Term 1 Week 1 + 2 Fusion - Arabic (Completed) by Ryder Fairweather

Term 1 Week 1 + 2 Fusion - Arabic (Completed) by Ryder Fairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl en-us 2017-11-07 14:25:47 UTC 2025-10-05 23:02:28 UTC hello@padlet.com The genre ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/204358253 For this world music task, our group decided to write a song based around the Middle East, typically Egyptian and Arabian music. To do this we based the song around using a Phrygian modal scale and Egyptian scale in neutral pentatonic. Our song used electric guitar, electric-acoustic guitar, bass guitar and drums.]]> 2017-11-07 14:28:23 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/204358253 The development ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/204358687 The development of the song. The initial ideas were to use either an Asian song for a Japanese styled song, or the Phrygian modal for the Egyptian themed song. Our group came to the agreement of the Egyptian theme, and used a riff created from the scale played on the electric guitar. The piece was then developed when the bass then followed the main notes played by the riff. Later on, the bass notes followed the chords played by the electric-acoustic guitar for a better fit in the later parts of the song.

The drums were one of the last developments, where we worked on the dynamics and tempo especially in order to build up into heavier parts of the song, and then bring it down as a diminuendo again for the softer parts. Another role of the percussion was the tambourine, which we added into the song much later as a final development; the tambourine played at later points when the electric-acoustic dropped out.

A decision we didn’t entirely follow through on was to actually use the lyric ‘Egyptian rhapsody’ as a sung title near the end of the song. However in the performance, we ended up scrapping this. I'm unsure as to whether we would have benefited from it.

]]> 2017-11-07 14:29:09 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/204358687 The performance ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/204359332 The performance. The song opened on the electric guitar playing the riff we created, with the bass playing the root notes. We then build up with a tambourine and the drums together and follow with the chords played on the acoustic guitar. The riff is then repeated with all of the instruments playing it together. The song then leads into a quieter chorus section where the notes played on the guitar change and the bass mimics these, but skipping a note. This part is also at a slower tempo and for this part the drum is playing hi-hats. The acoustic guitar then builds up into the next part by playing a crescendo at a faster tempo. The chords are then changed again as eight bars are played with all the instruments at a similar level, but lead by the acoustic and the drums playing a more complicated rhythm. After this, the acoustic guitar changed the part it is playing once again to speed the song up, playing chords strummed faster for eight bars with the other instruments following. Here, we have a sudden interruption of the electric guitar having a change in what is being played as all the other instruments stop, which takes you by surprise. At the start of the fifth bar of this section, a tambourine comes in and both play at a fast tempo. In the next bar, the bass comes in following the electric guitar, and then the drums playing hi-hats in the next. After sixteen bars of the tambourine, it drops out and the acoustic guitar comes in, playing the chords of this section as the electric guitar goes into a solo. All the instruments repeat their part as the solo lasts for approximately 32 bars. Throughout this, the other instruments diminuendo and crescendo again as the solo is playing. At the end of the solo, all the electric guitar is playing at a slower tempo and the acoustic is playing over it, with occasional cymbal taps on the drums. The chorus then repeats with all of the instruments playing, and then the final notes ring out on all of the instruments to end the song.

Before performing, we described our song as a fusion of rock and an Egyptian/Arabic styled riff. I believe our chosen style of music was accurately portrayed and fused in our performance, and that the Phrygian riff helped to bring this across in the song. Therefore, I am happy with the fusion we chose to depict as it was successful as a musical piece in the end.]]> 2017-11-07 14:30:13 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/204359332 The review ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/204363508 Our classmates didn’t tell us what we could have improved on in the song. In my opinion, lyrics could have improved the song but weren’t entirely necessary in our piece as it worked well as an instrumental.

I think that one of my personal strengths was the dynamics used in the song to change into different parts of its structure. I also think that I worked extremely well with the other instruments in the group. As for weaknesses, I could have used a different technique to play a slower part of the song which involved pressing the strings onto the frets with my fingers rather than picking the strings as it would show the range of skills I can use on my instrument.

All in all, I think that we created a successful, enticing song from the style we chose. It even worked well as an instrumental to bring the style across, and I don’t think it could have needed lyrics on order to do so.

]]> 2017-11-07 14:36:46 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/204363508 The chords (acoustic guitar) ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/204363764 Introduction: C^(add11)
Verse: Cm⁷⁽¹¹⁾, Ab⁶, Bb^(add9)
Chorus: Fm⁷, Gm^(b6,b9), Ab, Cm⁷, Bb
Bridge: Cm⁷⁽¹¹⁾, Bb
Solo: Cm⁷⁽¹¹⁾, Ab⁶, Bb^(add9), Bm^maj7(b9,#11)]]> 2017-11-07 14:37:14 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/204363764 The video ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/204363875 2017-11-07 14:37:24 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/204363875 The notes (electric guitar) ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/205233394 Introduction: C, Db, E, F, G, A, Bb (A#/Bb diminished Lydian scale.)
Solo: C natural minor scale
Pentatonic intervals:
1, 2, 4, 5, b7
Minor intervals:
1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7]]> 2017-11-09 12:45:38 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/205233394 The notes (bass guitar) ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/205234111 Introduction: C, D, E, F, G, A, B (The root notes of the A#/Bb diminished Lydian scale played on guitar.)
Verse: C, A, B
Chorus: F, G, A, C, B
Bridge: C, B
Solo: C, A, B, B]]> 2017-11-09 12:48:17 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/205234111 ryfairweather https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/206651518 2017-11-14 11:19:04 UTC https://padlet.com/ryfairweather/olsx9a5263yl/wish/206651518