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

1  Two events mark the beginning and the end of baroque music: the premiere of the
opera“Orpheus” by Claudio Monteverdi (1607) and the death of Johann Sebastian Bach
(1750).

2  The basso continuo is a technique of composition of the Baroque period. By using
this technique, the composer creates the bass voice that constitutes the harmonic support
of the work. This bass voice is mainly formed by a series of chords of which the composer
only writes the lowest note.

3  At the end of the 16th century a group of intellectuals and humanists constituted a
cultural gathering in the city of Florence known as the Camerata Florentina. In these
meetings, there was a long and tended talk about issues related to art, literature and
music. Some of the members... Continue reading "Baroque Music: From Monteverdi to Bach and the Birth of Opera" »

Vocal Apparatus: The Foundation of Singing

The Three Processes of Voice Production

Our voice is produced through a fascinating interplay of various parts of the body, known as the vocal apparatus. This process involves three key stages:

1. Respiration: Adequate airflow is crucial for sound production. The diaphragm, a muscle separating the lungs from the digestive system, plays a vital role in controlling inhalation and exhalation. Singers strive for complete breathing, filling both the lower and upper parts of the lungs.
2. Production of Sound: As the diaphragm pushes air from the lungs, it passes through the larynx, where two small tendons called vocal cords vibrate, creating sound.
3. Amplification of Sound: The sound produced by the vocal cords is weak

Cinquecento: Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) produced few works, but of very high quality. His major technical contribution was the sfumato technique, applied in works such as The Last Supper and Mona Lisa.

Michelangelo

Michelangelo (1475-1564) displayed special interest in nudes, movement, variety of poses, drawing, and the depiction of volume. His main work was the series of frescoes in the Sistine Chapel.

Raphael

Raphael (1483-1520) achieved great perfection in drawing, color, and composition. His principal work was The School of Athens.

The Birth of the Baroque

The Baroque arose during the 17th century in response to papal patronage in Rome and spread across the rest of Europe. Artists continued the artistic traditions of the Renaissance.... Continue reading "Renaissance and Baroque Art: Masters and Masterpieces" »

The Sydney Opera House is a modern building located in Sydney, New South Wales. It is one of the 20th century's most famous and distinctive buildings.

Design and Inauguration

The Sydney Opera House was designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon. It was inaugurated on 20 October 1973. The building is an expressionist construction with a radically innovative design, consisting of a series of large prefabricated shells that form the roofs of the structure. The walls are made of brick and concrete. The theatre consists of rooms where people can enjoy several performance venues, including a concert hall, drama and studio theatre, and a Utzon room.

An Incredible Experience

In my opinion, although I have never been there, enjoying the surroundings of the

Key Characteristics of the Renaissance

• Classical Antiquity as a Model: Art and architecture drew heavily from the models of ancient Greece and Rome.
• Inspiration from Nature: Art was inspired by nature and sought to represent reality with greater accuracy.
• Return to Anthropocentrism: There was a renewed focus on human beings, their potential, and their place in the world.
• Elevated Status of Artists: Artists gained a better social status, achieving fame and recognition for their individual genius.

Italian Renaissance Art and Architecture

Architecture and Its Periods

Renaissance architecture primarily used stone as a building material. It revived Greek and Roman architectonic orders, semicircular arches, and both flat and vaulted roofs. The most celebrated... Continue reading "Renaissance Art: From Italy's Masters to Europe's Golden Age" »

The Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 by Johannes Brahms is the last of his symphonies. Brahms began working on the piece in Mürzzuschlag, then in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in 1884, just a year after completing his Symphony No. 3. It was premiered on October 25, 1885 in Meiningen, Germany.

Instrumentation

The symphony is scored for two flutes (one doubling on piccolo on third movement only), two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, contrabassoon (third and fourth movements), four horns, two trumpets, three trombones (fourth movement... Continue reading "Symphony No. 4 in E minor by Johannes Brahms" »

Elizabethan Literature and Theater

Poetry: Sonnets

Shakespeare's sonnets, written in the mid-1590s, utilize the Elizabethan form instead of the earlier popular Petrarchan form. These poems explore themes of love, time, and power, much like his plays.

• Volta: A rhetorical shift or turn in a sonnet.
• Tetralogy: A series of four related dramas, operas, or novels.
• Encomium: A speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly.
• Blazon: A poetic mode using metaphor, simile, and hyperbole to describe a lover's body.
• Allegory: A story, poem, or picture with a hidden meaning, often moral or political.
• Picaresque: A type of fiction dealing with the episodic adventures of a roguish protagonist.

Prose: Sir Francis Bacon

Sir Francis Bacon refined the... Continue reading "Elizabethan Literature and Theater: Sonnets, Prose, and Drama" »

The Billionaire Dream: Wealth, Impact, and Aspirations

Chorus

I wanna be a billionaire so fuckin' bad
Buy all of the things I never had
I wanna be on the cover of Forbes magazine
Smiling next to Oprah and the Queen

Pre-Chorus

Oh, every time I close my eyes
I see my name in shining lights, yeah
A different city every night
Oh, I, I swear the world better prepare
For when I'm a billionaire

Verse 1

Yeah, I would have a show like Oprah, I would be the host of
Everyday Christmas, give Travie a wish list
I'd probably pull an Angelina and Brad Pitt
And adopt a bunch of babies that ain't never had shit
Give away a few Mercedes like, "Here lady, have this"
And last, but not least, grant somebody their last wish
It's been a couple months that I've been single,... Continue reading "Aspiration for Wealth and Philanthropy" »

The Essence of Hip Hop Culture

Hip Hop is an artistic and cultural movement composed of a large conglomerate of artistic forms. It is characterized by four elements, which represent different manifestations of culture: Rap (Oral: reciting or singing), Turntablism or "DJing" (auditory or musical), Breaking (Body: dance), and Graffiti (visual: painting). Despite their varied and contrasting methods of implementation, these elements are often associated with the poverty and violence that underpinned the historical context giving rise to the subculture.

Hip Hop's Roots: Self-Expression in Urban New York

For young people in the urban poor areas of New York, Hip Hop offered a reactionary outlet against inequalities and hardships. Initially, it functioned... Continue reading "Hip Hop: Culture, Elements, and Music's Profound Influence" »

Quiz 4

David by Donatello

Origin: Florence, 1440, Early Italian Renaissance

Reappearance of the nude figure, contrapposto, of a biblical hero.

Madonna of the Rocks

Origin: Milan, 1483, High Italian Renaissance

David by Michelangelo

Origin: Florence, 1501, High Italian Renaissance

Symbolizes civil liberties embodied in the Republic of Florence.

Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo

Origin: Rome, 1508, High Italian Renaissance

Commissioned by Pope Julius II. Four years work on 300 figures in the Creation of Mankind.

Villa Rotonda by Palladio

Origin: Vicenza, 1550, High Italian Renaissance

Shows Roman aspects like columns and a dome, similar to the Parthenon.

Merode Altarpiece by Robert Campin

Origin: Tournai, 1430, Northern Renaissance

Controversial painting triggering... Continue reading "Key Artworks and Architecture: Renaissance to Art Nouveau" »