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

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.

The Spanish Civil War and Theatrical Exile

The evolution of theater was profoundly determined by the Spanish Civil War and its consequences. The theatrical landscape was marked by the exile of writers and the disappearance of playwrights who died during those years.

Writers in Exile

• Max Aub
• Rafael Alberti
• Pedro Salinas

Meanwhile, exiled playwrights continued their production outside Spain.

Postwar Spanish Theater: Escape from Reality

In the postwar years, the scene was dominated by the Spanish National Theater. The two dramatic lines that triumphed on stage—bourgeois comedy and humorous drama—had as a common trait an escape from the reality of the time.

The Emergence of Realistic Social Drama (1949)

In the late forties, realistic theater burst forth... Continue reading "Spanish Theater History: Drama from the Civil War to Democracy" »

The Sensuality of Radio

A large majority of people listen to the radio just for the music. The human ear is naturally musical, and the spoken word is expressive in its melody. All human beings are captivated by music. The musical atmosphere plays a primary role, providing an artistic and beautiful framework. Music is sensual and delights all the senses. Consequently, music is the primary companion in radio programming. However, the sensuality of radio's language is not confined to music alone.

Some experts claim that sound effects have gone out of fashion. What is truly needed is time for the broadcaster's imagination to speak to the receiver's imagination. It's about dramatizing the programming. By incorporating sound effects into our production,... Continue reading "The Sonic Art of Radio: Voice, Music, and Silence" »

Tradition and Renewal in Romanticism

Romanticism, emerging in a materialistic society, was characterized by contradictory attitudes regarding tradition and progress.

The Romantic Tradition

• Advocates for a return to religious, patriotic, and traditional aristocratic values of the Ancien Régime.

Key Authors:

• Novalis and Stöger (Germany)
• Chateaubriand (France)
• Walter Scott (England)

Liberal Romanticism

• Extols progress, radical liberalism, individual freedom, and human rights.

Key Authors:

• Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas (France)
• Lord Byron (England)
• Larra and Espronceda (Spain)

Defining Characteristics of Literary Romanticism

Individuality and Subjectivity

Romanticism champions the individual self, rebelling against anything that restricts personal expression.... Continue reading "Romanticism: Ideologies, Authors, and Key Traits" »

20th Century Music: A Transformation

20th-century music transformed into a variety of styles and currents, breaking the unity of language for a new world of sound relations. Key movements include:

Romanticism

Romanticism used music to express subjective and subtle emotions through modal melodies, independent chords, and a large, colorful timbre.

Impressionism

Impressionism, a typical French movement, used music to evoke moods and atmospheres.

Expressionism

Expressionism sought to express the most heartbreaking emotions through atonal music and sprechgesang-laden dissonance.

Early Vanguard Movements

Futurism

Futurism introduced noise and machine sounds into music.

Dadaism

Dadaism rebelled against all established forms of art.

Twelve-Tone Technique

The twelve-... Continue reading "20th Century Music: Styles, Movements, and Evolution" »

Literary Devices Explored

Alliteration occurs when repeating a phoneme or group of phonemes (e.g., "...shady and spacious shelter...").

Onomatopoeia is a type of alliteration mimicking real sounds.

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or words at the beginning of phrases or verses.

Paronomasia involves associating two words with similar signifiers but different meanings.

Polysyndeton uses abundant and repeated conjunctions to coordinate language elements.

Epithet adds adjectives to characterize a noun for praise or blame (e.g., "O sweet treasures...").

Asyndeton is the opposite of polysyndeton, omitting conjunctions where they might appear.

Ellipsis involves removing terms understood from context.

Hyperbaton alters usual word order.

Parallelism divides... Continue reading "Literary Devices: Alliteration, Onomatopoeia, Metaphor & More" »

Goya's Life and Turbulent Times

Francisco Goya spent most of his life in Madrid. He also lived through the contradictions of the Spanish Enlightenment, experiencing the benefits of the liberalization measures enacted by Joseph Bonaparte. He also witnessed the creation of the Constitution of Cadiz (1812) and the loss of the Spanish colonies (1824). The return of Fernando VII unleashed persecution against liberals and those who had collaborated with the 'intruder' king. In 1820, the Riego revolt offered hope to Spanish liberals, and the Constitution of Cadiz was reinstated, but the intervention of the 'Hundred Thousand Sons of St. Louis' sent by the Holy Alliance led to the restoration of Fernando VII's absolute power and the beginning of a period... Continue reading "The Art of Goya: From Court Painter to Modern Master" »

Cultural Coexistence in Medieval Spain

A key element was the School of Translators of Toledo, which reached its heyday in the 12th and 13th centuries under Alfonso X. In this center, Arab, Jewish, and Christian specialists translated philosophical and scientific works from Arabic. These texts, brought by Muslims, contained the wisdom of Eastern, Greek, and Latin authors.

Cultural Innovations

Literary Works

Literary works were varied, and in them, Romance languages began to prevail over Latin. Key poetic genres included:

• The popular Mester de Juglaría (e.g., The Poem of My Cid).
• The learned poetry of the Mester de Clerecía (e.g., Gonzalo de Berceo).
• The courtly poetry of the Catalan troubadours.

The first theatrical works emerged, such as the Auto

Traditional Spanish Lyric Poetry and Epic

Traditional Lyric Poetry

Traditional lyric poetry reflects the feelings of the people. Poetry accompanied fieldwork, domestic chores, and parties. It was designed to be easily memorized, as the population was largely illiterate. This anonymous poetry was transmitted orally, recited, and performed by juglares (minstrels), who traveled from town to town.

Common themes included love, fiestas, processions, and everyday activities. The language was characterized by short sentences, communicative density, and directness, with frequent interjections and expressions of affection.

Key Examples of Traditional Lyric Poetry

• Jarchas: These were short poems that appeared at the end of a longer composition called a muwassaha.

The Foundations of Baroque Art

Baroque art, in its broader artistic expression, is complex, rooted in social, political, and religious contexts.

Baroque vs. Mannerism

The Baroque style is a continuation of Italian Mannerism, which prevailed during the first half of the sixteenth century. While Mannerism began using the classical canon with artificiality, the Baroque movement abandoned classical serenity to express a world in motion and agitation of the senses. Therefore, the trend of this period is toward exaggeration and ostentation.

The Art of the Counter-Reformation

Baroque art is often called the art of the Counter-Reformation. To react against the severity and iconoclasm of Protestantism, the Catholic Church encouraged the building of temples... Continue reading "Baroque Art: Context, Characteristics, and Influence" »