Joy Boy
Julius EastmanPiece Duration: 7:32
About this Piece
Score: https://issuu.com/scoresondemand/docs/joy_57869
Improvisation / Chordal Texture: In the score, Julius Eastman writes “create ticker tape music,” and provides chords for the players to use. To hear what a ticker tape machine sounds like, listen to this video. How does the music sound the same? Click here to listen to Sewing Song by Thomas Wiggins which also uses musical elements to imitate the sounds of a sewing machine.
Timbre: Julius Eastman wrote this score for “four treble instruments.” This means that every performance might feature a different set of instruments that can play in the treble range. This performance has vocalists, flute, trombone, and piano. Can you hear them all?
Harmonic Rhythm: Listen for how long it takes the players to change harmony. Where do they move the slowest? Where to they move the quickest?
Notable Passages
Description:
First line of music: Notice how Eastman alternates between several chords. Eastman alternates between F#m7 and Dsus chords, using different inversions (for example, in the F#m42 chord, E is in the bass [E F# A C#], but then in the F#m43 later on, C# is in the bass [C# E F# A])
Keywords: Chordal Texture , Harmonic Inversion , Harmonic Motion , Harmonic Rhythm
Description:
Second line of music: Eastman builds the notes of an F#m7 chord one by one, starting with an E, then adding F#, A, and C#. More chords begin to alternate with each other, with many notes moving by half step
Keywords: Harmonic Inversion , Harmonic Motion , Harmonic Rhythm
Description:
Third line of music: We hear a C#m chord (C#, E, G#) for the first time, which alternates with a D9 chord (D, E, A, C#). We hear several variations on these chords as well (ex. C#m9, which adds a D# to the C#m chord we heard earlier)
Keywords: Chordal Texture , Harmonic Motion , Harmonic Rhythm
Description:
Fourth line of music: It is debated whether Eastman wrote a G natural at the beginning of this line, or if that note is actually just part of the treble clef. What do you think?
To end the piece, there is chromatic motion between F#m7 and Fm7 (look for the two flats on the 2nd chord). These chords are both in third inversion (F#m42 and Fm42). Small harmonic changes continue until only the pitches D and E remain.
Keywords: Chordal Texture , Harmonic Inversion , Harmonic Motion , Harmonic Rhythm