Damien Rice

By Breanne Miller

Music 1010

Biography

Born in Dublin, Ireland on December 7, 1973

He grew up in Celbridge, Ireland where he first developed interest in music and started his first band

Career Beginnings

In his first band, Juniper a couple singles were released “The World is Dead” and “Weatherman”. Both did quite well.

He split from the band to start recording his first demo.

Big Break

Damien set up to record his first album ”O” with band mates Lisa Hannigan, Vyvienne Long, and Tom Osander

“O” was such a big hit they continued with another great album called “9”

What is Good Music?

“I used to have a feeling that I had to spend a long time at the song, work at it till it got better, like building a

house or something, you've got to spend loads of time doing it and putting in he foundations, but recently I

discovered that the better songs I have written are the ones that come really fast, where I stop trying to be a song writer, stop trying to be anything, and just live,

experience and be free.” -Damien Rice

Influences Leonard Cohen Van Morrison Cat Stevens His partner Lisa

Hannigan The tension created in

his music is influenced by a lack of a relationship with a woman that he is in love with.

Composition History

The Blowers Daughter

Older Chests

9 Crimes

The Blowers Daughter

From the album “O” Released in the

U.S. In July of 2003 Lisa Hannigans

beautiful voice accompanies Damien's in the song.

www.youtube.com

Older Chests

From the album “O” Released in the

U.S. In July of 2003 Produced by East

West www.youtube.com

9 Crimes

From the album “9” Released in the

U.S. In November of 2006

Right hand woman Lisa Hannigan was one of the main voices along with Damien's

www.youtube.com

Listening Guide

The Blowers Daughter 0:00 Introduction: Starts off with a soft singing voice.

0:27 Verse 1: Male voice and the sound of an acoustic guitar in the background. Dynamic is pianissimo and rhythm is increasing. Interesting harmony, quiet guitar, loud but soft voice with simple texture.

0:43 Verse 2: Dynamic is full, strong, yet soft but getting more forta in the voice and guitar. Texture is enticing and there is a pianissimo cello. Ascending contour and harmony becomes complex.

0:55 Chorus: Repeating lyrics along with quiet to loud cello and voice showing timbre.

1:40 Verse 3: Upfront, strong, forta voice with arching contour.

2:36 Chorus: Repeating lyrics reinforce the meaning. Woman's voice is in the foreground.

3:22 Bridge: Harmony shifts with higher woman's voice

3:49 Chorus: Differences in the repeat of the chorus brings new meaning

4:20 Coda: Pianissimo voice

4:48 End

Older Chests 0:00 Introduction: Twang of acoustic guitar, pitch of the guitar going up

and down is interesting.

0:35 Verse: Slow tempo and soft piano and voices. Contour is arching but subtle.

1:10 Verse 2: Harmony rises and falls with the pitch of the male voice, the rhythm picks up.

1:44 Chorus: Deep male voice contrasts with higher smooth cello harmonizing with the acoustic guitar.

2:20 Verse 3: Contour and pitch are ascending.

3:12 Bridge: Contrasting tones and their voices weaving together.

3:29 Chorus: Woman's high pitched voice then joins the male with Pianissimo sound of the cello.

4:30 Coda: Pianissimo, gentle woman's voice, instruments softly end

4:46 Ends

9 Crimes 0:00 Introduction: Timbre pianissimo sound of a piano

0:27 Verse 1: Soft piano woman's voice with the loud piano creates texture. The soft words and tone create emotion.

0:55 Chorus: Repetition of lyrics shows form. High pitch from piano with lower pitches in the voice. Tempo can be easily heard.

1:21 Verse 2: Lower tones bring out the sadness in the repeated lyrics.

1:50 Chorus: Texture and harmony between the males voice with piano and cello.

2:14 Chorus: Repetition again. Harmony is shown when the male voice and the womans take every other line.

3:00 Coda: Dramatic powerful words and voices. Pianissimo voices and instruments fade to silence.

3:37 Ends

Bibliography

http://www.lyricsmania.com/biography/damien_rice_biography_1709.html

http://new.music.yahoo.com/damien-rice/biography/

http://www.soundunwound.com/music/damien-rice/22051?ref=AADP

http://www.last.fm/music/Damien+Rice/+wiki

http://www.contactmusic.com/pages/damienricex23x11x06

http://www.cluas.com/music/features/damien_rice_profile.htm

(1,2)

Rice, Damien. Interview. Cluas.com. Nov. 2001

<http://www.cluas.com/music/features/damien_rice_profile.htm>.