Performance Report 2

I attended Side Show: the Musical on Friday, April 16^th, 2010 on the campus of UTDallas in the University Theatre. The performers were UTDallas students and staff. The performance was a musical. The musical is set in the 1930’s depression era and is loosely based on the real lives of Daisy and Violet Hill, a pair of conjoined twins who worked in circuses then moved to big stages later on. The musical follows them from a circus to main stage and shows their complicated love lives and dreams. Even though they share so much, their dreams are quite different.

The music of the play was often quite thick in texture. An orchestra/band played behind the stage and often accompanied the performers. I could see the orchestra at all times, although some props covered up parts of the ensemble. There were a few solos throughout the performance. There were also quite a few group performances. Daisy and Violet often sang together, while one sang in a higher pitch and one in a lower to complement each other’s voices and give character to the songs. Sometimes they sang in the same pitch. Slower songs usually exemplified sadder songs and the louder, faster songs were usually associated with excitement and happiness. During a few pieces the performers would sing backup behind the curtains while only a few performers would remain on stage.

The performers were mostly college students. I believe one or two performers were identified as teachers or campus staff. The performers had to dance and sing as well as recite lines and there were multiple outfit changes. The two main performers had to remain side by side during most of the performance since they were playing conjoined twins. One of the “twins” was shorter than the other, but with the aid of high heels they helped balance them out. Also the costumes and wigs aided in helping them appear more similar. The other performers costumes seemed time period appropriate as well as interesting and added a lot to the show. The performer’s were able to interact with the audience a lot due to the set up of the stage. The Cannibal King/Jake was able to climb out into the audience, and a lot of the performers entered from the same steps that led to the seating.

The audience was mostly UTDallas students, teachers and staffs. I assumed the several people who were purchasing tickets were friends and family members of the performers. Several people were texting on their phones throughout the performance but most people seemed very interested in the musical. The theatre looked mostly full with only a few empty seats.

The performance on Friday the 16^th was the fifth performance of Side Show at UTDallas. It was also the second to last performance. By this point, most of the kinks had probably been worked out since it was not their first performance and jitters were probably gone by then. The University Theatre has an interesting set up because the stage is flat and level with the first row of seats. So for everyone in the first row, they saw the performance right in front of them without looking up. Everyone above the first row looked at least slightly downward towards the performance. It made me feel like I was more involved in the performance since there wasn’t a separation from stage to seats.

Overall, the performance included a variety of songs, each with a unique sound. Performers were able to interact with and include the audience due to unique staging. The songs performed told most of the story with minimal dialogue in between.

Blog Post 12

Grunge rock, sometimes referred to as the "Seattle Sound", is a version of alternative rock that began taking root in the 1980's around the Seattle area. Grunge is a fusion of elements from indie, heavy metal, and hardcore punk rock. Grunge music is typically categorized by a heavily distorted guitar often with feedback effects. The instrumentation is often quite complex with slower tempos and dissonant harmonies. Another key factor is that the band is typically seen as "dirty" or "unkempt". They are often unconcerned with the theatrics of performance unlike other rock subgenres. The two most famous grunge bands are Nirvana and Pearl Jam, both who emerged in the 90's. Kurt Cobain is an excellent example of the grunge "look". The lyrics are either very angry or apathetic.

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (1)
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The tempo throughout the song is relatively slow compared to the chorus where it picks up speed (1st example at 58 seconds, at 1:30 it slows back down). At 3:14 you can hear a distorted guitar sound for several seconds. The lyrics seem apathetic and to me don't really make sense. Cobain sings very intensely and almost screams in part. His loudness and the overall loudness along with the guitar distortions are elements of heavy metal.

Blog Post 11

The Gullah people's music culture is very similar to various African music cultures due to their African heritage and preservation of traditions. The isolation of the Gullah people due to geography and disease has allowed them to remain very similar to the various tribes their ancestors represented, especially those from Sierra Leone. In their music, they use several types of membranophones and employ polyrythym to create intricate beat patterns. There are also several "shakers" and tambourines used. The music is very participatory. People dance, sing, call out and become involved in the action. It seems that everyone does something when the music is going. The music tells stories of their past and also of their beliefs. Some of the dancing seems to be a group dance that everyone can participate in. There also seems to be a sort of "battle" dance where to people go back and forth. They use a "drum call" to signal the death of a member of their community and they also sing and dance around the grave at a funeral. Music is very much a part of their everyday lives.

Performance Report 1

Introduction

I attended Shakespeare in Song, a performance by the UTDallas Chamber Singers, on Friday, March 26^th at 8pm in the Jonnson Performance Hall. The Chamber Singers are a group that is composed of 20 to 24 students that must audition to be admitted to the class/group (http://www.utdallas.edu/ah/programs/arts/musi/chambersingers.html). They perform both on and off campus and have performed a variety of concerts with a variety of different musical styles depending on the season and performance.

Music

The performance included 17 songs. “The authentic songs which accompany his plays, the solo songs of the British composer Roger Quilter, and the choral arrangements of the songs of Shakespeare by Juilliard graduate Matthew Harris” were chosen for this performance (http://www.utdallas.edu/calendar/event.php?id=1220061121). There were several solo performances with accompaniment by piano as well as songs performed by the whole choir. There was a variety of rhythms in the songs. Solo performances had a thinner texture with only a soloist and the piano. The full chorus numbers were much thicker with the piano accompaniment as well as various sections singing in different ranges and also sometimes singing different lyrics or melodies.

Performers

The performers were UTDallas students who are a part of the Chamber Singers and vocal students of Kathryn Evans, the director of the performance and Associate Dean for the Arts at UT Dallas. There was also an accompanying pianist. All performers including the director and pianist were dressed up in attire reminiscent of Shakespeare’s time. The costumes helped to set the tone for the performance. The pianist’s outfit was a bright turquoise which made him stand out and become a part of the performance instead of him just wearing all black and being just a part of the background. Almost all of the performers appeared to be in their early twenties with about two people appearing older. One of the female performers was blind and used a special machine to follow along with music. In between songs, one or a few of the choral members would come down off the bleachers and recite pieces of the original plays to set the context of a particular song.

Audience

The audience was mostly students. Several older people who I assume to be teachers, parents, and grandparents were in attendance. I only saw one child there who was about ten years old and it was a struggle for her mother to keep her focus on the performance. By the end of the performance she was working on a workbook. Several students there were taking notes and other seemed to be there to watch their friends or because they are former Chamber Singers out to support the new group. Several audience members whistled, clapped, and yelled out people’s names when the performers took the stage after the intermission and at the end of the performance. Approximately 100 people attended the performance. The performance was open to anyone who wanted to attend.

Time and Space

The fact that the concert was on campus and free encouraged more people to come than probably would have if it had been off campus or if there was a set ticket price. Since the Chamber Singers practice in Jonnson Performance Hall on a regular basis it was familiar to them and there should have been no surprises to the performers acoustically or functionally.

Conclusion

There was a variety of songs from several different Shakespearean plays. Some songs were performed by soloists or by the whole group which aided in providing variety. In between songs the singers would recite small pieces of the play to put the pieces in context as well as fill any awkward gaps in the performance.

Blog Post 10

While watching this video, I immediately recognized the song not because I am well versed in opera, but because its the song Robin Williams sings in Mrs. Doubtfire when he is doing the voice work for the cartoon bird. I thought this was interesting after reading about how opera took shape and filtered into the popular culture in the 1800's. Its fascinating that it still pops up like that today.
This is Largo al factotum (della citta!) from The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini. This particular song is fast paced and lively. It reflects the character's mood and personality quite well. There is a full orchestra playing, but the whole orchestra does not play at once. Different instruments play at different times to create unique sounds that convey certain emotions and attitudes. The music also supports the vocals instead of competing with or overshadowing. The singer uses a lot of vibratos in his singing. The texture of the song is varies; it is noticeably thinner in some places and much thicker in others depending on the instruments playing. This creates depth in the song.
Only the main character sings in this piece. All other actors on stage are silent and they simply dance and move around. Their emotion is conveyed throughout the music and their movements on stage. The focus stays on the main singer and the other actors play a supporting role. None of them takes away focus from the singer even when doing aerobatics because the attention is still caught by the person singing. He is even dressed more elaborately than everyone else thus commanding more attention.

Blog 9-Avatar

There are two distinct aspects to the soundtrack of Avatar. First there is the music of the Na'vi, the native people of Pandora. Their music culture is similar to aboriginal and indigenous tribes of Earth. The instruments are rudimentary since they are a simple, earthly people. Drumming is a major part of their music culture and also singing. The last scene in the movie where Jake leaves his human body and permanently becomes a Na'vi shows their music culture vividly. All the Na'vi are seated together holding on to each other and singing together while the spiritual leader chants interjected throughout and leads the group. It shows how connected they are to each other and also to nature. Nature is a huge part of their culture and is reflected into their music. Sounds of nature can be heard throughout their music. The interesting part was that it was familiar but very different at the same time. I could recognize it as a primitive cultures music, but could not pick out specific cultures, which was Wanda Bryant, James Horner, and James Cameron’s intent. The rest of the music for the soundtrack is distinctly different and more traditional. It is more complex and usually involves a large orchestra. It is more traditional and helps guide us through the movie. For example, the war scenes have war like music with drums booming and ominous sounding music. The song "I See You" by Leona Lewis is a good fusion of the two soundtracks. The chorus and some of the drumming sounds like the Na'vi while Leona and the other instruments sound traditional.

Music Ethnography--Cowboys Red River

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Introduction

Country music has never been my particular “style” or preference. I used to think it was all just twangy “hillbilly” music that talked about drinking, broken hearts and tragedies, and sappy love stories. It’s always been something I have listened to only when other people had it playing or just the few popular country songs that make it onto pop or rock music radio stations that I listen to. After being gently introduced in this manner, it has become to grow on me and has gained more of my attention. Artists like Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood who have all bridged the gap between country and pop music categories have opened my ears to country music. It’s hard to live in Texas and not have a bunch of friends who listen to at least some country music (that’s not to say all “Texans” listen to country or to stereotype, but let’s face it, country music is far more popular here than up north where I hail from). This slow, selective introduction to country has made me more interested in country music in general which is why I chose to research the music culture of Cowboys Red River, a country music bar and dance hall. This particular music culture involves both live and prerecorded music, dancing, social atmosphere, alcohol/drinking (but not a necessary component), and a synthesized “western” atmosphere.

Methodology

My first source is a friend of mine, Garrett Lindley, whom I have known for over two years now. He has worked at Cowboys on and off since he was 18 years old and is an avid country fan (although his musical tastes are broader than just country). He is the first person to tell me about Cowboys and how much fun it is to be a part of and has been trying to get me to go there for as long as I have known him. I interviewed him over the phone before I actually went out to participate in the culture. I wanted to know what I should expect and to prepare myself beforehand so that hopefully there would be nothing to shocking or anything to catch me off guard.

My next source was the venue’s website, Cowboys Red River. The website had a lot of information regarding the location and events that took place there. I used the website to plan my adventure out there on a Friday evening. I chose Friday because it was free until 9pm for people aged 21 and up, and I like things to be free. Also, they offered free dance lessons before things got busy for those people who have never been out country dancing or just want to learn or brush up on their skills. That particular night they were teaching the Progressive Two Step or more commonly known as the Texas Two Step (“Progressive”). The website also has sections about the house band, Runnin’ Behind and links to their personal websites and music.

I also researched country music in general to get an idea of what to expect when I went to Cowboys and after I attended an event there. I used the internet to find out terms I was unfamiliar with or that I was interested in.

While at Cowboys, two very friendly older gentlemen asked me to dance. Having no experience with country dancing before, they were kind enough to teach me the basic steps. While dancing, I was able to ask them several questions.

My last source was my friend Angie Weiss, who escorted me to the dance hall. We have known each other for over five years now and both moved to Texas from Kansas to go to college. This was also her first time to Cowboys but she has been to other country music bars/dance halls and listens to country music regularly. She was able to help me identify the songs being played. I interviewed her during our time at Cowboys.

Aspects of this Music Culture

Ideas about Music

The songs played had themes of love, heartbreak, drinking, patriotism, and also of being “redneck” (Cowboys). In this particular culture the music had a moderate to fast pace overall. The music has to be something that people could dance to and keep rhythm with. Beats were easily identifiable in all the songs which helped dancers keep pace. Songs that are to slow rhythmically would cause people not to dance and the same for songs that are far too fast.

Activities Involving Music

The main activity of this music culture is dancing. The entire setup is centered around a track like dance floor. All the dances progress around the track in a counterclockwise manner. All dances I observed were partner dances involving one male (the lead) and one female. The partners face each other and the female is led backwards around the dance floor. The basic form is for the female to have her left hand on the male’s shoulder and her right hand clasping his left hand at about shoulder level. The male’s right hand can be on the female’s shoulder or anywhere along the length of her back. The male’s right hand is the hand that guides or leads the dance. It is the male’s job to watch out for other couples on the floor and to keep the pace and flow. The female follows the male’s lead. There are basic dances like the Two Step and Progressive/Texas Two Step. These dances allow the participants to move across/around the floor and also allow for lots of variations such as dips, spins/twirls, and direction changes. The pattern was quick quick, slow slow for the first dance I did (Partner A). The second time I went on the floor, the rhythm was 1, 2 3,4 walk walk 1,2 3,4 walk walk and 1,2, 3, 1, 2, 3….. (Partner B). These patterns can be interrupted by spinning/twirling sequences or dips. It’s the male who determines the patterns used since he is the lead. He also sets the pace and keeps rhythm with the music.

Another activity is drinking. There are several different bars located within the one building. A bar even sits in the middle of the dance floor, while several surround the outside perimeter. While I was there (from approximately 8pm to 10pm), I did not see people drinking to “get drunk” but it seemed to be more of a social drinking type of thing. Cowboys encourages those of age to drink to come by offering free or reduced admission and also drink specials. And let’s be honest, most people are a little more willing to dance once they have been drinking.

Repertoires of Music

The house band, Runnin’ Behind, plays mostly cover songs of other popular country artists (Friday, Lindley, Weiss). A few songs may be originals, and they may add their own embellishments and styles to songs. There is also a DJ present who plays country music in between the bands performance (Friday). While I was there, I only heard country music. However, Lindley says that on “College Night” and at other times, the DJ will play pop, hip-hop, and rap music intermittently.

Material Culture of Music

My observations of the material culture were of the clothing styles. Most people wore jeans and some sort of boot, usually cowboy/cowgirl. Tennis shoes were also common, as well as a few women wearing dance shoes. High heels were scarce as they would probably interfere with dancing these particular dances. Men often wore baseball caps or cowboy hats.

Conclusion

This particular music culture is very participatory. The goal of Cowboys Red River is to get people out on the dance floor moving and having a good time. The music is never too slow to swing your partner around and never to fast so that you lose control or cannot keep up. The songs played and performed are by popular country artists and fairly well known if one is a fan.

Works Cited

“Friday Night Performance.” Perf. Todd Stewart, David Deaton, Elliot Rhodes, Jonathan Shifflett, John Gettes, Kevin Christian. Cowboys Red River, Dallas. 5 March 2010.

Lindley, Garrett. Telephone interview. 28 Feb 2010.

Partner A. Personal interview. 5 March 2010.

Partner B. Personal interview. 5 March 2010.

"Progressive Two-Step". American Dance. March 9th, 2010 http://www.americandanceaz.com/progressivetwostep_History.htm

Weiss, Angie. Personal interview. 5 March 2010.