Name:

Twist and Shout The Beatles (1963)

Concept Pitch Main Points
Key: D Major Only 4 chords used: I, IV, V and V7 (V7 to accompany vocal arpeggio in bridge and outro). Chords are D, G, A and A7. Syncopated bass and chordal riff (ostinato) opens song and continues throughout as an accompaniment. Vocal major arpeggio used in bridge and at the end of the outro. Call and response is a feature of the vocals throughout. Consonant vocal harmonies (in stacked 3rds) heard in the bridge and at the end of the outro. Also harmonies in 3rds heard in vocal response e.g. work it all out and in the oohs at the end of the verse and chorus. The guitars play in rhythmic unison but in harmony in the bridge section (also in 3rds). Melody of chorus and verse are similar (same chord progression used in both). Chorus melody finishes on the 3rd scale degree of the D major scale (F sharp) whereas the verse finishes on the tonic of the D major scale (D). Blue notes used e.g. F natural instead of F sharp on the word girl. The vocal melody covers a reasonably small range of notes in the verse and chorus. Higher extremes of register covered in the vocal arpeggio section. Mostly stepwise vocal melody with some small leaps. Responses by back up singers are lower in pitch than the calls by the lead singer. Drums play a steady rock drum pattern. 4/4 time signature. Steady tempo maintained throughout. Consistent quaver feel heard in the guitars throughout. Syncopation features in the opening riff and in the guitar riff heard in the bridge. Drum fills on the kit e.g. between the chorus and verse 2. Steady quavers played on the hi-hats. Slow triplets heard at the end of the vocal arpeggio in the outro. A fairly consistent mf- f dynamic maintained throughout. The texture affects the dynamics. When more layers are added e.g. in the ascending vocal arpeggio, the volume becomes louder. Raspy singing style by John Lennon. Slight vibrato on the ooh at the end of verses and chorus. Certain words are accented for effect e.g. baby. Some vocal slides and pitch bends especially going from the blue note F natural to F sharp. This emphasises the importance of some words.

Duration

Dynamics and Expressive Techniques

Tone Colour

Rock ensemble. Performing media of drum kit, rhythm guitar x 2, bass guitar, lead male vocals and back up male vocals. John Lennons voice has quite a raspy and harsh/raw tone colour at times. Back up singers sing with a more pure tone colour. The overall tone colour of the ensemble is quite raw. Screaming has a harsh tone colour at the end of the vocal arpeggio in the bridge. Twangy tone colour of the hollow body electric guitars and bass guitar. Layers of drum kit, rhythm guitar x 2, bass guitar, lead vocals and back up vocals in harmony. Sometimes rhythm guitar and bass guitar play in unison. John Lennon is the lead vocalist and Paul McCartney and George Harrison provide backing vocals. Thin texture in introduction with the guitars playing in rhythmic unison in the opening riff and no vocals for 4 bars. Staggered entries are used in the vocal arpeggio in the bridge section. A fairly full texture heard throughout, however staggered entries of vocals helps to create textural variety. Mostly homophonic texture, with John Lennon singing the melody and George Harrison and Paul McCartney singing responses in harmonies. Also guitars and bass provide a rhythmic and melodic accompaniment and the drums provide a steady rhythmic groove. Intro (4 bars), chorus (8 bars), verse 1 (8 bars), chorus (8 bars), verse 2 (8 bars), bridge (14 bars including 8 bars of vocal arpeggio), chorus (8 bars), verse 2 (8 bars), outro (6 bars vamp then 4 bars of vocal arpeggio). This is called verse/chorus form. Use of call and response in vocals. 4 lines of lyrics per chorus/verse. Repetition and imitation used throughout the song in both the vocal and instrumental lines. E.g. Well shake it up baby, now (shake it up baby).

Texture

Structure