The Beatles- When I’m Sixty-Four

Over the course of their musical career, The Beatles have embraced a vast variety of sounds, created many musical projects, and have evolved tremendously. Perhaps one of their most noted albums Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club, is also one which embodies their signature sound. The track When I’m Sixty-Four is featured on this album, and although it sounds very much like something that would be produced by The Beatles, it is very unusual in the world of popular music. Instead of calling upon the instrumentation of your typical pop or rock band—guitars, drums, keyboards, etc.—this song is composed for clarinet trio. It was also included in Yellow Submarine, an animated film starring The Beatles. Below you will find a video segment from the movie highlighting this track.



Sources:

Beatles, The (n.d.). Discogs. Retrieved from http://www.discogs.com/artist/Beatles%2C+The.

P:ano- Foot Hills

Foot Hills by P:ano is another example of bass clarinet in popular music, although it is used much differently that in the previous post. Whereas before, the clarinet sound was smooth and ghastly, here it is very upbeat and bouncy. In this track, the clarinet is the only source of bass, so it is integral to the instrumentation, and offers the tune a very distinct quality. P:ano, a Canadian based pop band, uses both clarinet and bass clarinet in many of their tracks, and it is this diverse use of instruments that gives them their edge.

Follow this link to online streaming audio of Foot Hills by P:ano: http://radio3.cbc.ca/play/band/PAno/Foothills. You will be redirected to CBC Radio.


Sources:

P:ano. (n.d.). Discogs. Retrieved from http://www.last.fm/music/P%3Aano.

Billy Joel- Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

Continuing in the Jazz and Dixieland theme from the last post, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant by Billy Joel really capitalizes on this characteristic. The song begins as more of a schmaltzy piano ballad, but about two minutes into the piece, things begin to change pace. The tempo picks up, the piano line becomes more charged, and as soon as the clarinet enters it’s a real party! During this section, the lyrics make specific mention of New Orleans, and the Dixieland themed clarinet solo only helps to materialize this idea. The clarinetist uses many sweeping glissandos, and excessive vibrato very distinct to this regional form of jazz music to exemplify the sound.

The Free Design- Michelle

Moving back in time, this post will focus on a song performed by 60’s-70’s baroque-pop group (also known as sunshine-pop) The Free Design. The song Michelle was originally performed by The Beatles a couple of years earlier, and is probably the version most are familiar with, but this rendition by The Free Design definitely deserves a listen. It features a distinct 17th century baroque sound, using characteristic harmonic progressions, fugal melodies, frequent trills, embellishments, and the harpsichord. But, more importantly, I would like to draw attention to the use of the clarinet. Like most of the other examples, the clarinet only enjoys a short, decorative solo in between verses, but it serves as an overall contributor to the sound and characteristics of the music.



Sources:

Free Design, The (n.d.). Discogs. Retrieved from http://www.discogs.com/artist/Free+Design%2C+The.

The Free Design (n.d.). LasFM. Retrieved from http://www.last.fm/music/The+Free+Design.

Regina Spektor- Fidelity

Stylistically, there are many similarities between the sound of Laura Marling and Regina Spektor. Both artists feature a pop-folk sound, and use artistically crafted lyrics, but Regina’s brand is more of an upbeat brand from this side of the pond. Her reputation is already well established, and Regina has been enjoying success in the music scene for a little less than a decade, using the piano as her solo instrument of choice. "Fidelity", much like the previously featured tune "Goodbye England", begins with orchestral instrumentation; we hear pizzicato strings, and later on a clarinet. In this song, the clarinet is never featured as a solo instrument, but more of a complimentary, decorative figure contributing to the overall character of the music. What often makes the clarinet desirable in popular music, is its ability to match the timbre of the vocalist, and create a wide variety of tone colors that amplify the mood as we will hear in this example.



Sources:

Regina Spektor (n.d.). Discogs. Retrieved from http://www.discogs.com/artist/Regina+Spektor.

Laura Marling- Goodbye England

I Speak Because I Can, Laura Marling’s second album released in 2010, features this beautiful song "Goodbye England (Covered In Snow)". Marling is an extraordinary young songstress, releasing her first album when she was only eighteen. Her lyrics are artistically infused with bittersweet references to love and friends long gone, while also frequently mentioning her homeland, England. What is especially notable about Marling’s music is the subtle use of orchestral instruments. In this featured example, "Goodbye England", the intro begins with clarinet, yet the sound is so dark and mellow, that it blends into the color of the music, and becomes an almost indistinguishable timbre. Later on, when Marling’s somber vocals enter, we realize that the timbre of the clarinet is a perfect match for her voice. Although the clarinet does not have an overly prominent role throughout this piece, the chosen performer does a great job at blending into the atmosphere and becoming one with the sound. And this isn’t the only song on the album that features clarinet; several of the tracks make use of the instrument as a way to create color, and as a more important melodic figure.



Sources:

Fisher, Alice (2008).Little gal with full-grown talent. The Observer. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/oct/26/popandrock

Laura Marling. (n.d.). Discogs. Retrieved from http://www.discogs.com/artist/Laura+Marling.