âHoe-Downâ by Aaron Copland
This song begins with a full orchestra playing at a fast tempo. The texture of this music is polyphonic, meaning different melodies are played all at the same time. The dynamics of this music are soft, p, at the beginning but very loud, f, at the end. There is a big change of tune from section A to section B as section B features trumpets as well as other string instruments, including the oboe, which makes the music quieter. Syncopation, which is where the rhythmic emphasis occurs where it is not expected, is featured all the way throughout the song. The music sort of unwinds, sounding as it's fading out before it bursts into a repeat of the A section. Violins and other instruments in this song take up the square-dance theme. To me, this music sounds like it would be played at a festival in the Wild West for a cowboy. The melody features ascending and descending scales. The orchestra fades away but returns at the end of section B. The short pattern of notes appears several times throughout the work. The woodblock, a percussion instrument, is included in the work. This music makes the listener want to dance; it is very energetic. This piece seems like it is used for folk music. The notes at the beginning of the piece, which I take are triple sixteenth notes, are imitating a galloping horse. The use of the piano accompanying other instruments creates a dance hall like sound. Overall, this piece is based off of folk music from Coplandâs melody, rhythm, and instrumentation.