Please join us for our next workshop (February 4, 4:30–6:00 p.m., Logan 801) as we welcome Gilad Cohen, Assistant Professor of Music Performance/Theory at Ramapo College, who will be presenting a paper entitled “Breaking Away From the Pack: Unique Large-Scale Structure in Pink Floyd’s Song ‘Dogs’”. He writes:

In their seventeen-minute track “Dogs” from the 1977 LP Animals, Pink Floyd used a small amount of material, appropriate to a standard-scale song, and expanded each of its sections enormously by employing heavy repetition and an exceptionally slow harmonic pace. Yet how can a rock song that is based on so little material retain vitality over the course of such prolonged duration? This paper analyzes and assesses the ways in which “Dogs” succeeds in maintaining a sense of variety, direction, and cohesiveness throughout its extended length. Through an inspired scheme of structurally foundational guitar solos, a motivic use of melodic and harmonic tension, and a meticulously woven fabric of text, harmony, texture, sound, and instrumentation, the song maintains a propulsive forward drive in spite of its thematic economy.

Pierce Gradone will serve as respondent.

Additionally, please take note of the following upcoming performances featuring Professor Cohen’s music:

Concert #1: The Chicago Ensemble playing music by Telemann, Dutilleux , Dvorak and Gilad Cohen.

Sunday, February 1st 2015 at 3pm, The University of Chicago’s International House, 1414 E. 59th St., Chicago, IL. $25 general, $10 students, free for I-House residents.

Concert #2: The Chicago Ensemble playing music by Telemann, Dutilleux , Dvorak and Gilad Cohen.

Tuesday, February 10th 2015 at 7:30pm, the new chapel of Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chestnut and Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL. $25 general, $10 students.