Jacob Collier: Home Is - Harmonic Analysis

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* Jacob Collier’s four album Djesse project began in a completely unexpected way. The first song on Djesse Volume 1 is a slow, introverted and harmonically complex choral work, sung beautifully by Voces8 - ‘Home Is’. In this essay, I analyse the harmonic progressions and use of harmony in the piece to try and work out what Jacob’s musical home sounds like.
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*All music (score/audio) Copyright © Jacob Collier 2018. The score should not be reproduced or used for performance. Visit www.jacobcolli... for more information.

[@AndyChamberlainMusic]

Home Is is one of the most chill-inducing pieces of music in the world for me

[@Jim951cup]

Same here. Biggest musical revelation in a very long time.

[@subbot8077]

Found myself listening to Djesse Vol 1 after having not listened in a while, and Home Is had me actually crying

[@SimLoadsMedia]

That was the fastest 8 minutes I've ever experienced

[@ricodecoracao6020]

Oh yes, i absolutly understand you!

[@licaric5549]

Yeah, actually! 😆

[@boriswilsoncreations]

I had a weird and cool experience with this song. When I was in the bus, going home, I was listening to this song for the very first time, and then, when it reached that final chord, in the same time, I heard a very loud explosion sound coming from outside the bus, it was one of the tires of the bus that punctured. It was so synchronized, and the sound was so loud and deep that I think I'll never be able to feel that same bass while listening to Home Is again. It reminded me of Overture 1812, by Tchaikovsky, where he used cannons to do the performance. Then, the bus parked and Overture, the following song of the album, started to play, and it started to build that tension as everyone was so worried and trying to see what happened. And then, when the song reached nearly it's half, and the orchestra started to get more energetic, the doors opened and we were able to get off the bus. I felt like my life at that moment was being scored like in a movie, it was funny tho, like, to think that way. Because of that I couldn't get less worried because of the issue of the tire and getting way too late home, because I needed, after all, to wait for another bus. That gave me a lot of time to listen the whole album, and at the time I finally got home I could finish it, and it became one of my favorite albums.

[@minionmax1604]

Bro, you leave me speechless. I feel like some people who try to analyse Jacob's pieces often merely touch the theoretical genius behind the music and even then I feel like they just barely scratch the surface, given the fact that his music is so intricate and thought through. So, I congratulate you on not choosing a clickbaity "G HALF SHARP MAJOR MODULATION" approach but rather an emotional one to his work. In the end music makes you feel. You embrace, in this case, the feeling of home. And I think you, as always, did a fantastic job with explaining why his music makes you feel what it does and I thank you for these eight minutes of true calm, exhilaration and awe. God bless.

[@alistaircornacchio5727]

Thank you for putting into words what I couldn't. If you can move someone with a narration.. you got somethin goin on. Fantastic work

[@euanmangan7760]

This song is the harmonic equivalent of getting kicked in the nuts but in a good way somehow

[@mcmire]

I've listened to this song about 10 times and I still don't understand how the harmony works in the middle, especially knowing that it's done with just intonation. How do the "weird" chords sound SO pure? Voces8 performs this song so unbelievably well you might think they faked it, like AutoTune was applied or something. I still haven't wrapped my head around it. And the chord at the very end is pure magic.

[@juicebox86]

The dude is a genius. Nothing short.

[@BluePi1313]

It sounds more pure because just intonation uses pitches that have a simpler ratio. Our ears are really good at comparing the ratios between each chord. Unfortunately, because it is mathematically impossible to make every half step equidistant from each other, we adapted to a tuning system that's equally out of tune in every key you play it in. That's why Jacob's chords sound more consonant than any chord you'll be able to play on the piano.

[@CreativeIsolation]

And herein you've pinpointed the genius of Jacob, achieving musical complexity and ingenuity-and novelty even-in a totally pallatable and pleasant and gorgeous presentation. Only a true genius could make microtonality, for example, sound so darn good.

[@Jim951cup]

I only listened to this song for the first time a few minutes ago and it has been the most musically moving experience I've had, probably in my whole life. The last chord hit me really hard in such a good way... It felt like home more than anything before. I don't know enough music theory to fully understand how he does it, but Jacob Collier takes us on an incredible journey through harmonies and unusual tunings, turning our world upside down repeatedly, building up the suspense and preparing the perfect arrival at home in an incredibly pleasant way. Jacob Collier is such a musical genius, I feel blessed to be alive and able to witness this. Immediately after listening to the song I searched for a song analysis and got here, this video is exactly what I needed and the narration is very respectful of the music, congrats on that too.

[@stevennaylor3900]

These expressive markings are tremendous!! Pre-dawn; deep/deeper quench; like a father/child/mother; sunburst. As a composer I think my scores are in need of some more poetry!

[@drewbly5144]

I remember the first time I heard this song, I was driving home at midnight from my grocery store job. It was a long day and it was pitch black outside and freezing. I remember being moved to tears on that final chord. I had never EVER heard the "where the heart is" in the background and when you pointed it out I was COVERED in goosebumps. Thank you for an amazing deep dive into a song that is so special to me!

[@TheBeatBrothersBand]

Home Is really opens up the Djesse series in such a spectacular way. Couldn't have imagined a better way to start the crazy journey of this 4 album series. Can't wait for pt. 4

[@williamduartemusic]

I'm very glad to see a breakdown of this song. For me to this day It's still one of the most mysterious and rich songs of his catalogue!

[@MatthijsvanSantendeHoog]

This is why I still love KZbin despite all the bad stuff. Somehow, after weeks of the same boring rubish, the algorith connects me to this lovely channel presenting me this insanely beautiful piece that delivers me tears, surprise, laughter and warmth in BIG quantities. Thank you. Thank you.

[@modalmixture]

I absolutely love the beautiful score animations you have developed! One thing that would be useful for me, since I am quite slow at reading harmony in a score, would be some kind of chord symbol or figured bass notation. For example, when I mark up scores for study, I often write a chord symbol and then add scale degrees next to each note to visualize how they are voiced and what tones have been added. I know this kind of music often transcends the limits of jazz chord notation, but some visual guideposts to help see the underlying harmonies would be very helpful. Again, thanks for another beautiful video.

[@elinemay]

Wow, I have listened to this piece a thousand times, but this analysis made me experience the piece as if I am hearing it for the first time again. Thank you! I love how Jacob hid the answer "where the heart is" I never noticed that as words spoken in the piece. Amazing analysis like always. Keep up the great work!

[@mrmangoberry8394]

Very nice! This one of my favourites from Collier.

[@faulentin6002]

This piece gives me goosebumps every time i hear it! As always, great video (especially the visuals 🌚🌞)

[@ListeningIn]

Thank you!

[@kidjecl]

I remember literally losing balance on my chair when the D Lydian (440) burst chord happened, and then bursting into tears when that arrived finally at home. I love all versions of Jacob, but the vocal arrangements are disturbingly cathartic. Amazing analysis. I wasn't able to really understand the whole G13#11 + Gaug ---> F# before.

[@TheNick1704]

Wow, this video made me appreciate the song SO MUCH more! I hadn't even noticed the "Home is where the heart is" part before! This video is just as much an experience as the song itself, my god. Great job!

[@anitap3164]

And did you notice that its in the section of mother... so sweet

[@BluePi1313]

I love your style of narrating the harmonic analysis as the song plays. Please do more of these!

[@jonocour]

How did you get Voces8 to give you the score. Also, you narrating and presenting style has got so much better. Congrats dude

[@Gospelplaya1000]

I know! I would like my own copy of accurate sheet music of home is to analysis myself

[@ListeningIn]

Thank you Jonathon! Well, I happen to know quite a few of the members of Voces8, so I pulled a few strings!

[@jonocour]

@@ListeningIn ah I thought that might be the case

[@andy25piano]

This song is in my top 5 of all times since I heard it for the first time. It moves me in a way that few other songs do. It gives me goosebumps, I start daydreaming, I feel nostalgia, I go to dark places in my memory and come round back to the present. It´s a mini-journey throughout my entire life experiences. It´s probably what Jacob was intending when he wrote this masterpiece: think about who you are, where you come from and why home is so important for people. Oh, and it resonates particularly well with me because it reminds me of the times when I sang in a choir. Choir music is very special and it doesn´t compare to instrumental/band music. On a different note, congrats for the excellent video. This channel is very special: thoughtful, thorough and entertaining.

[@uvi_music]

This and your Radiohead video are honestly some of the best music related videos I’ve ever seen on the platform. Absolutely stupendous work 👏

[@oscarjohnzen9808]

What great timing, was having a bad day but now I have something to look forward to! You are the best!

[@ListeningIn]

Excellent!

[@alistaircornacchio5727]

At the end of this production my entire body pulsed with energy, every hair stood straight up as to salute the finality of what I was experiencing, and chills ran from the center of my body right out to the very ends of my nerves and back again

[@west4coast77]

You've assembled a rather impressive analysis and explanation of Jacob's intent and considerable abilities as a composer. Excellent editing and illustration. Kudos!

[@wholemilky]

Wonderful video, I'll be binging all of your videos tomorrow. Seriously, I cannot fathom why you're not more popular.

[@kpdelaney6460]

I've heard many of Jacob Collier's songs, but I have only now heard this one. It is so beautiful, and captures an ethereal feeling unlike any other song I've heard. Really cool!

[@LouieTaylorMusic]

Wow! This incredibly. I absolutely love the graphics on this video - a great analysis, Barney! Isn't this piece wonderful? It really does feel like home to listen to.

[@tanrebcucarellosqui4321]

I've waiting that analysis since you upload the sheet music... That's amazing! Thanks a lot!!

[@thedenver2724]

Fantastic analyzation, great work!

[@DevashishGuptaOfficial]

Serious goosebumps.

[@eyelidman09]

Astounding. Thank you for this in depth analysis.🙏

[@bananaaudio]

Awe-inspiring stuff. Both the music and the analysis video. Incredible work as always.

[@petersan6041]

the word“ it needs to try something else" is soo in tune.

[@zacharybynummusic]

High-quality, beautiful analysis. Instant subscription!

[@epiclauren4757]

Your channel deserves so much more attention! Your work is really professional and amazing! Keep it up:)

[@epiclauren4757]

I wanted to add. Can you make a analysis on Indian Johns score? I love this one. I can‘t imagine how much work you have to put into these videos. Really amazing!

[@ferminleon]

I'm so glad you were able to get it back up!

[@tobiasgreeeen]

Wow! I wasn't expecting this to be at my front page! Love your videos on Jacob!

[@kirsten7152]

Super interesting. Perfect as I prepare for my music theory final exam.

[@amaice]

what a high quality video a high quality composition oml

[@whycantiremainanonymous8091]

What strikes me about the harmony at the beginning of "Home is" is that it offers a sort of condenced history of European music, from plainchant onward. The beginning is plainchant, but a few bars in we already have a borrowing from Thalis (Spem in allium), so Rennaisance polyphony, and the harmony gets spicier from there on.

[@samgville]

Thanks for this amazing journey to where home is!

[@tereruggiu]

I love you ahaha how wonderful is it when you listen to music with this awareness? Thank you man

[@robertmcmanus498]

I couldn't name a better way to start a Monday! Great essay!

[@ListeningIn]

Thank you Robert - happy Monday!

[@oscardanoe3616]

Amazing video! Thank you

[@sept1102]

my goosbumps have goosebumps

[@sammusic7537]

‘Ouverture’ sounds really flowendly after ‘home is’, like its one song together. So maybe home is ouverture?

[@allisonwhitesidepollard4368]

wow. incredible

[@advocate1563]

I have been waiting for Collier to outcrownjis pop phase and be the composer he is intended to be. This isn't intended as snobbishness - I studied at the Guildhall and had a record.contract with Island. It is simply that Collier is an important voice who was turned onto harmony by performing Britten's Turn of the Screw. He himself says he wants to write orchestral music and - tantalisingly - do something with Byrd's songs. I am impatient.

[@joeowens6180]

Quite amazing. The visual outlining of the music as well as the narration do help the not-so-musical listener (like me) to find the sense or rationale behind the harmonies.

[@andersolsen5588]

Nice video. I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the premier performance of this work (along with a few other songs from Volume 1), one of the more surprising perks of attending MIT. Thankfully, Jacob was only a little disappointed with our inability to adequately follow the tuning rules (as an aside, when I first saw the markings for specific tunings when we received the score a couple weeks before the concert, I was expecting Jacob to be a rather pretentions musician, as I had never heard of him to that point). This song was a bit different from anything I'd sung before, and I was glad to contribute my ability to sing the wonderful low C#s. P.S. We were all greatly amused by the peculiar directions such as "Deeper quench"

[@willrobins]

speechless

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

Damn....That piece just feels like it was meant to be. It reminds me of my current planning of my Bachelor's degree and having to design an experiment: Keeping constant everything but the variable we want to observe so that it becomes painfully obvious if and how it changes. I guess what I'm trying to say is that this feels like it's not an experiment of a concept but a proof of it. Everything comes together and becomes more beautiful due to the "togetherness". idk man, now I just called it a "proof of concept" and that somehow makes it seem bad.....how is it that the language I use is actually of the opposite opinion that I am. Proofs are a beautiful thing, people!!

[@monosTVsports]

Thanks so much💜 your vids help a lot

[@ListeningIn]

My pleasure!

[@Hu7io]

I haven't seen that good content in years!

[@ohwhen7775]

Thanks for the reupload.

[@silver1788]

Wow not expecting this one today😍 thanks Rly thanks thats what i needed

[@thekingoface8338]

Fantastic video :)

[@willmandelbaum6087]

Amazing work as always.

[@michaelfitzurka5659]

Very well handled. Thank you.

[@andx4024]

very interesying. thanks for your work!

[@benposedi9844]

This is the epitome of musical analysis, can't believe I'm only finding this channel now, thank you so much for this video. Just had a question, am I the only one who hears the chord at 4:10 as a dominant? V chord resolving to the low E chord.

[@punkinholler]

Neat! Also those were the wackiest, um... tempo markings (?) I've ever seen 😀. My favorite was "Be a father braver than you feel". It's definitely a mood but it's far more subjective direction than I've ever encountered. Truly lovely piece though and I wish I was still doing choir so I could sing it.

[@Emmm3018]

Fuck, this is fantastic work. You nailed it, man! (P.S: Try warching this stoned, it's even more awesome and intriguing)

[@emmnttvideogamemusic6021]

Wow, that was just great, thank you!

[@ListeningIn]

You're very welcome!

[@MrSniper9296]

Reminds me so much of Marty O'Donnells work on Halo.

[@dominikn19]

🙌

[@nathantang9964]

This great an all but i don't feel like the question of what jacob think home is like was truly answered

[@juicebox86]

Home....."E.T. phone home." (another great video)

[@stichyface]

Why am I CRYING

[@KillaManZilla]

tops

[@GoGerman4]

Just a thought, if you run flat out, you’ll hit around 20mph (30km/h)...yes, that’s very fast for a human, but that speed will cause a Doppler shift of around 11Hz. So if you’re running as fast as you can away from home and sing a 440Hz “A,” it will be heard as ~429Hz. Maybe the downshift in frequency is supposed to be as if you’re hearing the piece while running from home

[@GoGerman4]

Or maybe, if we are listening to this piece while running that fast toward home, we will hear it as 440Hz as an up shift in frequency until we arrive (stationary) at home to hear those final chords which are tuned in at 440Hz. Just some nerdy acoustic thoughts

[@aaronmyers6686]

Reminds me heavily of Fabio Costa's "Aphoristic Madrigal", but without the Dorian flavor.

[@adinsumner1218]

Is there a channel where I can find out what half of these words mean? Harmony is so much more complicated and my smol brain can't handle it quite yet

[@couragecoachsam]

If they’re singing acapella, wouldn’t they make those micro-adjustments anyway; following the voice leadings to remain in pure temperament?

[@CreativeIsolation]

Good singers can do that, yes, but maintaining accurate tuning that Jacob demanded requires next-level ears. Jumping up nearly 50 cents in the last few bars is something I don't think most musicians are up to... I know I'm not.

[@juwonnnnn]

👍

[@RyanGreenBlue]

is this a reupload? i swear i've seen this before somewhere, months ago

[@alistaircornacchio5727]

Is this the full score for vocals?

[@theinstrumental8090]

That's incredibly transcribed. It must have taken some time.

[@NickLadushkinFoxmillet]

wooo

[@alistaircornacchio5727]

Can anyone help me identify a few sounds that are happening in this piece? I've been curious of them for over a year and would love some more insight into what they could be/where they are coming from/how I can reproduce them. I will attach timestamps of what I mean to this comment. thanks!

[@alistaircornacchio5727]

4:22 there are two chords here, the sounds occur on the second one. There are two main sounds I can identify which I'm very interested in. There's an impact noise of some sort, it's so warm and encompassing and epic, but it has such a subtlety to it that makes the sound feel so complex.. any ideas? Also there is sort of this wave crash, or big washy sound that occurs and sustains at the same time. Would could that be and why does it sound so elegant? These chords get repeated right after with the impact sound but I believe the wash over sound is not present, if you can't hear exactly what I mean, check out the piece without narration.

[@alistaircornacchio5727]

6:55 this sounds like everything I ever knew was inverted and flipped into this scorching bright new perspective. The sounds I identify are a large impact, which I would have no idea what to name in order to search for, and a crazy harmonic shift which is so jarring it sounds like a change in everything but I suppose it's really just the harmony. If anyone can hear anything else please let me know, this sound has such complexity to it and I'm sure I'm missing something that is key to it's stunning effects.

[@alistaircornacchio5727]

4:00 this one is hard to hear in this video, it occurs at two minutes and thirty seconds in the real song. I identify this real delicate sound That's so intricate it involves my other senses. I see metallic gold and I taste a crisp cool refreshing but faint sweetness. It sounds to me like little mechanical wings, like those of the snitch in Harry Potter, it's such a dynamic sound, and you can hear the life and control within it. Can anyone help me name it more accurately so I can find things like it?

[@alistaircornacchio5727]

While we're at it, does anyone know how he gets the aura surrounding his voice in his overture piece? It sounds so otherworldly and godly in a way, I believe I hear him singing in octaves? But there's got to be more to that sound. Thanks

[@danilorg]

I still don't understand the relation between the cords. If we look at a book of harmony with exercices, we get every cord a position. Always on youtube I see people talking about one or other cord in the song, but never explaining everything that is happening. Could you explain this to me or give me a reference to study? Thanks.

[@caioschissatti]

You have to understand that not all harmony is functional

[@danilorg]

@@caioschissatti What does that mean? (I hope to not sound rude, it is a honest doubt)

[@caioschissatti]

@@danilorg To simplify: in harmonic analysis we tend to look up the function of each chord in a given context. Yet, not all music can be analyzed this way, because in complex harmonies (like Home Is), it's hard to establish a harmonic function to each chord. Sometimes the function analysis can't really describe the relationships of each chord, since their role is sort of abstract (btw that doesn't mean they don't resolve or generate tension). That's basically it, pretty common in jazz.

[@danilorg]

​@@caioschissatti Yeah. I get it. So, in order to do something like that I have to focus on what (I have reflected about it for some months and I think the answer is in melody [forming a group])? And how can I study that on Jazz - do you have a song or something like it to recomend? I have read Mark Levine's books and it is very simple to understand - I have read other books about harmony, but are in portuguese -, but I don't know how to get at that level. I've looked up to June Lee's transcriptions and trying to understand, but it seems 'random'.

[@caioschissatti]

@@danilorg Check out fusion jazz. You can also listen to Debussy and listen to the harmony, you will (hopefully) see what I'm talking about. Just to clarify: analysing his music over the function of each chord is not practical at all, so we call that non-functional-harmony (pretty self explanatory), even though that includes a bunch of stuff since harmony not based on functions is just another way to craft and understand harmonies. That said, to do something like that and to get to that level, you have to break out of conventions and see things from other lenses. What do you think Jacob thought when he did the G13(#11)/G+ chord?

[@jivan476]

It's regretful that this very interesting/promising channel is gradually turning into a Jacob Collier fan work.

[@Relflow]

What are you talking about? There are only 3 videos on Listening In on the subject of Jacob Collier's music. This video being spaced a year from the last one. His greatest exposure is due to his analysis and expanding the understanding of Jacob Collier's work. I would not have found this incredibly wonderful channel without it. If he were truly becoming a fan work, he would have made more videos in the same subject, and that's simply not the case. I find it unfortunate you have this distain for fanworks of Jacob Collier, what have they done against you?

[@BrunoNeureiter]

It's been 1 years since the last one. Piss off already

[@ophello]

Jacob Collier has earned this in every possible way. It would be irresponsible NOT to analyze the work of the greatest living musician on earth. And I’m sure you disagree. And you’d be wrong.

[@silver1788]

Also is this your Transcription or a buyable one. If so, where to buy it

[@jordanolson]

1:45 I though perfect cadence needed the root of the cadential chord in the highest voice

[@subplantant]

... aspirated? 😉

[@matthewsaul3533]

It's an interesting essay. But I wouldn't call it analysis exactly, as the way you move through your analysis includes quite a lot of gushing over Jacob Collier. Sorry to put it so harshly, but that's how it comes across to me. Personally, analysis is as devoid of bias as possible. But the way you go about this seems like the complete opposite of that. It's not uncommon. In our culture people tend to put artists on a completely impossible and, to me, ridiculous pedestal. If we love what they do, they're treated almost like deities. And if we don't like what they do they're often treated like demons. I was hoping for a more cold analysis. One which mostly talks about what's happening theory-wise. Instead I got an essay on the theory of this piece imbued with flowery, gushy language like "canvas of stars" and "a deep quench" etc. To each their own. You, of course, have the right to do that and still call it analysis. And a lot of people love this video, so I'm happy you have a place to put your gifts. But to me, this isn't what I'd call analysis.

[@nihilgeist666]

That is a smelly fart indeed.

[@AndyChamberlainMusic]

that reversal sound effect at 5:09 this is why we love you lol

[@ListeningIn]

Ha. Quite pleased with that one.

[@4grammaton]

Sounds heavily inspired by Ligeti's "Lux Aeterna", but with a far more exploratory treatment of timbre through microtonality and just intonation.

[@andreasthorsteinsen8361]

I thought the stars at the beginning was dust on my ipad

[@ophello]

This music is the birth of Jacob Collier. The piece should be thought of as his opening demonstration to the world his musical presence. It is an audition piece, and a work of pure genius.

[@Scriabin_fan]

Man i really need to learn chord theory

[@cas8161]

anyone else thinking of Lux Aeterna by Ligeti when listening to this?

[@JeiShian]

besides the amazing content and knowledge, I loved the way you have presented it too, thank you!

[@jacobhelbig]

didn't you post the score a while ago? why did you take it down? (love the video, anyway. the score animation is insane.)

[@Relflow]

I'm glad to see the score uploaded once again, and with your analysis as well to accompany it. Thank you.

[@maestrotheoretically519]

what's the song at the begining

[@AToolyTime]

It's 'Ocean Wide, Canyon Deep' by Jacob Collier. 😊

[@bentleyboy67]

Thanks Barnaby

[@ListeningIn]

My pleasure, Alex

[@donttellany1itsme]

👌🏽