Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Music

Early American Music and Traditions

Benjamin Franklin's instrument: the glass harmonica.

America's music style in the 17th century: European, religious, and functional.

First opera house location: New Orleans, Louisiana.

U.S. Marine Band leader: John Philip Sousa.

19th-century American tradition: The minstrelsy or minstrel show.

What replaced the minstrelsy: Vaudeville shows.

Famous composer of art song: Stephen Foster.

19th-century musical landscape: There was a growing divide between amateur and professional performers in America, similar to Europe.

The Foundations of Ragtime and Blues

Ragtime Characteristics

Stylistically, Ragtime has numerous distinct sections. It is almost always performed on the piano. The left hand plays a steady beat while the... Continue reading "American Music History: From Ragtime to Jazz Fusion" »

Nasals

/m/ Voiced Bilabial Nasal

Represented by ‘m’ (e.g., mum). It can become syllabic when acquiring the quality of a preceding vowel (e.g., prism, socialism). It may be substituted by its labiodental allophone when in contact with a labiodental fricative (e.g., triumph, comfort).

/n/ Voiced Alveolar Nasal

Represented by ‘n’ (name, pen), ‘nn’ (annoyed), ‘kn’ (know), ‘gn’ (foreign), ‘pn’ (pneumatic), and ‘mn’ (mnemonic). It may become syllabic in words like cotton, passion, patient, and in phrases like bread and butter or rock and roll. It may be substituted by a dental allophone when in contact with a dental fricative (e.g., enthusiasm, in there).

/ŋ/ Voiced Velar Nasal

Represented by ‘n’ in contact with velar plosives... Continue reading "English Consonants: Nasals, Laterals, and Approximants" »

Renaissance Art Masterpieces

Florence and Early Renaissance Innovations

Architecture

• Leon Battista Alberti, West Façade of Santa Maria Novella, Florence, 1458-1470
• Michelozzo di Bartolommeo, Palazzo Medici, Florence, 1445
• Michelozzo di Bartolommeo, Interior Court of the Palazzo Medici, Florence, 1445
• Filippo Brunelleschi and Lorenzo Ghiberti, Sacrifice of Isaac, Competition Panel for East Doors, Baptistery of Florence Cathedral, 1401-02
• Lorenzo Ghiberti, East Doors, Gates of Paradise, Baptistery of Florence, 1425-52
• Bernardo Rossellino, Tomb of Leonardo Bruni, Santa Croce, Florence, 1444

Painting and Sculpture

• Cimabue, *Madonna Enthroned with Angels and Prophets*, c. 1280-1290
• Giotto di Bondone, *Madonna Enthroned*, c. 1310
• Giotto di Bondone, *Lamentation*

1  Two events mark the beginning and the end of baroque music: the premiere of the
opera“Orpheus” by Claudio Monteverdi (1607) and the death of Johann Sebastian Bach
(1750).

2  The basso continuo is a technique of composition of the Baroque period. By using
this technique, the composer creates the bass voice that constitutes the harmonic support
of the work. This bass voice is mainly formed by a series of chords of which the composer
only writes the lowest note.

3  At the end of the 16th century a group of intellectuals and humanists constituted a
cultural gathering in the city of Florence known as the Camerata Florentina. In these
meetings, there was a long and tended talk about issues related to art, literature and
music. Some of the members... Continue reading "Baroque Music: From Monteverdi to Bach and the Birth of Opera" »

Vocal Apparatus: The Foundation of Singing

The Three Processes of Voice Production

Our voice is produced through a fascinating interplay of various parts of the body, known as the vocal apparatus. This process involves three key stages:

1. Respiration: Adequate airflow is crucial for sound production. The diaphragm, a muscle separating the lungs from the digestive system, plays a vital role in controlling inhalation and exhalation. Singers strive for complete breathing, filling both the lower and upper parts of the lungs.
2. Production of Sound: As the diaphragm pushes air from the lungs, it passes through the larynx, where two small tendons called vocal cords vibrate, creating sound.
3. Amplification of Sound: The sound produced by the vocal cords is weak

Romantic Opera

Opera was very important during Romanticism.

The most important opera style was Opera Buffa. There are three important countries and composers associated with this era.

Italy: Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1904)

Although conservatory teachers considered him too old to be taught music, despite having accepted him, Verdi became one of the most successful opera composers of all time. Important Operas: Rigoletto, Baile de Máscaras (Un ballo in maschera).

Traviata

Traviata means 'the lost one.' Violetta loves Alfredo, but they do not have money. Violetta gets sick and leaves Alfredo because she thinks she is a burden to him. Alfredo is sad and angry because he does not know why Violetta left him. Alfredo and Violetta argue, and Alfredo humiliates... Continue reading "Romantic Opera Composers and Musical Innovations" »

Cinquecento: Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) produced few works, but of very high quality. His major technical contribution was the sfumato technique, applied in works such as The Last Supper and Mona Lisa.

Michelangelo

Michelangelo (1475-1564) displayed special interest in nudes, movement, variety of poses, drawing, and the depiction of volume. His main work was the series of frescoes in the Sistine Chapel.

Raphael

Raphael (1483-1520) achieved great perfection in drawing, color, and composition. His principal work was The School of Athens.

The Birth of the Baroque

The Baroque arose during the 17th century in response to papal patronage in Rome and spread across the rest of Europe. Artists continued the artistic traditions of the Renaissance.... Continue reading "Renaissance and Baroque Art: Masters and Masterpieces" »

The Sydney Opera House is a modern building located in Sydney, New South Wales. It is one of the 20th century's most famous and distinctive buildings.

Design and Inauguration

The Sydney Opera House was designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon. It was inaugurated on 20 October 1973. The building is an expressionist construction with a radically innovative design, consisting of a series of large prefabricated shells that form the roofs of the structure. The walls are made of brick and concrete. The theatre consists of rooms where people can enjoy several performance venues, including a concert hall, drama and studio theatre, and a Utzon room.

An Incredible Experience

In my opinion, although I have never been there, enjoying the surroundings of the

1.1 Theatre Music

Theatre music is the music used to accompany a performance, whether for the theatre, opera, or any other stage production. It sets the scene and transmits sensations that differ according to the scenes it represents.

Historical Background

Theatrical performances, the ancestors of opera, were not always held in theatres. Their development continuously offered more theatrical and musical possibilities.

1.2 The Birth of Opera

The origin of opera can be found in the Camerata Fiorentina, which began in Florence, Italy, at the end of the 16th century. It was a group of poets, musicians, singers, and cultured nobles who met to discuss music. The Camerata decided to emulate the Greek classics; they chose a mythological topic, wrote the... Continue reading "The Evolution of Theatre Music and Opera History" »