Syncopation pattern ti ta ti ta in 2/2 counted as 4/4.

Description

• Grade: Fourth
• Origin: USA – Traditional, cir. 1844
• Key: D Major
• Time: 2/2 – counted in 4/4
• Form: AB verse/refrain
• Rhythm: intermediate: | ta ta ta ta | ta ta ta/a |
  | ta/a/a a | ti ti ta ta ti ti | ti ta ti ta/a | syncopation, | ti ta ti ta ta | syncopation,
  | ta ti ti ta ti ti |
• Pitches: intermediate: Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do
• Intervals: intermediate: So\Do, So\Mi/So, Fa\Re, Re/La, Fa/La, So/Do8, Mi/So/Do ascending tonic arpeggio
• Musical Elements: notes: dotted half, half, quarter, eighth; pickup beat, syncopation, verse/refrain
• Key Words: USA history, minstrel performers, USA geography: Buffalo, NY, courting song, nonsense lyrics, gal (girl), chanced, pretty, fair to see, moon light, sidewalk, wife, marry; contractions: won’t (will not), she’d (she would), I’d (I would)

“Buffalo Gals” 

		1.	As I was walking down the street Down the street, down the street, A pretty gal I chanced to meet, Oh she was fair to see.
			Refrain
			Oh, Buffalo Gals won’t you come out tonight, Come out tonight, come out tonight? Oh, Buffalo Gals won’t you come out tonight, And dance by the light of the moon.
		2.	I asked her if she’d stop and talk, Stop and talk, stop and talk, Her feet took up the whole sidewalk, And left no room for me.
			Refrain
		3.	I asked her if she’d be my wife, Be my wife, be my wife, Then I’d be happy all my life, If she would marry me.
			Refrain
		A popular American minstrel song. Performers changed the location as they traveled.

Additional Formats (click to enlarge)

music

beats

rhythm

pitch numbers

solfeggio

letter names

Syncopation occurring on the second half of the second and fourth beats (and of 2, and of 4), ascending tonic arpeggio within the pentatonic scale.

Description

• Grade: Fourth
• Origin: USA – Folk Song
• Key: C Major
• Time: 4/4
• Form: AB – verse/refrain
• Rhythm: intermediate: | ta ta ti ti ti ti |
  | ta ta ta/ ti | syncopation, | ta ta ti ti ta |
  | ta ta (ta) ta | ta ta ti ta/ | syncopation,
  | ta/a/a/a |
• Pitches: beginners: Do Re Mi So La Do – pentatonic scale
• Intervals: intermediate: Do\La, So\Mi/So, Mi/La\Mi, Do/Mi/So ascending tonic arpeggio, So\Do, La\Do
• Musical Elements: notes: whole, dotted quarter, quarter, eighth; rest: quarter, syncopation, tied notes, vocal slurs
• Key Words: USA history, slaves, impossible dreams, metaphors for impossible things, sacred, after-life, heaven, paradise, hollow log, Blue Jay, green bull frog, weave and spin, moon, spoon, grief, pain, bright, beyond, wings, dream, touch, tender, yonder (down in the valley); contractions: can’t (cannot), they’ll (they will), don’t (do not)

“Buckeye Jim” 

		1.	Way down yonder in a hollow log, A Blue Jay danced with a green bull frog.
			Chorus
			Buckeye Jim you can’t go; Go weave and spin, you can’t go Buckeye Jim.
		2.	Way up yonder above the moon, A red bird lived in a silver spoon,
			Chorus
		3.	Way up yonder above the sky, Blue Jay rest in a green bird’s eye.
			Chorus
		4.	They’ll be an end to grief and pain, A warm bright sky beyond the rain.
			Chorus
		5.	You don’t have wings so you can’t fly, But you can dream it if you try.
			Chorus
		6.	But in Paradise the white bird sings, Touch your face with tender wings.
			Chorus
		The chorus is often attributed to a slaves desire to run away; note the illogical references in the songs lyrics (things that cannot occur) with later verses supporting the promise of a better place to be.

Additional Formats (click to enlarge)

music

beats

rhythm

pitch numbers

solfeggio

letter names

Melody is centered around the supertonic (Re).

Description

• Grade: Fourth
• Origin: Native American – Luiseño Indian Rain Chant
• Key: C Major
• Time: 4/4
• Form: AABA
• Rhythm: beginners: | ti ti ta ta ta | ti ti ti ti ta ta |
• Pitches: beginners: Re Fa So Do Re
• Intervals: intermediate: So\Re, Re/So, Re/Fa
• Musical Elements: notes: quarter, eighth
• Key Words: USA history, Native American history, USA geography, breezes, blowing, clouds, water. rain dance

“Breezes Are Blowing” 

Breezes are blowing, Blowing clouds of water; Breezes are blowing, Blowing clouds of water; On my face, raining, Raining from the ocean; Breezes are blowing, Blowing clouds of water;

Additional Formats (click to enlarge)

music

beats

rhythm

pitch numbers

solfeggio

letter names

Minor tonality, the sixth (La) is the tonal center in the major key, intervals of a perfect fourth (P4) and minor third (m3).

 

Description

• Grade: Fifth
• Origin: USA – Traditional
• Key: D minor (pitched in F Major)
• Time: 2/2 – counted in 4/4
• Form: Aa – verse/refrain
• Rhythm: intermediate: | ta ta ti ti ta | ta ta ta ta |
  | ta/a ta/ ti | syncopation, | ta ta ta ti ti |
  | ta/a/a ti/ ri | syncopation, | ta/ ti ti ti ta | syncopation
• Pitches: beginners: La Ti Do Re Mi La
• Intervals: intermediate: La/Do (m3), Re\Ti (m3), Mi\Ti (P4), Mi/La\Mi (P4), Do\La (m3)
• Musical Elements: notes: dotted half, half, dotted quarter, quarter, dotted eighth, eighth; pickup beat, two double barlines, syncopation, minor tonality where the sixth (La) of the major scale is the tonal center, vocal slurs
• Key Words: USA history, westward expansion, religious revivals of the 1800’s; world geography: Jordan, Canaan, Jordan River; Lord, sacred, song of Heaven, stormy, banks, cast, wishful, possessions, promised, bound, generous fruit, immortal, brooks, milk, honey, vales, soul, prepare, never-ending, everlasting, pleasures, praises, cease; possessives: Jordan’s, Canaan’s

“Bound for the Promised Land” 

		1.	On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand And cast a wishful eye, To Canaan’s fair and happy land Where my possessions lie.
			Refrain:
			I am bound for the promised land, Bound for the promised land; Oh, who will come and go with me, I am bound for the promised land.
		2.	There, generous fruits which never fail On trees immortal grow, There rocks and hills and brooks and vales With milk and honey flow.
			Refrain
		3.	The Lord my soul will soon prepare For never-ending peace, Where everlasting pleasures roll And praises never cease.
			Refrain

Additional Formats (click to enlarge)

music

beats

rhythm

pitch numbers

solfeggio

letter names