drum god. born in canada in 1952 showed musical talent at a young age dropped out of high school...
TRANSCRIPT
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 1974. 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:http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/rush/album/hemispheres/track/the-trees
0:00 Introduction Soft acoustic guitar with an 8 count measure Feels almost haunted
0:11 Verse 1Sets up the listener for the story of the treesMidway through bass guitar is added
0:34 BridgeTransition from melodic tune of the acoustic guitar to signature Rush electric guitar and drums
0:40 Verse 2First 7 seconds filled with the sounds of Peart’s crashing symbol and 3/8 counts of the electric guitar
1:15 BridgeDown beat on electric guitar signals beginning of bridge that carries us into the chorus
1:22 ChorusSyncopation heard throughout the chorus
1:45 InterludeListen for the sounds of wood percussion instrument following a 6/8 beat and a very soft guitar and synthesizerThe mood is mysterious / playfulSurprise turn at 3:10, electric guitar taking the lead until 3:28.
3:50 Verse 3More predictable tempo Complex drummingConcludes 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:http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/rush/album/hemispheres/
track/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 firstGuitar 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 drumDiscernible 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 rhythmBorrowed from Raymond Scott’s music entitled “Powerhouse” Part 6 - The Ghost of the Aragon (6:10–6:44; 0:34)Bass led jazz type riffShort 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 beatsAt 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 longPitch 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 MonstersThe bass and drums play us out
Billboard.com. (n.d.). Neil Peart Biography. Retrieved September 26, 2012, from Billboard.com: http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/neil-peart/bio/93663
La Villa Strangiato by Rush. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2012, from Songfacts.com: http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2324Neil Peart Biography, Videos & Pictures. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2012, from Drum Lessons.com: http://www.drumlessons.com/drummers/neil-peart/
Neil Peart Net Worth. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2012, from Get Net Worth.com: http://www.getnetworth.com/neil-peart-net-worth/
Rush Drummer Breaks Silence About Family Tragedy In New Book. (2002, July 19). Retrieved September 27, 2012, from MTV.com: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1456150/rush-drummer-release-new-book.jhtml
The Trees by Rush. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2012, from Songfacts.com: http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2276