Tupelo Honey
By
Van Morrison
Context
Much of it improvised!
Over 7 minutes long
Influenced by R&B,
Rock, Soul, Irish folk
and Jazz
HYPNOTIC!
1971
Soft rock - Ballad
Melody
Very similar vocal phrases
Regular 2 bar phrasing
Diatonic!
Nearly all syllabic. One melisma.
Vocal melody is based on 5
note pentatonic scale
Bb, C, D ,F, G
Tonality
Bb Major!
SLASH
CHORDS!
Very repetitive chords
Chordal ostinato
Harmony
Very repetitive harmony
Harmonic Rhythm!
I – IIIC – IV – I
Texture
Mostly melody and accompaniment
Backing vocals sing almost
Call and Response
Guitar plays ‘fills’
Counterpoints between
instruments and voices
Flute and both guitars in intro = Dialogue
Resources
Male solo vocals
Backing vocals
(almost call and response
style)
Instruments include:
Acoustic Guitar
Lead Guitar
Bass
Drum Kit
Piano
Organ
Saxophone (unusual)
Flute (unusual)
Rhythm
4/4
Steady Tempo
Some syncopation
Rhythmic
freedom,
influenced
from soul
music
Cross Rhythms
Structure
Intro
Verse 1
Chorus
Verse 2
Chorus
Instrumental
Verse 3
Chorus
Middle 8
Verse 4
Chorus
Chorus (varied repeat)
Coda (repeat to fade)
Simple strophic verse,
chorus form, with
additional parts in
between