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

Albéniz's Artistic Legacy and Influence

Isaac Albéniz wrote for all kinds of genres, but his piano output stands out as his most significant contribution. He is considered one of the most important composers of Spanish nationalism, as his work evokes the rhythms and melodies of popular Spanish music.

The titles of his works often relate to specific areas of Spain. His compositions emphasize the expressive power of his melodies, which always achieve striking contrasts.

Featured Work: Asturias (Leyenda)

Asturias (Leyenda) is a renowned piano piece that forms part of the Suite Española, Op. 47. It is structured in three parts. A suite is a musical work containing several individual pieces; in this case, each piece within the suite evokes different... Continue reading "Isaac Albéniz: Master of Spanish Piano and His Enduring Legacy" »

Mohamed Sharif Mendez Fernandez: A Hip-Hop Journey

Born January 17, 1980, Mohamed Sharif Mendez Fernandez began his artistic journey early. “I think it was back in '92 when I started writing my first poems, at 12 years old, just learning to live,” he recalls. During that time, he also met his crew, Tha Posse, and began to leave his mark in ink. It wasn't until '94 that they recorded their first song, titled “4 Devils in the Micro,” for a compilation called Zaragoza Zulu.

Four more years passed before they recorded what would be Tha Posse's first album, “Too Much Honor for Hunger.” This work earned them recognition and respect, crafted with a passion and sincerity that can only be achieved when writing from the heart. Since then, Sharif... Continue reading "Musical Legacies: Hip-Hop, Klezmer, and Spanish Songwriting Icons" »

Baroque Architecture

• Bernini: Colonnade of St. Peter's Square; Canopy to the Basilica of St Peter's; Church of San Andrea del Quirinale.
• Borromini: The Oratory of St. Philip Neri; Church San Ivo; Church Santa Ines in Piazza Navona; San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane.

Baroque Sculpture

• Bernini: The Rape of Proserpina; Tomb of Urban VIII; The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa; Fountain of the Four Rivers; Tomb of Alexander VII; David; Apollo and Daphne.
• Gregorio Fernández: Pietà; Made numerous altarpieces; Christ Recumbent.
• Salzillo: Eight processional statues (The Fall, The Prayer in the Garden, San Juan, The Kiss of Judas, The Last Supper, The Painful, Jesus Bound to the Column, The Ordeal); The Belén Riquelme family; Holy Family; St. Jerome Penitent; Prayer

Classical Music

1. Construction of Classical Music

Classical music is built upon the principle of melody, emphasizing symmetrical structure. Melodies are typically divided into sections of 8 bars (periods and sub-periods of 2) or 6 bars (3+3). Harmony plays a crucial role, with a tonal hierarchy centered around the root (R), dominant (V), and subdominant (IV) chords. Harmonic tones emphasize scales and arpeggios. Alberti bass, a common accompaniment pattern, involves arpeggiating chords in a regular, repeated pattern.

2. New Instruments in the Orchestra

The harpsichord gradually disappeared from the orchestra. Two prominent instruments emerged: the horn and the clarinet. The piano also became a key instrument.

• Wind: Clarinet, Horn
• Keyboard: Piano

3.

A Brief History of Music Genres

Hard Rock: The power amplifiers, distortion of the guitars, the melodic content between screams, rhythm, and repetition are some traits of hard rock. (Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden).

Punk: Emerging from the economic crisis of the 70s, punk appeared as a reaction to social issues and disenchantment, characterized by the constant pursuit of controversy. (Sex Pistols, The Clash, Ramoncín).

Disco: Dance music that draws from soul, funk, and electronica. (Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Bee Gees).

Reggae: Originating from Jamaica, reggae marked a change for the subsequent evolution of music. In a non-industrialized country, a style appeared with Caribbean rhythms that influenced the entire planet. (Bob Marley)

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Key Composers of the Classical Era

The most important composers of the Classical era were Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven. All three lived and worked in Vienna, a central hub for music during this period.

What is a Musical Movement?

When we speak of a movement in a musical work, we are referring to the distinct, self-contained sections or "breaks" that exist within the larger composition. Each movement typically has its own tempo, mood, and structure.

Distinguishing Musical Forms

Symphony

A symphony is a large-scale musical composition for orchestra, typically divided into four movements. Each movement usually has a different structure and tempo, and the overall form of the symphony has evolved significantly over time.... Continue reading "Classical Music Essentials: Forms, Composers, and Concepts" »

Core Themes of the Romantic Movement

The Anguish of Romantic Consciousness

This feeling is a central feature of the romantic unhappy consciousness, characterized by:

• Anxiety about the incompleteness of life (human anguish).
• The perception that life is a problem: fleeting and inconsistent.
• The common theme of ruins, symbolizing decay and expiration.

There is an obsession with death, seen as the ultimate release from melancholy ("the blues").

The intensity of this despair depends on belief:

• If the author finds mystical religious consolation, the anguish is tempered.
• If the author is atheist, the despair ("the blues") will be desperate.

Disillusionment and Evasion

The Romantic figure is eternally discontented because their ideals (such as freedom and happiness)... Continue reading "Defining Characteristics and Core Themes of Romanticism" »

Music in the Middle Ages

Polyphony

Polyphony is a musical texture involving two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody. It emerged significantly from the mid-9th century onwards.

Ars Antiqua (c. Mid-9th - 13th Century)

The main musical style of the 13th century. Principal musicians associated with this era include Albertus Parisiensis, Leoninus, and Perotinus.

Musical Forms of Ars Antiqua

• Organum: A form where an additional invented melody is added to a pre-existing Gregorian chant melody.
• Motet: A form built on a Gregorian melody (tenor), with new voices added above it, often with different texts (polytextual).
• Conductus: A form where all melodies (voices) are newly composed (not based on chant) and sung in Latin, usually with the same text

Instrumental Music of the Baroque

The luster of Baroque instrumental music stems from the evolution of instruments and the emergence of all orchestral families. These families include string, woodwind, brass, and percussion. Baroque works are often based on improvisation, variation, imitative counterpoint, and dance forms. Key forms include:

The Suite

A complex instrumental piece composed of a succession of dances with different characters and a variable number, all in the same key and in binary form.

The Sonata

Meaning "music to be sounded," the sonata is played by instruments and divided into four contrasting movements (fast and slow) with different textures and rhythms. It is similar to the more widely diffused sonatina. There are also smaller,... Continue reading "Baroque Instrumental Music and Dance in Spain" »