Drum God

 Born in Canada in 1952  Showed musical talent at a young age  Dropped out of high school and traveled to England to explore music How did Neil Peart become the legend that he is today?

“I went to England with musical motivations and goals. But when you go out into the big world… you're in for a lot of disillusionment. So while I was there I did a lot of other things to get bread into my mouth...When I came back from there, I was disillusioned basically about the music business. I decided I would be a semi-pro musician for my own entertainment, would play music that I liked to play, and wouldn't count on it to make my living.” Neil Peart

Some early pictures of Neil…

Neil entered into the band Rush in In 1976, the band had their first successful album “2112”.

Neil has written several books He has also published memoirs

Neil has experienced several tragic events in his life Deaths of both his wife and daughter “Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road” helped him through this dark time in his life. “I had learned for myself how a sunny day could actually seem dark, the sun totally wrong, and how the world around me, the busy lives of all those oblivious strangers, could seem so futile and unreal — as futile and unreal as what passed for my own life." Neil Peart

◦ Released in 1978 on the Hemispheres album ◦ Used as the B-side of the US release of “Circumstances” ◦ Lyrics and music take on an enchanted theme ◦ Principally about a forest of oak and maple trees ◦ Song is comprised of 3 distinct time signatures

 Link to song: k/the-trees 0:00 Introduction  Soft acoustic guitar with an 8 count measure  Feels almost haunted 0:11 Verse 1  Sets up the listener for the story of the trees  Midway through bass guitar is added 0:34 Bridge  Transition from melodic tune of the acoustic guitar to signature Rush electric guitar and drums

0:40 Verse 2  First 7 seconds filled with the sounds of Peart’s crashing symbol and 3/8 counts of the electric guitar 1:15 Bridge  Down beat on electric guitar signals beginning of bridge that carries us into the chorus 1:22 Chorus  Syncopation heard throughout the chorus 1:45 Interlude  Listen for the sounds of wood percussion instrument following a 6/8 beat and a very soft guitar and synthesizer  The mood is mysterious / playful  Surprise turn at 3:10, electric guitar taking the lead until 3:28.

3:50 Verse 3  More predictable tempo  Complex drumming  Concludes very suddenly at 4:33 with the final downbeat of the electric guitar and a offbeat lyrical phrase comprised of three distinct words: “hatchet, axe and saw.”

◦ Released in 1978 on the Hemispheres album ◦ Entirely instrumental ◦ Tells a story that is inspired by real life nightmares one of the band members was having ◦ Song title is based on a real place in Italy ◦ Neil Peart credited with writing some of the music in this song ◦ Programmatic/referential music

◦ 12 distinct parts to this song:  Buenos Nochas, Mein Froinds  To Sleep, perchance to dream  Strangiato Theme  A Lerxts in Wonderland  Monsters!  The Ghost of the Aragon  Danforth and Pape  The Waltz of the Shreves  Never turn your back on a Monster  Monsters! (Reprise)  Strangiato Theme (Reprise)  A Farewell to Things

 Link to song: k/la-villa-strangiato Part 1 - Buenos Nochas, Mein Froinds! (0:00–0:26; 0:26)  Opens with a classical acoustic guitar playing softly  Slow tempo at first  Guitar reaches crescendo then fades out, electric guitar fades in 0:21-0:26 Part 2 - To Sleep, Perchance to Dream (0:27–1:58; 1:32)  Instruments added: 0:45 synthesizers, 0:47 xylophones, at 1:00 drums but only symbols, 1:15 bass and bass drum  Discernible Increase in tempo and volume at a 4 count beat

Part 3 - Strangiato Theme (1:59–3:15; 1:15)  The guitar takes the lead  Tempo picks up  Same set of notes repeated over and over Part 4 - A Lerxts in Wonderland (3:16–5:48; 2:32)  Begins with one beat that takes a down turn, moves into new melodic rhythm  At 3:37, the music pitch diminishes and briefly, the drums are the only instrument the listener can hear playing.  End of section marked with increased tempo

Part 5 - Monsters! (5:49–6:09; 0:20)  Fast switch to a steady repeating rhythm  Borrowed from Raymond Scott’s music entitled “Powerhouse” Part 6 - The Ghost of the Aragon (6:10–6:44; 0:34)  Bass led jazz type riff  Short drum solo Part 7 - Danforth and Pape (6:45–7:25; 0:40)  Chaotic (much like the intersection in Toronto that it is named for)  Drums play standard beat while the guitar lead seems almost random / disconnected

Part 8 -The Waltz of the Shreves (7:26–7:51; 0:25)  Drums, bass and guitar all playing single beats  At 7:32, drums playing double beat guitar matching the pace Part 9 -Never turn your back on a Monster (7:52–8:02; 0:10)  Easy 4 beat with electric guitar in lead Part10- Monsters! (Reprise) (8:03–8:16; 0:13)  A repeat of part 5 only much shorter Part 11- Strangiato Theme (Reprise) (8:17–9:20; 1:03)  A repeat of part 3 only half as long  Pitch seems faster

Part 12 -a Farewell to Things. (9:20–9:37; 0:17)  Fast ending to a very long piece with a melody similar to that of Monsters  The bass and drums play us out

Billboard.com. (n.d.). Neil Peart Biography. Retrieved September 26, 2012, from Billboard.com: La Villa Strangiato by Rush. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2012, from Songfacts.com: Neil Peart Biography, Videos & Pictures. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2012, from Drum Lessons.com: Neil Peart Net Worth. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2012, from Get Net Worth.com: Rush Drummer Breaks Silence About Family Tragedy In New Book. (2002, July 19). Retrieved September 27, 2012, from MTV.com: book.jhtml book.jhtml The Trees by Rush. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2012, from Songfacts.com: