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

Humanism and Renaissance Beginnings

Humanism was a philosophical and cultural movement that began in Italy in the 14th century. Key aspects included anthropocentrism, a focus on classical antiquity, and scientific curiosity.

• Origin: Florence, Rome, Naples.
• Spread: Facilitated by the use of Romance languages, the invention of the printing press, the establishment of schools and universities, and its reach into England, the Netherlands, and Spain.

The Renaissance Movement

The Renaissance started as a cultural and artistic movement in Italy before spreading across Europe. It was heavily supported by the Nobility and Bourgeoisie, exemplified by families like the Medici, and artists such as Michelozzo, Michelangelo, and Donatello.

Artistic Characteristics

Renaissance... Continue reading "Renaissance Humanism and European Art History" »

Historical and Sociocultural Aspects

1. God: The Renaissance witnessed a shift from theocentric to humanistic beliefs.
2. Humanism: Humanism emphasized the importance of human reason, individuality, and the pursuit of knowledge.
3. Geographical Discoveries: Explorations led to the discovery of new lands and the expansion of European empires.
4. Nation States: The Renaissance saw the rise of nation states and the decline of feudalism.
5. Printing Press: The invention of the printing press revolutionized communication and the dissemination of knowledge.
6. Patrons of the Arts: Wealthy patrons, such as the Medicis and Sforzas, supported artists and scholars.

Religious Music

1. Germany: German composers, such as Heinrich Isaac, developed complex polyphonic masses and

How many pitch classes are in the chromatic scale?

12

Which Major scale is this one? (1)

Eb

The subdominant is Scale degree 4

What pitch is a whole step above B natural? C#

Describe the interval in the second box: (2)

6th

Semibreve is synonymous with Whole note

Rhythm refers to Combination of sounds with different durations that flow around a beat

ABCBA is an example of Arch form

The French horn is A brass wind instrument.

Stringendo means Gradually getting faster.

What does secular music mean?

Any music not written for the church.

The melismatic is a style of singing in which

We sing each syllable of the text over more than five notes.

Kyrie is

An invariable portion of the mass that can be sung at any time throughout the year.

The chorus of a cantiga is

The catchiest... Continue reading "Music Theory Basics" »

Impressionism and 20th-Century Techniques in Music

Debussy: Prelude Genre

What genre is Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun? Symphonic poem (tone poem).

Impressionism Versus the Romantic Era

How is the Impressionistic era different than the Romantic era? Static and nonfunctional harmony; focus on timbre instead of melody and harmony; suggestions of melodic ideas rather than complete ideas.

Ravel's Bolero and Orchestration

What is significant about Ravel's Bolero? The piece repeats the same two melodies but always in different groups of instruments. The piece is essentially a study in orchestration, an example of impressionists' focus on timbre over melody.

Term for Music with No Key

What is the term for music that has no key? Atonal.

Serialism

Hate Me

Ellie Goulding & Juice WRLD

Lyrics

Hate me, hate me, still tryna replace me
Chase me, chase me, tell me how you hate me
Erase me, 'rase me, wish you never dated me
Lies, tell me lies, baby, tell me how you hate me

I bet you don't kiss her with your eyes closed
I bet you're still walking on a tightrope
Miss me so much, you've been goin' psycho
You ain't gotta say it, baby, I know (I know, I know, I know)

It's a thin line between all this love and hate
And if you switch sides, you're gon' have to claim your place
So baby, this time you're gon' have to seal your fate
Yeah baby, this time you're gon' have to seal your fate

And tell me how you hate me, hate me, still tryna replace me
Chase me, chase me, tell me how you hate me
Erase me, 'rase me, wish... Continue reading "Hate Me - Ellie Goulding & Juice WRLD Lyrics" »

The Mechanics of Breathing

Inhalation: The first step is to take in the air. Once we have taken the air, it goes to our lungs, which expand, pushing the diaphragm down. In this movement, the diaphragm pushes the entrails and the belly.

Exhalation: We begin to expel the air, controlling this process with the abdominal muscles. The diaphragm goes up, pushing the lungs and forcing them to allow the air to exit.

Vocal Vibration and Amplification

Vibration: The air we have expelled goes through our trachea and arrives at the larynx, where there are two bodies called the vocal cords. These begin to vibrate, producing sound.

Amplification: The sound produced by the vocal cords would be very soft and barely audible if it were not amplified. This sound is... Continue reading "Mastering Vocal Mechanics and Music Theory Fundamentals" »

Aimée Ann Duffy was born in 1984 in Wales.

She's usually known by her artistic name, “Duffy”. She's a Welsh singer-songwriter.

Duffy became famous at the age of 24 whenwhen her first album, Rockferry, went to number one in the UK Album Chart. It was the best-selling UK album in 2008 and 1.68 millions copies were sold. Mercy, the first single from the album, was number for five weeks. Last year, Duffy won the Grammy award for Best Pop Vocal Album and she was nominated for two other awards. Since then, she has performed live at concerts and festivals all cover the world. She has just released her second album. She is plannin a tour now.

Duffy is also involved in charity work. Recently, she recorded a song for the War Child Heroes charity album.

Audition 1: Beethoven's Symphony No. 5

Work and Composer

Symphony No. 5 by Ludwig van Beethoven. He was born on December 16, 1770, and died on March 26, 1827.

Genre

Instrumental and secular because it is a symphony.

Style

Between Classicism and a middle period called the Heroic Period.

Texture

Counterpoint: Musical phrases develop independently of one another.

Movement

Allegro

Rhythm

Short figures (predominantly)

Timbre

Orchestra with brass and percussion

Character

Nervous, intriguing

Context

To be filled with a mysterious story.

Text

No text can be found as it is an instrumental work.

Audition 2: Dvorak's New World Symphony

Work and Composer

New World Symphony by Antonin Dvorak. He was born on September 8, 1841, and died on May 1, 1904.

Genre

Instrumental and secular... Continue reading "Classical Music Analysis: Beethoven, Dvorak, Verdi, Vives" »