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

The Orchestra Before 1700

The orchestra was not stable before 1700. During the early Baroque period (up to 1600), the composition and instrumentation of ensembles varied greatly.

Evolution of the Orchestra

The orchestras of Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725) and Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) began to resemble those of today. The mass of bowed string instruments characterizes the modern orchestra.

Six Musical Forms of the Baroque Period

The six forms of music from this period are:

• The Suite
• The Sonata
• The Concerto
• The Symphony
• Variations
• Fugue

Definitions of Baroque Musical Forms

Brief definitions of each form:

• Suite: A succession of dances for the harpsichord or small groups of instruments.
• Sonata: A resounding piece on instruments. A cantata, in contrast, is

Musical Keys (Clefs)

These are signs that indicate the location of musical notes on the staff. The keys are named after the notes G, F, and C, and are placed on staff lines.

• G clef on the 2nd line → Highest register.
• C clef on the 1st line → Acute register
• C clef on the 2nd line → Higher average register
• C clef on the 3rd line → Middle register
• C clef on the 4th line → Lower average register
• F clef on the 3rd line → Heavy medium register
• F clef on the 4th line → Lowest register.

The distance between the keys, starting with the highest, is a third down.

The G clef on the 2nd line indicates that the note G is on the 2nd line of the staff (and so on).

Alterations

These are signs that are placed before notes and modify their intonation. There... Continue reading "Music Notation Fundamentals" »

Federico García Lorca stands as the most renowned Spanish playwright internationally, captivating audiences worldwide with his profound theatrical works. Throughout his illustrious career, Lorca articulated his vision for theater, stating: "I sincerely believe that theater is not and can be anything other than emotion and poetry, word, action and gesture."

Key Characteristics of Lorca's Theater

Three consistent elements define Lorca's dramatic output:

• Poetic Theater: His plays are inherently poetic, blending lyrical language with dramatic action.
• Experimental and Unique: Lorca's theater is distinct and experimental, showcasing a remarkable variety of styles.
• Unified Thematic Core: A central theme often underpins his works: the conflict between

Musical Traditions of Oceania and Their Instruments

Maori Music in New Zealand

Maori music in New Zealand is primarily vocal. Besides war songs, love stories and lullabies are also sung. Instruments are crafted from natural materials such as wood, bone, stone, shell, or animal shells.

Aboriginal Music in Australia

Music plays a fundamental role in the social and sacred life of Aboriginal Australians. Songs serve as a vital link with the spirit realm. The instruments are few and rudimentary, reflecting the simplicity of their musical forms. The principal instrument is the didgeridoo, a wind instrument typically made from a eucalyptus branch hollowed out by termites.

Music in Indonesia and Malaysia

A characteristic instrumental ensemble of these cultures... Continue reading "Music Fundamentals: Cultures, Eras, and Forms" »

Literary Genres

Lyric

Lyric poetry imitates moods and emotions. It is characterized by subjective expression, often focusing on a single aspect and presented in brief verses. Common themes include love and religion, often expressed in a monologue. Vocabulary and syntax are simple, with varied meter and a predominance of shorter verses.

• Eclogue: Includes an introduction, closing, and dialogues between pastoralists on matters of love.
• Elegy: Expresses sadness, melancholy, sentimentality, and memorial themes with varied meter.
• Ode: Dedicated to great personages, using elevated language and varied meter.

Narrative

Narrative texts tell stories through a narrator within the fictional world. Prose is the predominant mode of discourse.

• Epic: Extensive narration

Analyzing Santa Maria Strela Do Dia (Cantigas de Santa Maria)

Rhythmic Structure and Tempo

The piece features a fast tempo, characterized by a quadruple meter (4/4 time).

Transcription and Historical Context

Higinio Anglés (1888–1969), a distinguished Spanish musicologist, undertook the monumental task of transcribing all the Cantigas de Santa Maria, along with other medieval songs. He translated the medieval square and rhomboid notation found in the original manuscripts into modern musical notation (music theory).

Anglés conducted three separate studies on the Cantigas, analyzing each line of notes observed in the score individually.

Melodic Characteristics

The melody is modal. It utilizes both syllabic and melismatic singing styles, although... Continue reading "Musical Analysis of Cantiga Santa Maria Strela Do Dia" »

Understanding Color Theory and Visual Language

The Nature of Color

Color is a sensation transmitted by objects when illuminated and received by the eye.

Factors Influencing Color Perception

• Light
• Chemical properties of bodies capable of absorbing certain wavelengths
• The sense of sight

Types of Color

Light Color (Additive)

This arises from the refraction of light bulbs or color filters.

Pigment Color (Subtractive)

These are colored powders mixed with various substances that turn them into paint.

Primary Colors

Primary Light Colors

• Red
• Orange
• Blue
• Green

Primary Pigment Colors

• Cyan
• Magenta
• Yellow

Combinations:

• Cyan + Magenta = Blue-Violet
• Magenta + Yellow = Orange-Red
• Yellow + Cyan = Green

Color Relationships

Harmony

This occurs through a good combination of colors.

Contrast

This... Continue reading "Fundamentals of Color, Visual Communication, and Literary Genres" »

Foundational Concepts of 18th and 19th Century Literature

The Enlightenment (Illustration)

A cultural and ideological movement that renewed profound thought and culture throughout the 18th century. Key characteristics include the desire to know, questioning the criterion of authority, and the use of the inductive method.

Neoclassicism: Aesthetic Ideals

An aesthetic movement rooted in ideas, characterized by a return to Classicism and the adoption of French Greco-Roman classical models.

Preromanticism: The Sentimental Current

This current precedes sentimental Romanticism. Unlike Neoclassicism, which focused strictly on reason and balance, Preromanticism emphasized the natural and the individual.

Poetic Forms of the Era

Rococo Poetry Characteristics

A... Continue reading "Key Concepts in 18th and 19th Century Literary Movements" »

The Modern Age

The Modern Age spans from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century. European society witnessed significant social and economic progress, particularly in culture and art. Italian Humanism laid the foundation for the great artistic and literary movements of the Modern Ages, including the Renaissance (XV-XVI), the Baroque (XVII), and the Enlightenment and Neoclassicism (XVIII).

The Renaissance

The Renaissance originated in Italy, expressing a desire to restore the ideals of classical Greco-Roman civilization. It emphasized human dignity and a new societal order based on secular principles, rather than religious ones. This era marked a break from the immediate past. Art and science became the primary means of achieving these goals. In... Continue reading "European Modern Age: Renaissance, Baroque, and Enlightenment" »