Viva Notes

Structure Concepts- Pitch, Duration, Texture

(Outline the specific times in Mason Williams - Classical Gas (1968)
the track) - Texture: Is very thick for the majority of the piece→Is played by
guitar accompanied with and orchestral band
- Duration: The song is in ¾ time and it uses a free rhythmic tempo
which speeds and slows throughout the duration of the piece,
determined by the soloist or performant
- The piece use 7 main ostinato which are repeated with different
embellishments throughout the entire piece
00:00-00:12 - The texture of the song is monophonic with only the guitar being
Intro/Motif A → Played played, playing the main melody.
by guitar - The notes in the intro, the first playing of Motif A, are long and
drawn out.
- The pitch of the song at this point is very low with mainly the top
chords being played
00:12-00:19 - Motif B is a series of broken chords played in quick succession
Motif B → Played by but the last few notes of motif B are drawn out similar to the intro
guitar - The texture continues to stay monophonic
- The broken chords gradually increase in volume as each is
played
- Motif B is higher in pitch compared to Motif A
- Both the guitar and drum is played making this part, and many
other parts with the same instruments, homophonic
00:19-00:43 - This motif is played again with sped up tempo and the notes are
Motif A repeated 4x→ played in quick succession and is embellished with hammer ons.
Played by guitar
00:43-00:52 - Motif C is a series of broken chords, Am, G, A7, D, following into
Motif C followed by motif B
Motif B → Played by G
00:52-00:56 - Motif C is repeated again using broken chords
Motif C Followed by - Motif D is also broken chords, C, F, D, G played using arpeggios
Motif D → Played by and the it is played extremely fast.
guitar
00:56-01:13 - Motif E are single notes played followed by a repeat ostinato
Motif E Followed by which is played twice with the D chord played in between and on
Motif F → Played by the third time notes from the original ostinato is played but in
guitar&Orchestra different order
- Then Motif F is are chords played with the respective bass note
1:13-1:17 - Motif A is an ostinato played four times, the first two time played
Orchestral Solo motif A without the Trombone and Guitar and the second two times it is
→ Played by Oboe, played without the Oboe and Guitar but this time including the
violin, flute and cello → trumpet
Played 4x - This part extremely full being polyphonic due to there being more
than 1 of instrument being played
1:23-1:31 - This part is motif played played by all instruments being more
Orchestral solo motif B making this one of the most full in texture(polyphonic)
→ played by all
1:31-1:57 - This motif G mainly makes use of the Am chord and the F chord
Guitar Motif G → adding a note making it Am7 and F7 alternating between these
Played by chords while also playing it as broken chords. This motif is play
Guitar&accompanied by 2x
orchestra - The orchestra plays an accompaniment along with this motif