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

The Writing of Music

Greek and Roman music was alphabetic, assigning each sound a letter of the alphabet. In the 9th century, this type of notation was changed to neumatic notation. The neumes are signs that are placed on syllables, singing and trying to draw the melodic line. Inadvertently, they indicate exact length but serve only as a reminder. The singers devoted many years to memorizing all the melodies.

In the 10th century, the monk Hucbald had the idea of drawing parallel horizontal lines that corresponded to a different pitch. Another monk the following century, Guido d'Arezzo (995-1050), decided to use the lines as well as spaces. Guido d'Arezzo also gave each note the name you know currently. In the 13th century, a first proportional... Continue reading "Medieval Music History: Gregorian Chant to Polyphony" »

Spanish Literary Periods and Key Authors

Golden Age (Siglo de Oro)

• Garcilaso de la Vega
• Santa Teresa de Jesús
• Fray Luis de León
• San Juan de la Cruz
• Luis de Góngora
• Lope de Vega
• Francisco de Quevedo

Romanticism

• José de Espronceda
• Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
• Rosalía de Castro

Modernism

• Rubén Darío
• Antonio Machado
• Juan Ramón Jiménez

Generation of '27

The Generation of '27 was a group of Spanish poets who gathered in that year to commemorate the death of the Baroque poet Luis de Góngora.

• Vicente Aleixandre
• Jorge Guillén
• Luis Cernuda
• Gerardo Diego
• Rafael Alberti
• Federico García Lorca
• Miguel Hernández

Contemporary Poetry

• Blas de Otero
• Gabriel Celaya
• Pablo Neruda

Essential Poetic and Rhetorical Devices

Phonic Resources

• Alliteration: Repetition of one or more sounds to imitate

Spanish Romantic Drama

From the beginning of the seventeenth century, the public preferred Segia. After the limited success of comedies, between 1834 and 1844, the drama became the preferred genre. It rejected the rule of the three unities, blending several actions, times, and places. It became fashionable to use characters and themes from Spain's Golden Age, with tragic love as a central theme. The protagonists are often heroic figures.

Principal Authors

• Francisco Martínez de la Rosa
• Duque of Rivas - Don Álvaro or the Force of Fate
• Antonio García Gutiérrez - The Old Smallpox
• Ventura de la Vega - The Man in the World
• Mariano José de Larra - Macías
• José de Espronceda - Blanca de Borbón
• Juan Eugenio Hartzenbusch - The Lovers of Teruel
• José Zorrilla

Renaissance and Baroque: Literature and Culture

Renaissance (16th Century)

The Renaissance was a movement that transformed the cultural life of Europe. It represented a resurgence of Greek and classical Latin culture, shifting from the medieval theological perspective to a new humanist culture.

Characteristics of Humanists

Humanists were men dedicated to the study of the humanities. Key characteristics include:

• Study of classical Greek and Latin languages.
• Enthusiastic appreciation for the world and human knowledge.

Humanist Worldview

• The world is a beautiful place, and life should be enjoyed.
• Man is the center of the world and made to measure (anthropocentrism).
• Human perfection lies in the balanced development of all human potential.

Renaissance Literature

Key... Continue reading "Renaissance and Baroque: Literature and Culture in Europe" »

Classicism: 18th and 19th Centuries

Social Context

The absolutist kings' power began to be questioned and started its decline. The bourgeoisie arises, formed by traders and bankers, who gradually gain power, rivaling the nobles.

Cultural Shift

Art is no longer exclusive to the clergy or nobility; it aims to charm and please. Music is considered entertainment. Classical music is characterized by moderation, order, and good taste. The bourgeoisie, with its purchasing power, attends concerts, buys scores and instruments, and plays music more readily, a significant shift from the Baroque era.

Musicians and Patrons

Classical musicians often served the nobility because they didn't have enough income from selling scores or concert tickets. However, this... Continue reading "Classical Music Era: Social Context, Style, and Composers" »

Renaissance Authors

Tomás Luis de Victoria, Juan de la Encina, Mateo Flecha, Antonio de Cabezón, and Luis Milán.

Gregorian Chant

It is the most important musical form of the Middle Ages. Gregory I unified the rite of the Mass based on the Roman Mass, adding some features of the other rites that existed. Evidently, not only did Saint Gregory intervene in this process, but also the Holy Spirit.

Advertising

Advertising incorporates language and musical resources of modern music to capture the younger sector of the population:

• Covers: The use of popular songs performed in new versions. The listener recognizes that the new song sounds familiar.
• Jingles: Songs written especially for the ad.
• Known Music: Classical music, carols, etc.

Madrigal

It is one of... Continue reading "Renaissance Music, Gregorian Chant, and Musical Forms" »

Traditional Anonymous Poetry and Troubadours

Traditional anonymous poems and parallelistic songs are a significant part of Galician literature. Troubadours also played a crucial role, exploring historical themes like "Pranto da Frouseira", a lament for the death of Pardo de Cela's son, and "Sack of Cangas by the Turks", a secular piece.

Renaissance and Baroque Periods

The Renaissance in the 17th century saw the rise of academic poetry, exemplified by the "Sonnet of Monterrei", an anonymous, dialogued piece featuring a knight, a lover, and a shepherd. The "Sonnet to the Countess of Altamira", dedicated to Alonso de Ercilla, is another notable work. The Baroque period brought forth works like "Respice Finem", "Sonnet to a Skirt", and "Decimas do... Continue reading "Galician Literature: From Medieval Times to the 19th Century" »

Brahms' Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68: An In-Depth Look

Beethoven greatly admired Brahms. Brahms was slow in writing his first symphony, taking 14 years. The language of Brahms and treatment of the innovative musical form, though looking to the past to the music of the great composers.

Instrumentation

• 2 Flutes
• 2 Oboes
• 2 Clarinets
• 2 Bassoons
• Contrabassoon
• 4 Horns
• 2 Trumpets
• 3 Trombones
• Timpani
• Strings

Formal Structure

C minor, E major, A-flat major, C major (related by thirds)

1st Movement (C Minor)

Starts with an introduction on a tonic pedal, stubbornly repeated. Several lines overlap, and expressive dissonance is present. The second idea is soon to be reminded further and provides a reason of Brahms's own. The transport turnover is repeated, after the... Continue reading "Brahms' Symphony No. 1, Op. 68: Structure & Analysis" »

Romanticism: 19th Century Literary and Artistic Movement

The 19th century, marked by the consequences of the Declaration of Independence and the French Revolution, saw the rise of Romanticism. This era transformed the contemporary world with the triumph of the Industrial Revolution.

Key Values in Romantic Literature

Romantic literature emphasized the irrational aspects of the individual:

• Sentiment: Love became the central theme for Romantic writers. However, unbridled passion could lead to destruction.
• Dreams: Nighttime, premonitions, visionary dimensions, and dreamlike images were valued, paving the way for Surrealism.
• Imagination: Originality and individual creativity were prized over imitation, becoming the model and tools for a closed explanation.