Media +

Compound thematic structure in CeeLo Green’s “Only You”

I heard this newer song by CeeLo Green the other day and thought, here’s a perfect example of compound thematic/phrase structure. I’m talking about the chorus, which begins around 0:47 in the video here: Caplin (see Classical Form by William Caplin, Oxford University Press) calls this kind of theme a “compound theme” because it exhibits both sentence and period qualities. To be sure, this is an oversimplification of his theory, but suffice it to say Read more…

By justinmorell, ago

Rhythmic diminution in Taylor Swift’s “Trouble”

It isn’t often that one can look to top-40 pop music for a clear cut example of rhythmic motive diminution, but this is exactly what happens in the song “I Knew You Were Trouble” by Taylor Swift. Here’s a link to the official video, if you can hang on long enough to get past the ads and the rather long dramatic introduction: Take a listen to the bass drum pattern that begins around 2:06 in Read more…

By justinmorell, ago

Excerpts from Subjects and Complements

I’ve posted a video of excerpts of four tracks from the upcoming Subjects and Complements CD. I’m still looking for the best way to release this music, so as of now the best I can say is that I hope the CD will be out by late-2013. The four tracks heard on the video are, in order: The Wobbler, Fugue in E, LORAC, and Fugue in E-flat. Each one lasts for only a minute or Read more…

By justinmorell, ago

Fugue in E

A video from the recording session for my upcoming CD, “Dectet”, which should be available late 2012.  Check out the wonderful solos by Alan Ferber and Leonard Thompson.  The rest of the band includes Bob Sheppard, Phil O’Connor, Ben Wendel, John Daversa, George Thatcher, Mark Ferber, and Damian Erskine.  

By justinmorell, ago

Program Notes for “Four Songs”

The four texts in this cycle are excerpts from a very long six-volume poem by Lucretius (ca. 99- 55 BCE) in which he describes the details of Epicurean philosophy. In simple terms, this is a philosophy of the physical world, one in which all things are made up of tiny bits of matter (primordials, atoms, etc.), where one should pursue happiness but not to the detriment of others, where the soul is made of the Read more…

By justinmorell, ago