Notes, abstracts, papers, exams and problems of Music

Early Life and Training in Bonn

Born on December 16, 1770, in Bonn, Germany, Ludwig van Beethoven's early life was marked by rigorous musical training under his demanding father. Driven by the ambition to mold him into "the new Mozart," Beethoven's father's methods, coupled with his struggles with alcoholism, impacted the young Beethoven's personal and academic life. Despite facing challenges, Beethoven's exceptional talent was evident from a young age. By the age of seven, he was already captivating audiences with his piano recitals, earning the admiration of renowned musicians like Christian Gottlob Neefe, who became his mentor.

A Budding Musician in Vienna

At the age of 16, Beethoven embarked on a journey to Vienna, the music capital of the... Continue reading "Ludwig van Beethoven: A Musical Prodigy's Journey" »

Revenge Tragedy

Revenge tragedy is a genre of English theatre written from the mid-1580s to the early 1640s. The main themes of these plays are ghosts, incest, rape, torture, perversion, murder, betrayal, madness, strong passions, bloody violence, etc. Some of the most influential writers of this time were John Ford, Thomas Middleton, Thomas Kyd, John Marston, John Webster, George Chapman and Cyril Tourneur. We can distinguish some plays such as Kyd’s Spanish Tragedy, which initiated the dramatic archetype, inventing the basic formula.

Notable Works

Another crowd-pleasers tragedy was Thomas Middleton’s ‘The Revenger’s Tragedy’ (1606). We can distinguish Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ even if others claim that it is not a true Revenge Tragedy.... Continue reading "Influence and Themes of English Revenge Tragedy" »

The English Renaissance

Units: Shakespearean sonnets have three rhyming quatrains followed by one rhyming couplet.

Rhyme Scheme: Is how the verse can be determined by their rhyme. ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

5 plays of Shakespeare:

1. Romeo and Juliet
2. As you like it
3. Hamlet
4. Night of kings
5. Julius Cesar

William Shakespeare

1. Date of Birth: April 23, 1564
2. Education: King Edward VI
3. Movement: Renaissance
4. Occupation: Writer
5. Number 1 play: Macbeth
6. Date of death: May 3, 1616

Vocabulary:

1. Tragic hero: Main character who comes to an unhappy end.
2. Catastrophe: Disastrous event that ruins the hero's life.
3. Tragic flaw: Weakness in character that leads to the hero's downfall.
4. Soliloquy: Speech made by a character alone on stage that reveals the character's inner feelings.
5. Antagonist: Characters

The Arrival of Radio in 1920 Provoked a Change in Society

The importance of the radio in the diffusion of music was incalculable. The invention of the radio was possible thanks to the discovery of electromagnetic waves.

The Rise of Romanticism in Music

A New Era of Expression

From the late 19th to the early 20th century, Europe witnessed a series of socio-political revolutions that laid the groundwork for liberalism and democracy. The bourgeoisie held political and economic power, and industrialization, machinery, and the railway were transforming society. This period also saw the rise of Romanticism in music, characterized by:

Key Characteristics of Romantic Music

• Emphasis on individuality, rebellion against rules, and exaltation of feelings.
• Rich, passionate, and intense melodies with irregular phrasing.
• Complex and fluctuating rhythms, incorporating techniques like tenuto and ritardando.
• Rich and varied harmonies with modulations and key changes.
• Expanded symphony

Baroque Definition

Musical Characteristics

• Striking, colorful, vital, full of movement and dramatic effects
• Tendency to ornamentation and complexity
• Importance of contrasts in movement, dynamics, character, and timbre
• Great rhythmic energy with the use of repetitive rhythmic patterns
• Long and ornate melodies
• Establishment of the tonal system of tones and semitones
• Use of continuous bass (basso

Melody:

A melody is a succession of sounds that are perceived as a whole. Throughout history, many musical pieces have been composed, and each musical work has a different melody.

Intervals:

The varying pitches of the sounds in a melody give it a distinct identity that makes the melody recognizable.

Second, sixth, third, seventh, fourth, octave, fifth, unison

Scales:

A scale is a series of ascending or descending notes that starts on one note and ends with a repetition of that same note one octave above or one octave below.

Chords:

A chord is a composition of various sounds playing at once. (It is a combination of three or more notes playing at the same time)

Meter:

When we hear a melody, we find that certain accents are repeated regularly, this regularity... Continue reading "Understanding Melody, Intervals, Scales, Chords, and Percussion Instruments" »

MAJOR GENRES

Musical Instruments: A Comprehensive Guide

Chordophones

Chordophones are instruments that produce sound by strings vibrating when plucked, picked, bowed, or struck.

Membranophones

Membranophones are instruments that are played by striking a membrane.

Idiophones

Idiophones are instruments that self-vibrate by being moved or struck in various ways.

Electrophones

Electrophones are instruments that produce sounds from electronic recreation and modification.

The Human Voice

The human voice is an aerophone. Although we have vocal cords, we need to exhale air for our voices to produce sound. We use our voices to express ourselves using words and music together.

Another way the human voice acts as a musical instrument is through the use of vocables, which are... Continue reading "Musical Instruments: A Comprehensive Guide to Chordophones, Membranophones, Idiophones, Electrophones, and the Human Voice" »