It has a steady beat and a gradual tempo and has constant bar lengths that are played by plucking the strings, but on the last bar two strumming patterns are added in the last two eats which break up the pattern and add something new. In the first verse, the structure is two stanzas, each worth 16 beats where in each stanza the first 12 beats are combination of instrumental and vocals and the last four only instrumental. The same riff that was played by the electric guitar in the introduction is continued as an underlying bass and it keeps the rhythm of the song.
A low range male vocal is added and the voice sounds a little husky and contrasts well with the tinny sound of the guitar. The vocals sing the melody to the piece and also stay mainly in the same range throughout the verse. The piano is introduced in the second stanza and is played by alternating between two keys every second beat but then is broken by playing a further two more keys up the scale on the 3rd lot of 4 beats in the second stanza which gives variety to the piece and helps to add a different texture and tone to the piece.
This also contrasts with the vocals and adds a bright tone color to the piece and is a bit of a build up to the next part. The chorus consists of another two stanzas, each worth 12 beats. There is a lead up to the chorus which is played in the last four beat rest of the first verse and is played by an electric guitar softly trimming on each beat and this is continued throughout the bridge and stays on the same note and uses the same idea which is known as an station.
This is used to keep the beat if the song and to keep the rhythm and is used as the bass in the piece. It adds a different texture to the song by being a different volume. The male vocals are again introduced and are still low but are varying in pitch slightly. The vocals are using the same melody in both stanzas and another soft, higher vocal is harmonize with the main vocal which is used to add to the layers of the piece which help build the texture and tone and it gives it a warmer tone.
In the second stanza the strumming pattern stays the same but sounds louder and the vocals pitch remains the same as well as the harmonize vocals but a piano is added and is playing chords. The piano is played on the first, third and fourth beat for the first two bars and is played low, high and then back to low on the scale and then in the third bar the chords are played on the first 3 beats and are going up in the scale. This is used to add a different melody and introduces a new idea and adds another layer of mound. On the last beat there is a pause.
An instrumental is next and is introduced through 1 bar where there is a build-up of the previous bass line which gradually gets louder for 2 beats and then 6 chords are Musicology – the Cave – M & S By Angiosperm between the two parts in the song and shows how something new is going to be introduced. Dynamics are achieved in this by using sudden changes in the 1 bar. The instrumental goes for 16 beats, and the chords from the second stanza of the bridge are used again but the volume has been slightly turned up and is used to keep the eat in the instrumental and this time is played on guitar and strummed on every beat.
A banjo is introduced and is being strummed really fast and strummed four times every beat and quickly fades out in time for verse two. The banjo has a very tinny sound and is higher in pitch than the guitar. The two instruments contrast each other and this technique is used to show diversity in the piece. In verse two, there are two stanzas both with 16 beats with the last four beats of each being only instrumental, the same as verse one. In stanza one the bass line is light strumming twice on every beat.
The vocals are still low male vocals with not much variation in pitch with a husky tone that are played for 12 beats with the other four being instrumental. These vocals add to the texture by leading the melody. Soft piano is played one note every two beats, alternating from low too high for two bars and on the third bar from low to high still on every second beat and then down the scale for two more beats which and the piano copies some of the melody and the tune from the vocals but only plays on every couple of beats which adds to the layers of sound.
In stanza two, the same bass line from the guitar and the same riff from the banjo re played from the instrumental for the 16 beats and are accompanied by another layer which is the tambourine which is played on every beat which helps to reinforce the beat and rhythm of the piece. Also the same male vocals are added with the deep and low range but sound more forceful and the vocals are played for 12 beats with the remaining four being only the guitar, banjo and tambourine. The use of these instruments gives a strong tone color of folk music and that style.
For the Chorus, The same amount of two stanzas at 12 beats each is in place and the use of wintertime lyrics as in all the verses/ choruses and the same guitar riff, banjo melody and tambourine beat is continued (station) with no pauses and a very faint use of synch or even trumpet is also used on every note and is played on every beat. The male vocals are again prominent singing the main role and are mainly low in pitch but this time with a stronger tone and and going slightly higher in certain parts with little harmonize from higher male vocals.
The variety of different instruments and their different pitches create a layered harmony that has a bright tone color cause of its upbeat rhythm. Leading up to the third verse, there is 1 bar where for 3 beats the instruments quickly fade out and there is a one beat rest which represents how the piece has slowed down and has broken away from the chorus and is starting a new part in the song. This verse is only 1 stanza for 16 beats with the last four being only instrumental.
The main rhythmic electric guitar is played and is strummed twice a beat and is played to keep the beat going which is very strong and steady and is continued for the last four second instrumental for the third verse tit a slight variation of a strum of a different higher chord. The vocals are still of a low register and are the main male vocals all throughout the song and are very strong with a slight quality of speaking.
The technique of making it quieter and simpler is used so that there may be another build up later in the piece. This verse stanza as well. In the Chorus there are 3 stanzas at 12 beats each and for the first stanza the quiet strumming of the main guitar beat is carried on. A quiet piano riff is added in the high register to add another texture to the piece which alternates between three totes played for every beat. The trumpet/synthesizer is also played on every second note very faintly which adds a different texture to the piece.
These three instruments are all played very softly and the vocals are the same lead male vocals that in certain parts of the chorus lyrics take it to a higher register for a short time which shows a change in pitch for the piece and this part is accompanied by harmonize of another higher male vocal that is very faint but effective. In the second stanza the instruments become louder and the vocals become more forceful which are leading p to the next instrumental. The instrumental starts with four beats of the main guitar continuing the strumming pattern, building up and then going into the 24 beat instrumental.
The main guitar strumming is played which is the guitar being strummed twice a beat very faintly and the banjo being strummed four times a beat which is very fast. The tambourine is hit on every beat which is a percussion instrument that helps keep the rhythm. The vocals hum to the tune of the lyrics that are sung previously and hum the melody to the song. The trumpet plays in intervals on every second beat very faintly. It plays a riff that harmonies with the other instruments and ads to the layers of the song.
The beat in this instrumental is very steady and the roles of the instrument are evenly given to create a symmetrical layering which creates the texture of the song. The final chorus goes for 14 beats and is a continuation from the instrumental with all the instruments staying to their roles from the previous section. The male vocals are the only instrument added and they sing in a higher register than the other choruses and are sung with a lot more passion and desperation in the voice and it has nicer tonal quality.
The vocals in the last two beats are taken to a high range and are sung with a strong quality. As the last chorus starts the trumpet starts to get louder and louder and it harmonize with voice that is singing the melody. The trumpet is a high pitch instrument so it complements the low vocals. The trumpet plays a riff that compliments the melody and is used to give more depth to the piece. The dynamics in the end of the piece are achieved well by complementing each instrument with each other and with the different pitches and ranges and the same ideas are used all throughout the piece.
