ELEMENTARY UNIT: SONG ANALYSES

Michael Fibelkorn
Song 1 Analysis Table: Welcome to New York by Taylor Swift (Prelude-
Chorus)
Tone Set Low Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol
Range C4-G4
Rhythm Set Eighth note, quarter notes, half notes
Form Pitched percussion bass line(s)

A Songs Pedagogical Use Table:

Melody Fa, Aurally hear major and minor, Locate key
signature, Read treble cleff notes
Rhythm Pick up notes, function of 4/4, Conducting
Other Solfege-ing pop music (Hand signs), dreaming big
activity

Other info: Swift is donating all proceeds from the sale of the single to the
New York City Department of Education. You know, I dreamed about living
in New York, I obsessed moving to New York and then I did it."

Lyrics: Welcome to New York

It's been waitin' for you
Welcome to New York, welcome to New York
Welcome to New York
It's been waitin' for you
Welcome to New York, welcome to New York
It's a new soundtrack I could dance to this beat, beat forevermore
The lights are so bright but they never blind me, me
Welcome to New York
It's been waitin' for you
Welcome to New York, welcome to New York
 ELEMENTARY UNIT: SONG ANALYSES
Michael Fibelkorn

Song 2 Analysis Table: Abiyoyo

Tone Set Low Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La
Range B3-B4
Rhythm Set Dotted eighth-sixteenth notes, eighth notes,
quarter notes, quarter tied eighth
Form Strophic, Call and Response

A Songs Pedagogical Use Table:

Melody Call and Response, Fa, read treble staff notes
Rhythm Ties, Syncopation, 6/8, dotted eighth-sixteenth,
ties
Other Language: Zulu, PowerPoint story, possible body
percussion
 ELEMENTARY UNIT: SONG ANALYSES
Michael Fibelkorn
Other info: Abiyoyo is a Bantu Lullaby based on a South African tale about
a monster named Abiyoyo who steals away misbehaving children.
Bantu is the title for an ethnic group that is mainly from the southern part of
Africa.

Lyrics: Abiyoyo, Abiyoyo, Abiyoyo, Abiyoyo

Abiyoyo, yoyoyo, yoyoyo
 ELEMENTARY UNIT: SONG ANALYSES
Michael Fibelkorn
Song 3 Analysis Table: Big Rock Candy Mountain
Tone Set Low Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, High Do
Range C4-C5
Rhythm Set Eighth notes, quarter notes, half notes, quarter
rests, dotted quarter notes
Form Binary (2 verses), possible dance

A Songs Pedagogical Use Table:

Melody Fa, Locate key signature, aurally hear major (and
minor)
Rhythm Dotted quarter eighth pattern, function of 4/4
Other Blue grass (genres), Dance

Other info: Written in 1928, Big Rock Candy Mountain is a Bluegrass song
about a hobo's idea of paradise.

Lyrics:
Verse 1: In the Big Rock Candy Mountains,
There's a land that's fair and bright,
Where the handouts grow on bushes
And you sleep out every night.
Where the boxcars all are empty
And the sun shines every day
Oh I am bound to go where there isnt any snow,
Where the rain doesnt fall and the wind doesnt blow,
In the Big Rock Candy Mountain,

Refrain: Oh the buzin of the bees in the Sycamore trees

Round the soda water fountain, Where the lemonade springs and the blue-
bird sings in the Big Rock Candy Mountain.

Verse 2: In the Big Rock Candy Mountain,

Where the hobo never begs,
And the bull-dogs all are toothless,
And he hens lay soft boiled eggs;
All the trees are full of apples,
And the barns are full of hay,
 ELEMENTARY UNIT: SONG ANALYSES
Michael Fibelkorn
Theres a lake of stew and soda pop,
Too, You can paddle all around in a Big Canoe,
In the Big Rock Candy Mountain.
 ELEMENTARY UNIT: SONG ANALYSES
Michael Fibelkorn
Song 4 Analysis Table: Lullaby by Brahms
Tone Set Low Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, High Do
Range C4-C5
Rhythm Set Eighth, Dotted eighth, quarter, half note,
Form Binary

A Songs Pedagogical Use Table:

Melody Fa, Locate key signature, read on treble clef notes
Rhythm Dotted quarter eighth, slurs, ties, function of 3/4
Other Pitched percussion bass line?, German

Other info: Written by Johannes Brahms, Lullaby was originally set to a

German text in 1868.

Lyrics: Lullaby and goodnight, with roses bedight

With lilies o'er spread is baby's wee bed
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed
 ELEMENTARY UNIT: SONG ANALYSES
Michael Fibelkorn
Song 5 Analysis Table: Rio Grande
Tone Set Low Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, High Do
Range C4-C5
Rhythm Set Eighth notes, Dotted eighth quarter, quarter note,
eighth rest
Form Binary (3 verses for A section), Call and response

A Songs Pedagogical Use Table:

Melody Fa, Locate key signature, Read treble clef notes
Rhythm 6/8, ties, Conducting
Other Sea shanty, possible pitched percussion

Other info: Having a call and response song in 6/8 will require students to
subdivide constantly in their heads. Sea shanties were also used by workers
on large merchant boats to pass the time and help them work together.

Lyrics:
Verse 1: Oh say, were you ever in Rio Grande?
Away for Rio!
Its there that the river runs down golden sand,
We are bound for Rio Grande!

Refrain: And away for Rio! Away for Rio!

So Fare-ye well my bonny young girl,
We are bound for Rio Grande!

Verse 2: A jolly good ship and a jolly good crew,

Away for Rio!
A jolly good mate and a jolly good crew,
We are bound for Rio Grande!

Verse 3: The anchors aweigh and the sails they are set,
Away for Rio!
The gals that were leaving well never forget,
We are bound for Rio Grande!
 ELEMENTARY UNIT: SONG ANALYSES
Michael Fibelkorn

Song 6 Analysis Table: Tortoise from Carnival of Animals

Tone Set Low Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, High Do
Range C4-C5
Rhythm Set Half notes, eighth notes, quarter notes
Form Strophic

A Songs Pedagogical Use Table:

Melody Fa, Locate key signature, Read treble cleff notes
Rhythm Function of 4/4, Conducting
Other Xylophones/pitched percussion (2-3 parts), video
of the operetta (activity to the video?)
 ELEMENTARY UNIT: SONG ANALYSES
Michael Fibelkorn
Other info: Strings and piano: a satirical movement which opens with a
piano playing a pulsing triplet figure in the higher register. The strings play a
slow rendition of the famous 'Galop infernal' (commonly called the Can-can)
from Offenbach's operetta Orpheus in the Underworld.

Lyrics: N/A
ELEMENTARY UNIT: SONG ANALYSES
Michael Fibelkorn