Yesterday: The Beatles

Paulo

Title of Presented Work:

• "Yesterday"

Composer:

• The Beatles

Co-author (text, libretto, lyric; provide the text if possible)

• Written by McCartney/Lennon
• Lyrics: http://www.bing.com/search?q=lyrics+to+yesterday+by+the+beatles&src=IE-SearchBox&FORM=IESR02&pc=WCUG

Kendall

Performing Artists:

Video:

• Paul McCartney: vocals, guitar
• Tony Gilbert, Sidney Sax: violin

Form of Work:

• AABA, (Ballad or Popular American Song Form)

• Kenneth Essex: viola

• Francisco Gabarro: cello

Contour/Use of Melody:

• homophonic
• melody is sung by soloist Paul McCartney and accompanied with music by himself on the guitar, and band mates on the guitar and bass, along with strings

Rhythmic Features:

• 4/4 meter; steady the whole time

Use of Harmonic Elements and Texture:

• major, consonant harmonies

The End

John

No real significant change in dynamics; the singer's voice gets louder as he sings high notes incidentally

The tempo is moderately fast and doesn't fluctuate

Tenor voice soloist, guitar, bass, strings

Some improvisation by strings as they play same melody that the singer sings, the singer sings the same melody and doesn't really add anything of his own

Music Appreciation: Section 102: Group 6

• Samantha Burk
• Kendall Chamberlain
• John Freeman
• Paulo Sanchez
• Erin Stone

Erin

Time and Historical Context:

• "Yesterday" was released as a U.S. single in September of 1965 for the album "Help!" , and was ranked in the top 10 charts in Britain 3 months after the album's debut. The accompaning "B-side" to the single record was "Act Naturally".

Historical Impact:

• The song was extremely popular during it's time, and is still currently one of the most well-known pop songs.
• 2000+ covers: one of the most covered songs in history!
• Voted No.1 pop song of all time by MTV and Rolling Stones
• 1997: inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame
• Voted best song of 20th century by BBC Radio 2 poll of music experts/listeners

Genre:

• Baroque Pop- A fusion of Pop and Classical music

-Instrumentation included instrumentation that wasn't generally used in a modern pop setting such as: harpsichords, strings, oboes, French horns, etc.

-Highly orchestral

• -Generally dramatic and melancholic
• Relation to song: Yesterday features a string quartet

-Baroque Pop was at it's peak during the 1960's

Sam

Quality of Performance:

• Well, it’s the Beatles. So it’s probably the highest possible quality for the 1960s. It’s mixed (and probably remixed several times) to sonic perfection. It’s a timeless pop song and it sounds like one.

Mood of the Performance:

• Sounds sad and somber. The mood is regretful, and has an emotional tone, but similarly to much of the Beatles work, there's a vein of optimism that runs through it- as if all hope is not lost.

Aesthetic Objectives of Piece/Performance:

(Were those goals reached by the composer and/or performer? Does the piece have a "purpose" somehow? How?)

• The Beatles wanted us to feel something, and we do. It’s undeniably one of the reasons they remain so popular today. Music must be manipulative, and John and Paul were master manipulators. This song makes us feel its sad, emotional mood because we can make a connection to it like most songs today. We can all relate to loss and regret, and the Beatles convey those emotions through their songs and lyrics.

Music Appreciation:

Group Project 2k15