of some light notes on an electric guitar, increasing speed until they
are joined by another guitar and some light drums, morphing into a thrashing melody. This cacophony
abruptly slows and as the drums quiet and the guitars switch to simple chords, a male vocalist joins,
singing in a somewhat sorrowful tone. The guitars continue alternating chords to a simple cymbal tap as
the vocalist sings, and the song abruptly jumps into the chorus, with the guitars beginning that same
thrashing melody as the vocalist screams out the lyrics. This continues with some other vocalists echoing
the lead vocalist on some of the lyrics, and after some halting guitar chords, returns to the same form as
before. The second chorus continues in much the same format as the first, but instead morphs into a
wailing guitar solo, with the drums providing a backing rhythm. After this brief solo, the vocalist rejoins
and the song returns to a form that is very similar to the introduction, but as the vocalist fades away, the
song ends with an abrupt drum roll.
36
Patrick J. Blair
Patrick J. Blair
HUM 125
Date: Sunday, November 15, 2009
Week #: 9
Log #: 7
Title: “Hearts Burst Into Fire”
Artist: Bullet For My Valentine
Source: Last.fm (Internet Radio) / mp3 Format
The song begins with some light, clean and quick notes on an electric guitar, which later adds a second
guitar playing the same notes, this one much more distorted, before the second guitar launches into a
wailing pattern of notes and both are joined by a series of drums. Following this, both guitars and the
drums launch into a quick series of chords, eventually joined by a male vocalist, who continues at a
somewhat frantic pace, yet with an upbeat and bright tone. This continues into the chorus, where the
drums become much heavier, and the guitar changes to more of a wailing rhythm, as the vocalist belts
out the lyrics. The chorus itself is somewhat indistinguishable from the song proper, as both have the
same beat and rhythm, only the lyrics and guitar play change. Following a second chorus, the
instruments change to a much more echoing fashion, with tapping on the cymbals, and the vocalist also
taking that same echoing tone. After this, there is a brief interlude with only the tapping of cymbals,
which is followed by a return to the previous format of the song, only this time it is highlighted by the
vocalist falling silent as the guitar continues in somewhat of a solo. As the vocalist returns briefly, the
drums silence and then the vocalist fades away, the lone guitar continuing a progression of notes for a
period of time before gradually slowing and then fading away as its echoes still ring.
72
Patrick J. Blair
Patrick J. Blair
HUM 125
Date: Monday, November 16, 2009
Week #: 10
Log #: 1
Title: “Two Weeks”
Artist: All That Remains
Source: Last.fm (Internet Radio) / mp3 Format
The song begins with some heavy and distorted electric guitar riffs, backed by the steady pounding of a
drum, occasionally punctuated by short bursts of notes on another guitar. This smoothly transitions to
adding a shouting male vocalist, who continues with alternating patterns of guitar riffs and drum play.
Following this is the chorus, where the instruments continue that same steady beat, but the sound is
flowing much more smoothly than the pedantic and halting pace as before. This continues into a quick
portion following the chorus, which is similar to the earlier parts of the song, yet has that same flowing
rhythm as did the chorus. This leads into another chorus, followed by a guitar solo, which highlights the
instrumentalist’s skills as they keep that same beat, but play a furious melody of guitar notes as the
drums are also being played just as quickly. The vocalist returns towards the end of this and takes on a
more shouting tone, but then instead of another chorus, the guitar continues in that same chord
progression with the vocalist partially muffled. The second guitar and drums gradually fade into the
body of the song, and abruptly silence, leaving the guitar playing one last echoing single note.
74
Patrick J. Blair
Patrick J. Blair
HUM 125
Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Week #: 10
Log #: 2
Title: “What Lies Beneath”
Artist: Breaking Benjamin
Source: Last.fm (Internet Radio) / mp3 Format
This song begins with a light echoing, as if from wind, which is eventually punctuated by an electric
guitar playing single notes, and also later by an echoing male vocalist. They are eventually joined by
some light drum play, cymbals and snare drum, but the guitar plays that same progression of single
notes, and the vocalist continues in a pedantic but steady manner. This flows smoothly into the chorus,
with the guitar still playing that same progression, but in the form of separate chords. This continues for
some time in an upbeat fashion, but then drops to the previous format of echoing single guitar notes,
backed by light drums and the vocalist. In the second chorus, the guitar chords become somehow
significantly brighter than before, and the vocalist, while continuing at that same pedantic pace, takes
on less of an echoing quality. After this, the vocalist shrieks amid the guitar and drums, which is followed
by a brief instrumental interlude, eventually leading into the same format as the second chorus. This
continues until the vocalist shouts out the last lyrics and fades away as the guitar and drums continue
for a period of time before also slowly fading away as the song comes to an end.
75
Patrick J. Blair
Patrick J. Blair
HUM 125
Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Week #: 10
Log #: 3
Title: “New Divide”
Artist: Linkin Park
Source: Last.fm (Internet Radio) / mp3 Format
The song begins with some heavy, yet fleeting, distorted notes on a guitar, which eventually merge with
a bass drum and launch in to a chord progression backed by a number of drums and another guitar.
Following this, there is a brief silence, and then a somewhat shrill male vocalist emerges, backed by the
bass drum and some occasional electronic rumblings. The vocalist continues at the same steady pace,
before slowly speeding up and launching into the chorus, featuring the guitars and drums again, but this
time with an upbeat melody and as the vocalist fades away, the guitars continue with a very
electronically distorted sound. Following a second chorus, there is another brief silence, which is
punctuated by some squeaking sounds, almost sounding like a guitar, but not quite as full. These are
accompanied by other synthesized ‘thumping’ as this interlude continues. There is another brief section
in the style of the previous choruses, when the drums and guitar fall silent, and the vocalist continues at
a faster pace with a barely audible and distorted bass guitar. Following this, there is again another brief
chorus, where the vocalist instead repeats portions of the earlier chorus, and slowly fades away with the
drums, then guitars, until all that is left is that same pattern of fleeting and distorted notes, which too
fade away as the song slowly ends.
76
Patrick J. Blair
Patrick J. Blair
HUM 125
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009
Week #: 10
Log #: 4
Title: “Take Me Home”
Artist: Phil Collins
Source: mp3 Format
The song begins with some synthesized drum beats, accompanied by a very quick and light pattern of
notes played on some type of keyboard. This continues for a short while until it is joined by a distorted
male vocalist, with a sorrowful tone but keeping a steady beat as the melody continues. Eventually
single fleeting guitar chords interject the other instruments as the vocalist speeds up slightly. The drum
beats gradually increase in frequency and volume, with brief silences allowing the original melody to be
heard. This morphs into a gradual chorus, with the vocalist repeating portions of the lyrics over a slightly
elevated version of what was being previously played during the verses. Following this chorus, the
vocalist continues with this somewhat quicker beat but in the same fashion as before, only this time
there is another vocalist echoing the first, but only briefly at certain times. The song continues on in this
style for some time, with the first vocalist shouting out lyrics over the soothing continuous melody and
receiving a response from multiple vocalists. This continues as the drums and guitar slowly fade away
and all is left is the vocalist and the original keyboard notes, which in turn slowly fade away as the song
comes to an end.
77
Patrick J. Blair
Patrick J. Blair
HUM 125
Date: Friday, November 20, 2009
Week #: 10
Log #: 5
Title: “What I’ve Done”
Artist: Linkin Park
Source: CD (Ripped to Lossless Audio Format)
This song begins with a rising note, as if from an organ, and goes into some light notes on a piano. The
piano is eventually joined by the tapping of a cymbal, and later some heavier tapping on another
cymbal, which, following a brief pause, are split by a thrashing guitar melody. This melody continues for
some time, alternating lighter and darker notes very smoothly, and then returns to the previous format,
only this time adding a male vocalist. The guitars are occasionally audible, but this part is essentially just
the vocalist, piano, and drums. As the vocalist becomes slightly more echoed, the piano and drums fall
silent and then the guitars begin their thrashing chord progression yet again, but with the vocalist
continuing throughout. The song is essentially the same steady moderate beat throughout, but gradually
increases speed towards the latter portion of the piece, where the vocalist is again echoing, and the
guitars continue for a time. After some time, the vocalist is echoed by other vocalists as the guitars and
drums continue. As they reach the end of the song, the guitars, drums, and the first vocalist slowly fade
away as the echoes of the other vocalists and the piano become audible once more; and the song ends
somewhat abruptly, even as it is fading away.
78
Patrick J. Blair
Patrick J. Blair
HUM 125
Date: Saturday, November 21, 2009
Week #: 10
Log #: 6
Title: “Times Like These”
Artist: Foo Fighters
Source: Last.fm (Internet Radio) / mp3 Format
The song begins with some light and upbeat electric guitar chords, which repeat several times before
leading into a melody that adds some light drum play. The guitar turns to an almost wailing tone as the
drums continue and eventually add a male vocalist. The drums continue their steady beat in the
background, composed of bass, snare, and some cymbals as well as some other unidentifiable
percussion sounds. The guitar also continues, occasionally highlighting itself through breaks in the
vocals, but mostly playing a melody of simple chords. The song continues and moves smoothly into the
chorus, the guitar changing to a slightly warmer and more melodic tone, and the drums switching to be
mostly cymbal play. The transition out of the chorus is equally as smooth, moving to the previous format
of the song and speeding up very slightly in the process. After another chorus, the song slows down
slightly and the guitar continues, but the vocalist gives a long echoing rendition of the ending lyrics of
the chorus. Following this, the song speeds up slightly as the vocalist becomes somewhat shriller, the
drums silence, the guitar gradually fades away, and the vocalist continues before gradually fading away
as well.
79
Patrick J. Blair
Patrick J. Blair
HUM 125
Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Week #: 10
Log #: 7*
Title: “Numb”
Artist: Linkin Park
Source: CD (Ripped to Lossless Audio Format)
The song begins with a shrill sound, almost a whine in the background, before adding a quick set of beats,
probably on a keyboard, and some drum sounds, all likely from a synthesizer. This quickly morphs into a
somewhat cacophonic melody of electric guitar chords and drum play, which continues for a period before itself
morphing into a slower series of drumbeats, synthesized and otherwise, and a dynamic male vocalist. This
continues for a time, the vocalist drawing out the endings of some lyrics, which are then echoed by another
vocalist in the background. This continues until the drums return with a quick beat, the second vocalist echoing
in the same fashion as he had before, eventually morphing into a smooth chorus, itself very similar to the
cacophony of an introduction. The guitar(s) alternate between at least two chords, possibly three, as the vocalist
continues amid the drums and other synthesized beats as well as the keyboard. Following the chorus, the song
assumes the same format as it had previously, only speeding up slightly compared to before, and eventually
leading into another chorus. This chorus smoothly repeats itself several times, the guitars becoming more
pronounced with each repetition, until those in the background echo the vocalist and the keyboard becomes
audible once more. The vocals, guitar, and drums slowly fade out as the keyboard continues playing the same
single notes it had begun the song with, before slowly fading away as well.
* Log 70 out of 70 �
80
Patrick J. Blair
