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

Essential Literary Terms and Definitions

Definitions for key literary devices and concepts found on textbook pages 18, 35, 123, 137, 156, 168, and 198.

• Assonance: The repetition of similar vowel sounds in unrhymed, stressed syllables.
• Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds in stressed syllables.
• Elegy: A formal poem mourning the loss of someone or something important.
• Folk Epic: A long narrative poem originating from ancient times, about heroes, typically recited or sung, and passed orally from generation to generation (e.g., Beowulf).
• Literary Epic: A long narrative poem about heroes, originally written by an individual author (e.g., Homer's Odyssey).
• Epic Conventions: Traditional characteristics or features found in epic poetry.

Understanding Classical Music (18th-19th C.)

What Does "Classical" Mean?

The word Classical is often used to describe music that isn't pop, rock, or jazz, but it specifically refers to music from the late 18th to the early 19th century.

Key Characteristics

Classical music features characteristics such as:

• A sound that is richer and more structured.
• A freer, more expressive style compared to earlier periods.

Opera Styles

Opera Seria

Opera seria is the Italian term for serious opera. These were 18th-century operas in Italian, typically about ancient Greek gods and heroes.

Opera Buffa

Composers soon began to write operas in a lighter, comic style. In Italy, this new type of opera was known as opera buffa.

Major Classical Music Forms

Key characteristics of... Continue reading "Classical, Romantic & 20th Century Music: Forms & Features" »

Tablature Notation

Instrumental music introduced new notation symbols, such as tablature, which instructs musicians on how to produce specific sounds using numbers, letters, or note values.

1. What Does Renaissance Mean?

The term Renaissance (meaning "rebirth") refers to the artistic manifestations of the 15th and 16th centuries. This movement sought to recover the ideals of beauty and proportion by drawing inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman classical arts.

2. What Does Humanism Mean?

Humanism was the cultural movement that defined the Renaissance. Moving away from a long period of theocentrism, humanity turned its focus inward, developing a deep interest in personal appearance, nature, the cultivation of the arts, and the expression of human... Continue reading "Renaissance Music: History, Forms, and Characteristics" »

HAUT MUSIC:

Composed by instruments with great sound power. These were groups intended for outdoor performances or public events.

BAS MUSIC:

Composed by instruments of soft sound intensity. These were groups intended for indoor performances.

INSTRUMENTS:

String (lute and vihuela) and keyboard (organ and harpsichord).

FAMOUS COMPOSERS:

Clement Janequin, Martin Luther, Juan del Enzina, Claudio Monteverdi, John Dowland, Antonio de Cabezón, Luis de Narváez.

Dance:

2 types of dances: Popular dance and country dance.

SOCIAL DANCES:

Pavane: is a processional dance with a slow and ceremonious binary rhythm. Galliard: is a dance in ternary and animated rhythm, with a more demanding choreography. Jardin de las Delicias: In the picture 'The Garden of Earthly Delights'... Continue reading "Music in the Renaissance Era" »

The Evolution of Romantic Ballet

Ballet continued evolving with technical virtuosity, new stage tricks, and more stylish postures and figures. The Italian choreographer Salvatore Viganò (1769–1821) was one of the first investigators of Romantic ballet. He invented "dance-dramas," which reinforced the expressiveness of dance and gave the dance troupe a dramatic use.

The premiere of La Sylphide (Paris, 1832) marked the event that began true Romantic ballet. During this era, pointe dancing (a significant advance in dance technique) became widespread, as did the white muslin tutu. Other notable Romantic ballets include:

• Giselle (1841) with music by Adolphe Adam
• Coppélia (1870) with music by Léo Delibes

The Russian Influence and Marius Petipa

In... Continue reading "Evolution of Romantic Ballet and European Opera" »

Gregorian Chants: We call them Gregorian chants, in honor of Pope Gregory I (540-604), who was their first compiler. Western music comes from the medieval chants of the Catholic Church.

Characteristics of Gregorian Chants:

• The song is a capella, only voice with no instruments.
• The subject is religious. It is a prayer.
• All the voices sing the same melody, so the texture is monophonic or monodic.
• The language is Latin.
• Its rhythm is free (without a time signature) and it flows with the text.
• The authors are anonymous.

Troubadours: Troubadours are in the countryside playing instruments of the period (the harp, bagpipe, and shawm). Songs were not religious. It developed mainly in France in the 12^th and 13^th centuries.

Characteristics of Troubadour Music:

The Classical Period: An Era of Elegance

The Classical period (c. 1750–1800) represents the brief era between the Baroque and Romantic periods. Music during this time was defined by elegance and simplicity. The period is known as “Viennese Classical” because Vienna served as the base for its three leading representatives: Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Instrumental and secular music gained popularity, leading to the birth of the classical sonata and the symphony orchestra, alongside new instruments like the clarinet and the fortepiano.

Historical and Cultural Context

The Classical period saw significant improvements in education, agriculture, and science. The French Revolution (1789) established the principle of equality for all citizens... Continue reading "Classical Music Period: History, Characteristics and Forms" »

Musical Piece Descriptions

1. Lied: Starts with aggressive piano playing. A man singing opera comes in later, then it goes back to only piano for a brief period.
2. Lied: Soft and slow piano to start. A man singing opera in German, with elongated singing. Super slow piano playing.
3. Lied: Starts with soft piano, a girl singing opera comes in soon.
4. Parlor Song: Piano starts slow. A girl singing "Beautiful Dreamer."
5. Character Piece: Soft, high piano playing to start. Slows down then speeds up again, repeated. The piano gets a little louder. No singing.
6. Nocturne: Loud piano playing, slow playing. Gets quick 45 seconds in. Still calm sounding, but fast. No singing.
7. Etude: Super fast piano playing. Super aggressive then pause, then super aggressive again. Slamming

The Romantic Era in Music and Culture (1805–1905)

Historical Context and Key Dates

The period spanning roughly 1805 to 1905 was marked by significant historical shifts:

• Beethoven's 3rd Symphony, the Eroica, premiered.
• The French Revolution (1789) led to the decline of monarchical power.

The Social Scene: Bourgeoisie and Individualism

The bourgeoisie finally broke with established conventions. New thinkers sought to give free rein to man's wishes, often expressing a sense of nostalgia.

Shifting Cultural Venues

Artistic development moved from strictly private circles into more open cultural and artistic meetings, increasing public access to the arts.

The New Musical Economy

New concepts in music appeared as people increasingly worked in factories and... Continue reading "The Romantic Period in Music: Social Change and Piano Virtuosity (1805–1905)" »