Penny Whistle Ponderings

Nature and Design of Music that Moves Project - Video (also on FB)




Transcript

The principal concern of the composer is to seek out the expressive nature of any particular instrument and write with that in mind. Aaron Copland, Music and Imagination, 1952: 29

What if that instrument is… a penny whistle?

Come… Listen… Ponder with me…

Penny Whistle Song
Composer: Hans Zimmer
Album: The Power of One – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Label: Elektra / WEA
Copyright: May 19, 1992

In an attempt to analyze this piece of music and describe what the musicians are trying to do to keep the music developing and interesting, I have formulated a set of questions aimed at what I consider to be a few compelling components. In the first set of questions, instrumentation and the expressive nature of the instruments will be addressed. In the second set of questions, the roles of rhythm and repetition will be explored, particularly as they work to create a sonorous image. Are you hooked yet? If so, let’s take a closer look… or should I say listen?

What is the expressive nature of the penny whistle?
Might I propose…
playful?
perky?
piercing?
penetrating?
precocious?
persnickety?
peculiar?

From the initial note, this instrument intrigues and invites if not the cultured, certainly the curious ear.

A playful parade of notes prances from this peculiar “piccolo,” the pitch of which piques the interest of the listener.

As this form of a flute frolics from note to note, there is a feeling of freedom.

In addition, the delightful duet (or perhaps duel) creates a desire to join the dance.

Will you come out and play?

What of the other instruments like the…

hands?

As it happens, they hear the call and hearken.

The palms serve as personal percussive instruments, prepared to prop up or participate in a piece at any moment.

Hands help, hearten, and… harmonize in the sense that they bring unity to the community, which is, in this case, a myriad of musicians (and “gifted listeners”).

While definitely individual instruments, do the hands also have a role in the rhythm and repetition?

“Repetition creates that sense of belonging to something greater than us” (Kapilow, 2002).

As the chorus of claps repeats a regular beat, the hands cling to the cultural and community context from which they come.

Belonging is part of each beat.

This steers us toward the idea of a sonorous image.

As layers of lilting sounds merge, unity in diversity is rhythmically repeated.

The penny whistle proclaims the power of one.

One instrument. One voice. One rhythm. One song.