Why I Chose What I Chose

I chose each piece of music very particularly.

For Melody, went with Cliffs of Dover and Will I. I thought that it would be really interesting to analyze Will I without looking at the harmonies the polyphany creates. I wanted a non-vocal melody for my second piece, and my first thought was Cliffs of Dover.

For Harmony, I analyzed Girl and Seasons of Love. Seasons of Love was the first song that I really noticed the harmonies in on my own, without learning the singing parts in a choir class. Full ensemble vocal pieces like that always give me the chills. I thought that the word painting in Girl was really interesting, since it is done primarily through the harmonies.

For Rhythm, I tried to find two very different pieces. So, I went with a very throbbing, distinct example--Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger--and then a very smooth, ethereal example with Because.

My favorite section to analyze was Texture. The incredible skill shown in The Confrontation is undeniable. The entire musical is wonderful, but The Confrontation in particular shows a wide blend of textures in a very haunting way. In contrast, Still Alive has just one vocal line, and all of the texture comes from the mix of instruments used. It is also one of my all-time favorite songs.