'Dance of Eternity' appears on the 1999 album Metropolis 2: Scenes from a Memory (listed on the album as 'Scene Seven: I. Described as a progressive metal band, the band employs many prog rock hallmarks in their music as well as very fast tempos and extremely guitar driven sound. Ostinatos Hammer-ons by strings 16th bass drum notes Forteĭrummer alternates between the snare and hi-hat Accented feel on the hi-hat notes Same notes accented by the guitarist and synth player.Introduction: Dream Theater was born in 1985 after three students at Berklee College of Music met up, subsequently decided to leave school and pursue their band, and become one of the most beloved metal bands around. Homophonic section Snare plays same rhythm as bass and guitar Drummer plays quarter notes on bass drum Bassist virtuosity Bass changes effect Syncopation Forte Glissando descending on guitar Straighten up metal with 16th notes in double bass and guitar Legato 32s played by guitarist Bass only plays on beat 1 of measuresĭrummer and guitarist play a rhythmic ostinato. Mezzoforte Rag time breakdown Change of mood Jazz beat by drummer Scott Joplin influences Guitar glissando Use of variety of cymbals Virtuosity by the guitarist Drummer plays fill with triplet feel Homophony between guitar and ride cymbal bell, while playing straight 16th notes on the bass drums. Flam notes by drummer Staccato notes Minor feel Forte Gong hit A rhythmic ostinato by the bass, guitar and drums. Imitative Polyphony (bass and synth) Guitar virtuosity Tom fills Transition section Fortissimo Synth Arpeggio Staccato notes by guitarist Minor feelī section is repeated with the addition of double bass drum straight 16th notes Metal feel Legato Arpeggio Mixed meters Polyphony: synth plays chords, the guitar plays 8th notes and the drums play a complex pattern.

Guitar plays rhythmically congruent chords with the bass and the drum cymbals. Mixed meters Forte Synth comes in with arpeggiated 16th notes. Figure 1 shows the rhythm of this section. Marching style Bass drum plays accented quarter notes. Backwards tape effect 5/4 meter for 4 measures.Ĥ/4 meter Percussion ostinato in a minor mode by the bass.

The dance of eternity