Oakland University Music Theory Podcasts and Blog

For Monday, take a listen to this piece, and with score in hand, attempt to answer the following questions: What key is this piece in? How do you know? How does the piece move from beginning to end? What are the "cool" parts of this piece for you personally? Why? Are there aspects of the score that you have trouble understanding? Can you follow the score as the music plays? As you listen, mark where the sections change. There are broad sections, and also smaller phrases. Please feel free to mark both. Are there repeated rhythms or motives that are used throughout this piece? Where? What are they? This piece is the last movement of Bach's 3rd cello suite. We listened and analyzed the first movement in class. Can you see any similarities or connections between the two movements? If so, what are they? We will discuss these questions in class on Monday. Please take time to listen repeatedly to this piece while watching the score. Make notes in pencil and we'll talk more about these issues in class. If you have any questions or comments about this piece before class on Monday, please post them as comments below. I'll try to check in and answer any questions you might have.

This is the piece we listened to and discussed today in class. We will be talking more about it in class on Monday. These were the questions we considered when listening to this cello suite: What key is this piece in? How does this piece get from beginning to end? Does it have distinct sections? Do any of them repeat? Where do the sections start? What makes each section different from the others? We also discussed how to classify intervals and how to find the harmonies implied by melodies. If you have comments or questions about this piece, please feel free to add them as comments to this blog below.

Take a listen to Billie Holiday's Strange Fruit. How is this piece structured? Does it have repetitive sections? What instruments to you hear? When? Why does it take so long for the vocals to come in? How does that affect the meaning and experience of the text? After listening, take a listen over here: Music Listening Examples: Evolution of Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit". Post your thoughts and opinions as comments. Purchase this track on

Take a listen to this piece and answer the following questions: What instrument is this? How was this piece created? What style of music is this? How is this piece structured over time? Form, texture, etc. Is there anything that sounds odd about this piece? Describe. What questions do you have about this piece? What do you want to know more about? Add your answers by creating a comment below.