Jonathan Ramirez

Indie Folk Abstract “New” Bon Iver

Eau Claire DeYarmon Edison Break-ups

Thoreau-like setting Cabin in the woods Recording studio For Emma, Forever Ago Bon Iver

“For Emma” Recorded in Cabin – 2007 Vernon’s past Trumpet & Trombone

“For Emma” listening guide TimeInstrumentsGuide Intro 0:00 Acoustic GuitarAcoustic guitar playing three mute down strokes 0:02Saxophone, drums, trombone, acoustic guitar Triple meter, key of C, third beat emphasized by drums, trumpet & trombone playing a different melody, contour is arched 0:17Trumpet, trombone, electric guitar Interlude played by trumpet & trombone, timber creates full resonance, electric guitar introduced, emulating contour Verse 1 0:37 Drums, guitar, & voice Brass instruments fade, fundamental beat played by drums and guitar & voice takes over theme

TimeInstrumentsGuide Chorus 0:50 Trombone, drums, guitar, electric guitar Trombone accompanies & emulates melody, as vocals state phrase, dynamics are crescendo, electric guitar plays variation to conclude chorus Verse 2 1:22 Acoustic guitar, drums, trombone, voice The melody is same as former verse, guitar plays main beat, voice sings melody, contour is in arch format, acts as a fill Chorus 1:36 Trombone, trumpet, electric and acoustic guitar, voice Crescendo dynamic, trumpet emulates voice, arch contour, chorus concluded by “For Emma, forever ago..,” followed by augmentation by trombone Coda 2:04 Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, trombone Electric guitar strumming fundamental beat, muting third strum, electric guitar plays conjunct melody, emulated by trombone 2:18 Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, trombone, drums, trumpet Running water sound acts as a fill for rest of instruments, electric guitar and trombone play conjunct melody, acoustic guitar and drums play fundamental beat, trumpet performs solo

TimeInstrumentsGuide 2:42 Trombone, a. guitar, e. guitar, drums, trumpet The trombone accompanies fundamental beat, trumpet plays same melody as in chorus, vocals hum in harmony 3:04 Trombone, e. guitar, a. guitar, drums, trumpet Electric guitar plays its final conjunct melody, followed by polyphony of both trumpet and trombone, remaining instruments play fundamental beat 3:24All instrumentsThe song begins to fade 3:35All instrumentsSong ends on a final note by trombone

“Calgary” 2011 Use of Instruments Metaphor

TimeInstrumentsGuide 0:00 Piano synthesizerShort range of whole notes, minor mode, notes overlap each other, repeat 0:12 Vocals, piano synthesizer Falsetto vocals emulate synthesizer, narrow arch contour, vocals fade and whole notes remain 0:42 Piano synthesizer, vocals First word emphasized, two voices singing, back up voice homophonous with lead voice 1:10 Piano synthesizer, voice Vocals continue to sing, higher note in synthesizer acts as fill, multiple notes in consonance, crescendo & duple meter Calgary listening guide

TimeInstrumentsGuide 1:18 Drums, distorted synthesizer, vocals Drums and synthesizer accompany vocals, polyphonically, single note by synthesizer faintly heard 1:46 Drums, distorted synthesizer, synthesizer, vocals Voices fade out, distorted synthesizer plays succession of short notes, remaining synthesizer acts as fill 1:54 Drums, distorted synthesizer, vocals Synthesizer, cymbals All instruments enter, synthesizer emulates notes of voice in augmentation, distorted synth. Plays two notes, polyphonically 2:21 Drums, distorted electric guitar, vocals, synthesizer Voices fade, distorted brass instruments plays notes, distorted guitar takes over theme 2:37 Drums, distorted electric guitars, vocals, synthesizer Bridge. Tempo slightly increased, dynamics of voice crescendo, two electric guitars play theme, form of other instruments are in harmony

TimeInstrumentsGuide 3:03 Voices, distorted electric guitar, synthesizer Lead voice fades, back up sings “ooo,” ascending contour, distorted electric guitar plays main theme 3:18 Electric guitar, voicesVoices fades once again, distorted electric guitar holds whole, distorted note, cymbals play as voices re-enter 3:26 Electric guitar, voices, synthesizer, cymbals Electric guitar takes over theme, synthesizer plays faint notes, cymbals play fundamental beat 3:55 Voices, electric guitar, cymbals Voices begin to fade, lead guitar strums final strum, cymbals play beat, slowly fading 4:10 -End

“Team” Instrumental Random Noises “Creature Fear”

TimeInstrumentsGuide 0:00 Guitar, snare drumLoud guitar and begins decrescendo. Repetitive snare drum in the background in quadruple meter. Emphasis on the snare drum every other beat, every two measures. 0:04 Snare drum, bass guitarSnare drums continues its repetition, bass guitar enters sliding on certain notes in ascending contour. 0:24 Bass Guitar, Snare Drum, electric guitar Bass guitar and snare drums repeat their phrases accompanied by modulated electric guitar. 0:34 Electric guitar, bass guitar, snare drum The lead electric guitar plays a three-note phrase and harmonizes with electric guitar. 0:47 Emphasis on Electric Guitar Electric guitar faintly plays a melody of its own, comprised of sliding note, over the theme, creating heterophony.

TimeInstrumentsGuide 0:56 Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, snare drum Vocals that repeat the phrase “fua” accompany the collaboration of melodies. The two guitars continue to play. 1:19 Vocals, electric guitar soloFollowing the first voice, a meek and gentle “ooo” is heard, in arch contour. Electric guitar performs a brief solo, consisting of “hammer on’s” 1:29 Bass guitar, electric guitar, synthesizer Both guitars fade Whistling takes over as the theme along with synthesizer. 1:44 Snare drum, synthesizerThe snare drum and the repeated phrase “fua” abruptly cease and the remaining sounds are whistling and the whole note of the synthesizer. 1:54 End

“Flume” Recorded in Cabin Pensive, wistful ambiance 2008

TimeInstrumentsGuide Intro 0:00 Mute GuitarMute Guitar strums the theme of the song. Duple meter, in minor mode, and a drop step in the key of C. Moderate tempo. 0:05Acoustic GuitarAcoustic lead guitar takes over the theme, strumming a C chord, an Em chord, then an Am chord. On the Am chord, the guitar performs a ‘hammer-on’ on every down stroke on the D and G string. Verse 1 0:19 Guitar, VocalsStrumming continues in a chord sequence of C, Em and G. Vocals, in falsetto, accompany the theme, in a narrow ascending contour. 0:29Steal Guitar, Guitar, vocalsContrast in the second part of the verse is in the chord sequence: C, E and G.

TimeInstrumentsGuide Verse 1 0:49 Guitar, Vocals,Strumming pattern changes to F, Am and C/G. Voices harmonize. The notes in the “ooo’s” at the end of each phrase are elongated as they fade. 1:11Exit vocals, synthesizer, guitar Verse ends, strumming returns to C, Em, and Am, ‘hammering’ the D and G string on the Am chords. Synthesizer plays a conjunct three note sequence. Verse 2 1:24 Guitar, reenter vocals, steal guitar Instruments repeat. Entrance of drums and metallic buzzing. The guitar continues to “hammer-on” the string in the Am chord. Voices harmonize. Chorus 1:52 Drums, vocals, guitar, synthesizer The chorus repeats, forte drums. Ascending vocals. Chord sequence follows F, Am, and G/C. Vocals and synthesizer fade simultaneously. The chord sequence shifts to Em, Am and Em,

TimeInstrumentsGuide Bridge 2:12 Guitar, steal guitar, vocals, synthesizer, Strumming pattern continues, metallic buzzing takes over as the theme. A crescendo resonant synthesizer accompanies the noises, creating a sound akin to wind. 2:29Exit guitar, synthesizer, steal guitar, drum The strumming rests and the synthesizer fades. The metallic buzzing plays a succession of harmonious random noises. The sound of creaking footsteps and movement is faintly heard. The final sound heard is the wind rustling. Chorus 2:49 Bass guitar, acoustic guitar, steal guitar, vocals Chorus repeats. Strumming repeats as F, Am and C/G. 3:10Exit vocals, guitar, exit synthesizer and steal guitar Voices fade and the strumming continues, then ends on an F chord. Synthesizer and metallic buzzing fade out. The final sound is the sound of a firework after its explosion. 3:38End.

Works Cited Ruehl, Kim. "All About Indie Folk Music (Lo-Fi Indie)." About.com Folk Music. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 June Anderson, Derek. "A New Residency.". Indy Week, 22 Feb Web. 15 June Carew, Anthony. "Bon Iver, The Lonesome Hunter." About.com Alternative Music. About.com, n.d. Web. 15 June Google Images, Google Iver, Bon. "Bon Iver.". Jagjaguwar, n.d. Web. 15 June