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

Let the candidate fill his mind with the finest cadences he can discover, preferably in a foreign language, so that the meaning of the words may be less likely to divert his attention from the movement; e.g., Saxon charms, Hebridean Folk Songs, the verse of Dante, and the lyrics of Shakespeare—if he can dissociate the vocabulary from the cadence. Let him dissect the lyrics of Goethe coldly into their component sound values, syllables long and short, stressed and unstressed, into vowels and consonants. Let the neophyte know assonance and alliteration, rhyme immediate and delayed, simple and polyphonic, as a musician would expect to know harmony and counterpoint and all the minutiae of his craft. No time is too great to give to these matters... Continue reading "Ezra Pound on Poetic Rhythm and Musicality" »

Principles of Formal Composition

The fundamental principles governing formal composition include:

• Repetition
• Sequence
• Variation
• Development
• Contrast

Classification of Musical Forms

Forms Classified by Performance

Musical forms are categorized based on the performing forces involved:

• Vocal Forms: The voice intervenes, with or without instrumental accompaniment.
• Instrumental Forms: Composed specifically for instruments.

Forms Classified by Structure

Musical forms are also categorized based on their internal structure and duration:

• Simple or Minor Forms: Made up of a single movement or a short duration.
• Compound or Major Forms: Made up of several movements or a long duration.
• Free Forms: Those which are not subject to any strict structural rules.

Major Vocal Forms

The

The Renaissance was an artistic-cultural movement that, from Italy, spread throughout Western Europe from the 15th century. It was the cultural manifestation of a change in the European mentality that went from a theocentric world view, typical of the medieval period, to an anthropocentric one. This change, manifested in the humanist philosophical current, is considered the beginning of the Modern Age.

Principles:

• Anthropocentrism: They rejected theocentric mentality which revolved around God. They believed humans were the centre of the universe.
• Classical antiquity: They studied Greek and Latin texts and were inspired by the philosophers of antiquity.
• Scientific curiosity: They were interested in science and technological progress.

Origin:

During... Continue reading "The Renaissance: A Cultural Movement from Italy to Western Europe" »

Magh Bihu: A Celebration of Harvest and Community

The Significance and Celebration of Uruka

Uruka marks the commencement of Magh Bihu, a vibrant festival celebrated across Assam. This auspicious day is characterized by elaborate festivities and joyful gatherings.

Key Uruka Preparations and Rituals

Families come together to prepare for the main feast and rituals:

• They build the traditional makeshift huts known as the Bhelaghar, where they later gather for feasting.
• Preparations begin with the collection of firewood for the community bonfire.
• As night falls, the bonfire is lit, symbolizing the end of the harvesting season and the beginning of a new agricultural cycle.
• People engage in traditional folk dances like Bihu and Husori around the bonfire, creating

The Main Characters of The Phantom of the Opera

Erik: The Phantom of the Opera

Also known as the Angel of Music, Erik is a man who lives in a labyrinth underneath the Paris Opera House. His face was deformed since birth, and he always wears a mask. He is a brilliant architect and musician. He falls in love with Christine Daaé and fights bitterly for her affections. He “haunts” the opera house and demands that its operations be run a certain way.

Christine Daaé

Christine is a Swedish soprano at the Paris Opera House. She is the daughter of a renowned violin player who died when she was young. She worked in the ballet chorus before the Angel of Music (Erik) helped train her voice. She falls in love with both Erik and Raoul, Viscount of Chagny,... Continue reading "Key Characters in The Phantom of the Opera Novel" »

Sound is the sensation we experience when sound waves reach our ears. Noise is usually defined as something that sounds bad. The difference between sound and noise is that the wave of a sound is regular and the wave of a noise is irregular. The apparatus used to measure noise is called a sound level meter. The level of noise is measured in decibels (dB). Silence is the absence of sound or noise. Pitch is the quality of sound which makes a distinction between low and high sounds. Duration is the quality which differentiates between long and short sounds. The dynamic intensity is the quality that distinguishes between loud and soft sounds. Timbre is the quality of sound which indicates who or what is producing it. We often use the word soundtrack... Continue reading "Understanding Sound: The Difference Between Sound and Noise" »

Ken Burns Jazz Documentary Music Selections

Test 1: Early Jazz and Blues Selections

Ken Burns Disk 1 Selections

• 3 - "Memphis Blues" - **Lied** Jim Europe's 369th Infantry "Hell Fighters" Band, Military Music
• 4 - "Liverly Stable Blues" - Original Dixieland Jazz Band
• 5 - "Charleston" - James P. Johnson, Dance Music
• 6 - "Chimes Blues" - King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band
• 7 - "Black Water Blues" - Bessie Smith
• 9 - "Dead Man Blues" - Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers
• 13 - "Heebie Jeebies" - Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five
• 15 - "West End Blues" - Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five
• 21 - "Singin' the Blues" - Frankie Trumbauer and His Orchestra (Featuring Bix Beiderbecke)
• 24 - "I Got Rhythm" - Ethel Waters

Test 2: Swing Era Selections

Ken Burns Disc 1 (Continued)

• 12

Classical Music

Transformation from the Early Modern Period to the Contemporary Age

Music between 1730 and 1820

The Rest of the Arts

Neo-classicism. 18th Century: The Age of Enlightenment. Music started to get closer to private houses and public concerts.

Classical Composers

• Liberal artists
• Wanted to reach out to new audiences
• Music: human, natural, pleasant for everyone
• Predominated formal clarity and melodic simplicity

Secular Vocal Music

• Most important: Classical Opera
• Opera underwent a change during the Classicism, which made it tend towards naturalness. It eliminates the excess of the Baroque and took the plots and the characters closer to the new audience.
• Opera Seria: Most important composer C.W. Gluck, who laid the foundation of the new opera in

Musical Transitions

Nationalism

This style is based on legends, folk songs, and melodies that capture the spirit of each country. The melody is composed of traditional sounds, often utilizing the repetition of notes. The harmony follows classic rules, while the rhythm remains regular and soft, performed by traditional orchestras.

Impressionism

A parallel movement to Impressionist painting, this suggestive music aims to describe visual images, sensations, and unique atmospheres. Key characteristics include:

• Melody: Blurred, short, and fragmentary, with an alternation of consonant and dissonant sounds.
• Harmony: Features a mix of discords and consonant chords.
• Rhythm: Lacks clear rhythmic patterns.
• Timbre: Utilizes unfamiliar sounds from traditional instruments.