IronClad Sean O Loughlin Grade 1.5 (Hutton) 2011 Carl Fischer, LLC
History Sean O Loughlin (b. 1972) grew up in Syracuse New York. His career began to take shape with the help of the Vice President of Carl Fischer Music, Larry Clark. Sean has been commissioned by the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra (Performed with Adele). As a conductor and arranger he has worked with such artists as Natalie Merchant, Chris Isaak, Feist, Blue Man Group, Pink Martini, Brandi Carlile, Belle and Sebastian, The Decemberists, Josh Ritter, and Gloria Gaynor. About the Piece Ironclad is a term often used to describe hearty sailing vessels. The conflict on the high seas between sailors and pirates has been a long standing source for myth and storytelling. Normally associated with the nineteenth century, this conflict even plays out in modern times off the east coast of Africa. This composition depicts this conflict with themes for both the sailors and the pirates. The aggressive pirate theme starts the piece with a bold statement. This rhythmic passage becomes a supporting element to the sailor theme first stated in the low voices at m. 22. This sailor melody crosses over bar lines to expand the sense of time and meter of the piece. Throughout the development section from mm. 30-53, both themes jockey for position and dance around each other vying for superiority. A reflective statement of the sailor theme follows at m. 54 that moves to a haunting climax at m. 62. Proper swells in the dynamics are essential to making the most of the musical phrases throughout this section. The pirate theme returns to pick up the pace and build some tension. After a grand pause at m. 86, the sailor theme returns in grand fashion at m. 87. The pirate them has the last word as it leads the piece to an exciting conclusion.
Analysis of Ironclad Key Signature: C Minor Tim Signature: 3/4, 4/4 Tempo: Allegro 144, Slower 100 Form: AA BA Harmonic Center: C Minor Compositional Techniques: Separated Rhythms Dynamic Contrasts Staccato Articulations Additional Percussion Instrumentation
Concept and Definitions 1. Minor Key Contains a Minor Third in relation to tonic 2. Accent Emphasis placed on a particular note 3. Allegro Tempo indication - Fast, Bright. 4. 3/4 Time Signature Music meter with primary division of 3 beats to a bar 5. 4/4 Time Signature Music meter with primary division of 4 beats to a bar 6. Rests An interval of rest or silence 7. Sub-division Smaller groupings of rhythm within a beat 8. Fortissimo Loud volume 9. Crash Cymbals Pair of cymbals held with hands, used for accents 10. Anvil Piece of metal used to emulate hammer strike of a blacksmith 11. Chimes Varied lengths of pitched metal tubes, arranged like a piano 12. Tam-Tam Flat metal disk, hit with a mallet 13. Measure Numbers Order of measures in numerical value 14. Decrescendo Progression of dynamic level from loud to quiet 15. Staccato Articulation with a short duration 16. Piano Quiet volume 17. Dotted Rhythm Increased note duration by one half of its original value 18. Tied Notes - Played as a single note with a duration equal to the sum of the individual notes 19. Mezzo-Forte Moderately loud dynamic 20. Crescendo- Progression of dynamic level from quiet to loud 21. Suspended Cymbal Roll Sustained sound on a cymbal 22. Breathing Controlled inhalation and exhalation 23. Tempo Change Shift in pace or speed 24. Fermata Sustaining a note longer than its note value indicates 25. Fade-Out Gradual decrease in dynamic level ending in no sound 26. Release How quickly a sound reaches silence when a note ends
27. Timpani Roll Sustain on a Timpano, performed by alternating single strokes 28. Unison Musical parts performed by several instruments together 29. Timbre Identifying tone quality or character 30. Meter Change Shift in time signature 31. Double Bar Line Indication of conclusion of movement or piece 32. Snare Roll Sustain performed on snare either by strokes or buzzes 33. Pirates Person who commits warlike acts at sea without authorization of any nation 34. Bass Drum Muffling Material used to reduce sustain on bass drum 35. Switching Percussion Instruments Ability to know two parts and go back and forth between them 36. Timpani Muffling Using the hands while holding the mallets to end or reduce sustain 37. Playing off-beats Relationship to the subdivision of the beat, ability to play off of the pulse 38. Priming Tam-Tam Inaudible stroke to prepare tam-tam for purer sound 39. Counting Rests Ability to understand pulse when not playing sound. 40. Bells Metal bars arranged like a piano, played with mallets 41. Muting Tam-Tam Ending the audible sound of a tam-tam 42. Different Mallets Varied material and sizes, usually on a shaft of wood 43. Key Signature Series of designated notes on a staff to denote major or minor key 44. Balance Ensemble playing where each part maintains relative importance 45. Intonation Pitch accuracy 46. Beats Per Minute Measure of tempo 47. Expression Communicating intentions accurately and appropriately to the piece 48. Phrasing Shaping of music 49. Melody Linear succession of musical tones 50. Harmony Use of simultaneous pitches into chords
Assignment Packet Ironclad Sean O Loughlin Name:
Assignment #1: Listening (Due Friday, September 14 th ) Listen to the available recording of Ironclad 3 times. Once with your eyes closed, once while watching your part go along with the music, and once while identifying another instrument. In the space below, write down what stood out to you the most and why. Assignment #2: Performing (Due Friday, September 28 th ) Beginning at m.76, perform your part to the end of the piece with a metronome at a slow tempo (72 116 BPM), acknowledging all dynamic markings and articulations. Assignment #3: Singing (Due Friday, October 12 th ) With the recording of Ironclad, sing your part from beginning to end 3 times. Then, sing what you consider to be the main melody 1 time. Write down the times in the music (ex. :38, 1:24) that you think you hear the melody. _
Assignment #4: Composing (Due Wednesday, October 26 th ) Using the rhythm in your part from beginning to m.9 (8 measures), change the pitches of the rhythm using the key of C Minor (3 Flats). Assignment #5: Analysis (Friday, November 16 th, To be completed in class) With your music in front of you, answer the following : 1) Who is the composer of Ironclad? 2) What is the key of Ironclad? 3) What is the time signature of Ironclad?
4) What is the tempo marking of Ironclad? 5) What is the first dynamic of Ironclad? What does it mean? 6) How many measures long is this piece by Sean O Loughlin? 7) What is the longest amount of time that you rest (don t play)? Where is it in your music? 8) Is there anywhere in Ironclad where the tempo changes? What measure? 9) Is there anywhere in Ironclad where the time signature changes? What measure? 10) Is there anywhere in Ironclad where the key signature changes? What measure?
Assignment #6: Exploration! (Due Friday, December 7 th ) Using Books, Movies, the Internet (With Parent s Permission), or other sources List as many things about Pirates that you find interesting (Minimum 5 interesting things) Next Draw a Picture including some of the things you listed.
Next Find more songs or tunes about Pirates. Name and describe the songs and tunes in the space provided. (Minimum 2 songs/tunes) (Try Google or Youtube, ALWAYS with Parent s Permission) Finally Write a short story (3 to 5 sentences) describing either a Pirate or a battle between Pirate Ships. (Parent Signature)
Hutton Evaluation Flute --- Grade 1 Oboe (opt. Flute 2) --- Grade 1 Clarinet 1 in Bb --- Grade 2 Clarinet 2 in Bb --- Grade 1 Bass Clarinet in Bb --- Grade 1 Alto Saxophone is Eb --- Grade 2 Tenor Saxophone in Bb --- Grade 1 Baritone Saxophone in Eb --- Grade 1 Trumpet 1 in Bb --- Grade 1 Trumpet 2 in Bb --- Grade 1 Horn in F --- Grade 1 Trombone --- Grade 2 Euphonium --- Grade 2 Bassoon --- Grade 2 Euphonium in Bb --- Grade 2 Tuba --- Grade 1 Mallet Percussion --- Grade 2 Timpani --- Grade 1 Percussion 1 --- Grade 1 Percussion 2 --- Grade 2 Overall Grade --- 1.5