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

1. Saint-Denis Basilica: One of France's oldest sites of Christian worship and its most famous abbey—a burial place for 43 kings and 32 queens. The Saint-Denis Basilica, whose current edifice was built sometime between the 11th and 12th centuries, served as a royal burial site from as early as the fifth century. With its sculpted tombs and flamboyant Gothic details.

Panthéon

Neoclassicism, completed 1765 AD. The Panthéon, in the heart of the Latin Quarter, dominates the 5th district. Freely inspired by the Pantheon of Rome, the Parisian Panthéon was built as a memorial. Indeed, the crypts guard the tombs of the greatest French personalities who marked their country throughout history. You will find celebrities like Rousseau, Voltaire, or

Romanticism

A movement in philosophy but especially in literature, romanticism is the revolt of the senses or passions against the intellect and of the individual against the consensus. Its first stirrings may be seen in the work of William Blake (1757-1827), and in continental writers such as the Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the German playwrights Schiller and Goethe.

The publication, in 1798, by the poets William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge of a volume entitled was a significant event in English literary history. The elegant Latinisms of the Augustans are dropped in favour of a kind of English closer to that spoken by real people. Robert Burns (1759 1796) writes lyric verse in the dialect of lowland Scots.

Later Romanticism

The... Continue reading "Romanticism in Literature: A Revolt of the Senses and Passions" »

Music in Our Lives: Cultural Significance, Emotional Influence, and Educational Benefits

Introduction

Music is an integral part of human existence, permeating every aspect of our lives. From the background melodies that accompany our daily routines to the powerful anthems that stir our emotions, music has a profound impact on our culture, our well-being, and our cognitive development.

Cultural Significance

Music has played a pivotal role in human history, serving as a marker of nationality, ethnicity, and spiritual identity. It has been an essential ingredient in public gatherings, religious ceremonies, and family celebrations. Our history is replete with iconic melodies that have become synonymous with specific events and traditions, such as the"... Continue reading "The Impact of Music on Our Lives: Cultural Significance, Emotional Influence, and Educational Benefits" »

Introduction to the Classical Period

The Classical period in Western music generally encompasses the years between 1750 and 1820. However, the term Classical music is often used colloquially to refer to Western art music, spanning various styles from the ninth century to the present, particularly from the sixteenth or seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries.

The Classical period falls between the Baroque and the Romantic periods.

Main Characteristics of Classical Music

Classical music features a lighter, clearer texture than Baroque music and is less complex. It is mainly homophonic, meaning a melody above chordal accompaniment (though counterpoint was still used, especially later in the period). The style galant was prominent during the Classical... Continue reading "Classical Music Period: Characteristics and Composers" »

Baroque Era Art

It is more accurate to discuss art from the Baroque era rather than Baroque Art itself.

The Baroque period encompasses artistic styles from approximately 1590 to 1750.

During this time, various styles coexisted and evolved over the decades.

Council of Trent (1545-1563)

The Council of Trent was a conference of ecclesiastical dignitaries and theologians convened to discuss and settle matters of church doctrine.

The organization of the council was a reaction to the Protestant Reformation led by Martin Luther.

Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation

Martin Luther, a professor in Saxony, posted his 95 theses on the door of the Wittenberg church in 1517.

He called for changes in the church's practices, such as ending the sale of indulgences.... Continue reading "Baroque Art: Styles, Council of Trent, and Urbanism" »

Cultural Context

The Baroque is the name for the cultural period that developed in Europe in the 17th century and the first half of the 18th century. It was characterized by a pessimistic view of life and the importance of feelings.

Socioeconomic and Political Climate

The era was marked by social, economic, religious, and political depression. Social differences, continued wars, new outbreaks of bubonic plague, and slowed demographic growth were prevalent.

Artistic Movements

The artistic movements were dominated by a pessimistic vision of existence. Realism triumphed, with the main objective of presenting reality in a truthful and even crude way. Works of art were full of emotion. Artists made use of drama, contrast, movement, and ornamentation.... Continue reading "Baroque Period: Music, Art, and Society in the 17th-18th Centuries" »

ROMANTICISM

Kant (1790)

The judgment on beauty is always subjective. Beauty does not always follow some rules because it depends on the eyes of the one who looks.

What is Romanticism?

It is a new way of understanding beauty, art, and the artist's role.

• The neoclassical principles of beauty are questioned. A new attitude in relation to art and life.
• The artist expresses his "inner self". The myth of the romantic artist is created.

Key Figures of the Era

• Rousseau: Human decided to live together and make a social contract.
• Diderot: He creates a book with all the knowledge of the world, the name was the Encyclopedia.

Key Concepts of Romanticism

• Freedom
• Originality
• Individualism
• Subjectivity
• Vocation
• Emotion

These values are associated with the revolutionary bourgeoisie... Continue reading "Romanticism and the Rise of the Rhine Valley as a Tourist Destination" »

The Renaissance Period: A Transformation

The modern period, spanning from the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453 to the French Revolution in 1789, witnessed significant global changes. Continents were no longer isolated, with trading routes and colonies established worldwide. Scientific advancements and economic growth led to major social transformations.

Religious and Social Shifts

Internal divisions within the Church split Europe into Protestants and Catholics, leading to increased religious intolerance and wars. The end of the Middle Ages saw the rise of the bourgeoisie, a new social class that, along with the nobility and the Church, became patrons of the arts and sciences. Composers and performers gained recognition as true artists for... Continue reading "Renaissance Era: Cultural Shifts, Music, and Social Transformation" »