How did John Lennon use texture and tonality in his protest song 'Imagine'?

How did John Lennon use texture and tonality in his protest song 'Imagine'?

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In this lesson, we will analyse how John Lennon employed texture, tonality and harmony in his protest song 'Imagine'. We will also understand how artists choose to cover songs.

Licence

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5 Questions

Q1.
What tempo is "Imagine" by John Lennon?
100 BPM
120 BPM
50 BPM
Correct answer: 75 BPM
Q2.
What is the most common time signature in 'popular' music?
12/8
3/4
Correct answer: 4/4
7/4
Q3.
Which of the following statements is not true of "Imagine" by John Lennon?
The piano has a simple accompanying rhythm.
Correct answer: The pre-chorus and verse melody start on the first beat of the bar.
There is syncopation in the pre-chorus and verse.
Q4.
What is syncopation?
Correct answer: A rhythmic pattern where accented notes are placed on the off beat.
A rhythmic pattern where accented notes are placed on the strong beats.
Where there is a rest on beat 1.
Q5.
Which statement is true of the rhythm in John Lennon's "Imagine"?
Only the vocal part has semiquavers.
Correct answer: Syncopation is used throughout the song.
There are no dotted rhythms in the song "Imagine" by John Lennon.

5 Questions

Q1.
What is the following chord?
An image in a quiz
C major
Correct answer: C minor
C minor 7
Q2.
What is an extended chord?
Correct answer: A chord with notes beyond the triad (7th, 9th, 11th etc).
When you extend your fingers on the piano to play an extra note.
When you play two chords at the same.
Q3.
What is the main texture in "Imagine" by John Lennon?
Correct answer: Homophonic
Monophonic
Polyphonic
Q4.
What is the tonality of "Imagine" by John Lennon?
Atonal
Correct answer: Major
Minor
Q5.
How does the harmonic rhythm change from the verse to the pre-chorus?
The harmonic rhythm stays the same as they have the same number of chords per bar.
The pre-chorus has a fewer chords and so the harmonic rhythm is slower.
Correct answer: The pre-chorus has more chords (3 chord per 2 bars).

Lesson appears in

UnitMusic / Band Musicianship 3: Songs for a better world