Bon Iver

Bon Iver

Bon IverJonathan Ramirez1

Indie Folk

Abstract New

Bon Iver

Indie folk music has many characterizations. Generally speaking, it can be a twist between country music, contemporary music, and traditional music. Often, Indie folk bands attempt to be New and Different An example of a band of the Indie Folk Genre is Bon Iver.2Justin VernonEau Claire

DeYarmon Edison

Break-ups

Vernon grew up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he attended high school and graduated from University of Wisconsin. A world religions major. Part of a band for 10 years of his life. They decided to move to California to test their luck. Success shortly follows, but he breaks up with the band and his girlfriend. He decides to return home in Wisconsin. 3Thoreau-like setting

Cabin in the woods Recording studio

For Emma, Forever AgoBon IverFollowing his advent to Wisconsin, Justin lives in a log-cabin that was built by his father in the woods. Similar to Henry David Thoreau. Justin begins to write his first album For Emma, Forever Ago, capturing the ambiance of the woods and the experiences Justin has had throughout his life. The album was a huge success and has been performed on tours worldwide. Justin came up with the name Bon Iver from a show he used to view called North Exposure. Bon Iver translates from french as good winter. Most of the songs in this album are city names. 4For EmmaRecorded in Cabin 2007

Vernons past

Trumpet & Trombone

For emma is one of the first songs written by Vernon in the cabin. It was released with the album in 2007. The interesting aspect about this song is that it is a compilation of Justins actions to get away from his past and hurt. Another interesting feature about this song is that it doesnt have a specific format, such as verse or chorus, but it includes a beautiful theme played by the trumpet and trombone. 5For Emma listening guideTimeInstrumentsGuideIntro0:00Acoustic GuitarAcoustic guitar playing three mute down strokes

0:02Saxophone, drums, trombone, acoustic guitarTriple meter, key of C, third beat emphasized by drums, trumpet & trombone playing a different melody, contour is arched0:17Trumpet, trombone, electric guitarInterlude played by trumpet & trombone, timber creates full resonance, electric guitar introduced, emulating contourVerse 10:37Drums, guitar, & voiceBrass instruments fade, fundamental beat played by drums and guitar & voice takes over themeTimeInstruments GuideChorus0:50Trombone, drums, guitar, electric guitarTrombone accompanies & emulates melody, as vocals state phrase, dynamics are crescendo, electric guitar plays variation to conclude chorusVerse 21:22Acoustic guitar, drums, trombone, voiceThe melody is same as former verse, guitar plays main beat, voice sings melody, contour is in arch format, acts as a fill

Chorus1:36Trombone, trumpet, electric and acoustic guitar, voiceCrescendo dynamic, trumpet emulates voice, arch contour, chorus concluded by For Emma, forever ago.., followed by augmentation by tromboneCoda2:04Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, tromboneElectric guitar strumming fundamental beat, muting third strum, electric guitar plays conjunct melody, emulated by trombone2:18Electric 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 soloTimeInstrumentsGuide2:42Trombone, a. guitar, e. guitar, drums, trumpetThe trombone accompanies fundamental beat, trumpet plays same melody as in chorus, vocals hum in harmony

3:04Trombone, e. guitar, a. guitar, drums, trumpetElectric guitar plays its final conjunct melody, followed by polyphony of both trumpet and trombone, remaining instruments play fundamental beat3:24All instrumentsThe song begins to fade

3:35All instrumentsSong ends on a final note by tromboneCalgary2011

Use of Instruments

Metaphor

Calgary is one of Vernons most interesting songs. It was released as a single in June 14, 2011 and has been featured on every one of Bon Ivers tours. A cool aspect about this song is that Justin uses a distorted electric guitar to created interesting sounds. The meaning underlying this song is always one of its distinguishing characteristics. Justin wrote this song as a metaphor about what one doesnt know and has not experienced, yet. Such as travelling to a certain place or meeting a Soul mate9TimeInstruments

Guide0:00Piano synthesizerShort range of whole notes, minor mode, notes overlap each other, repeat

0:12Vocals, piano synthesizerFalsetto vocals emulate synthesizer, narrow arch contour, vocals fade and whole notes remain0:42Piano synthesizer, vocalsFirst word emphasized, two voices singing, back up voice homophonous with lead voice1:10Piano synthesizer, voiceVocals continue to sing, higher note in synthesizer acts as fill, multiple notes in consonance, crescendo & duple meterCalgary listening guideTimeInstrumentsGuide1:18Drums, distorted synthesizer, vocals

Drums and synthesizer accompany vocals, polyphonically, single note by synthesizer faintly heard1:46Drums, distorted synthesizer, synthesizer, vocals

Voices fade out, distorted synthesizer plays succession of short notes, remaining synthesizer acts as fill 1:54Drums, distorted synthesizer, vocalsSynthesizer, cymbalsAll instruments enter, synthesizer emulates notes of voice in augmentation, distorted synth. Plays two notes, polyphonically2:21Drums, distorted electric guitar, vocals, synthesizerVoices fade, distorted brass instruments plays notes, distorted guitar takes over theme2:37

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 harmonyTimeInstrumentsGuide3:03Voices, distorted electric guitar, synthesizerLead voice fades, back up sings ooo, ascending contour, distorted electric guitar plays main theme3:18Electric guitar, voicesVoices fades once again, distorted electric guitar holds whole, distorted note, cymbals play as voices re-enter3:26Electric guitar, voices, synthesizer, cymbalsElectric guitar takes over theme, synthesizer plays faint notes, cymbals play fundamental beat3:55Voices, electric guitar, cymbalsVoices begin to fade, lead guitar strums final strum, cymbals play beat, slowly fading4:10 -EndTeam Instrumental

Random Noises

Creature Fear

Team Is a purely instrumental track off of For Emma, Forever Ago This song was originally recorded in the log cabin that Vernon lived in. At first, it was actually a collaboration of random noises. This song has a catchy upbeat and follows the song creature fear13TimeInstrumentsGuide0:00Guitar, 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. 0:04Snare drum, bass guitarSnare drums continues its repetition, bass guitar enters sliding on certain notes in ascending contour.

0:24Bass Guitar, Snare Drum, electric guitarBass guitar and snare drums repeat their phrases accompanied by modulated electric guitar. 0:34Electric guitar, bass guitar, snare drumThe lead electric guitar plays a three-note phrase and harmonizes with electric guitar. 0:47Emphasis on Electric GuitarElectric guitar faintly plays a melody of its own, comprised of sliding note, over the theme, creating heterophony. TimeInstrumentsGuide0:56Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, snare drumVocals that repeat the phrase fua accompany the collaboration of melodies. The two guitars continue to play.1:19Vocals, 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 ons1:29Bass guitar, electric guitar, synthesizerBoth guitars fade Whistling takes over as the theme along with synthesizer. 1:44Snare drum, synthesizerThe snare drum and the repeated phrase fua abruptly cease and the remaining sounds are whistling and the whole note of the synthesizer. 1:54EndFlume Recorded in Cabin

Pensive, wistful ambiance

2008

Flume is a sad song. Just like For Emma this song is about Justins experience with the band and girlfriend that he broke up with. At first, this song was recorded in the cabin, but later, more instruments such as the flute and trumpet were added. This song was released in 2008 by Jagjaguwar records. 16TimeInstrumentsGuideIntro0:00Mute 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 10:19Guitar, 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.TimeInstrumentsGuideVerse 10:49Guitar, Vocals, Strumming pattern changes to F, Am and C/G. Voices harmonize. The notes in the ooos at the end of each phrase are elongated as they fade. 1:11Exit vocals, synthesizer, guitarVerse 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 21:24Guitar, reenter vocals, steal guitarInstruments repeat. Entrance of drums and metallic buzzing. The guitar continues to hammer-on the string in the Am chord. Voices harmonize.Chorus1:52Drums, vocals, guitar, synthesizerThe 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, TimeInstrumentsGuideBridge2:12Guitar, 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, drumThe 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. Chorus2:49Bass guitar, acoustic guitar, steal guitar, vocalsChorus repeats. Strumming repeats as F, Am and C/G. 3:10Exit vocals, guitar, exit synthesizer and steal guitarVoices 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 2014. Anderson, Derek. "A New Residency." . Indy Week , 22 Feb. 2006. Web. 15 June 2014.

Carew, Anthony . "Bon Iver, The Lonesome Hunter." About.com Alternative Music. About.com, n.d. Web. 15 June 2014.

Google Images, Google

Iver, Bon. "Bon Iver." . Jagjaguwar, n.d. Web. 15 June 2014. .