Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for Music for Secondary education

Music History: Middle Ages and Renaissance

Prehistoric Music Origins

Musicology

Musicology investigates all aspects related to the origins of music.

Preservation

No musical notation from this era is preserved, only potentially related, indecipherable symbols or hieroglyphics.

Music in the Middle Ages (c. 476 - 1400)

Historical Context

The Middle Ages began with the fall of the Roman Empire and lasted nearly 1000 years. In ancient Greece, music was considered a gift from the gods (Apollo was the god of music). However, during the Middle Ages in Europe, Gregorian chant was the dominant form of recorded music for a long period.

The Holy Inquisition: A judicial institution created by the Papacy during the Middle Ages, tasked with identifying individuals...

Baroque Architecture

• Bernini: Colonnade of St. Peter's Square; Canopy to the Basilica of St Peter's; Church of San Andrea del Quirinale.
• Borromini: The Oratory of St. Philip Neri; Church San Ivo; Church Santa Ines in Piazza Navona; San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane.

Baroque Sculpture

• Bernini: The Rape of Proserpina; Tomb of Urban VIII; The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa; Fountain of the Four Rivers; Tomb of Alexander VII; David; Apollo and Daphne.
• Gregorio Fernández: Pietà; Made numerous altarpieces; Christ Recumbent.
• Salzillo: Eight processional statues (The Fall, The Prayer in the Garden, San Juan, The Kiss of Judas, The Last Supper, The Painful, Jesus Bound to the Column, The Ordeal); The Belén Riquelme family; Holy Family; St. Jerome Penitent; Prayer

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

Musical Impressionism: Sound and Sensation

Musical Impressionism was a typically French movement. It is related to Impressionist paintings, referring to open spaces with colorful, luminous, and blurred landscapes (the name Impressionism is based on Monet's painting called Impression, Sunrise). It is also associated with the symbolism of poetry that presents mystery and irrationality as something beautiful.

• The main composers were Claude Debussy, who was inspired by the exotic music of the Far East and created chromatic color atmospheres, and Maurice Ravel, often labeled as a Debussy imitator, but with an extraordinary detail and precise compositional technique that represents orchestral color.
• The sound becomes a vehicle for the internal sensations

Romantic Period

1. What is a Symphonic Poem?

A symphonic poem is a symphonic musical form consisting of only one movement.

2. When Was the Romantic Period in Music?

The Romantic period in music occurred in the 19th century.

3. What Are the Characteristics of the Romantic Period?

• Expressive melodies
• More freedom in the structure of melodies
• Introduction of leitmotiv
• Musical contrast creating expressive melodies
• Birth of programme music

4. What Type of Romantic Vocal Music Was Based on Mythology?

German Opera

5. What Were the Main Vocal Forms of the Romantic Period?

• German lied
• Italian opera
• German opera

6. The Romantic Symphony

The Romantic symphony has various movements that are not based on a structural form like the Classical symphonies. Instead, it is developed...

Romanticism

1. Main Characteristics

• Chronology: 1805 (Beethoven's 3rd Symphony premiere) to 1905 (Debussy's La Mer premiere).
• Rise of Nationalism: From the latter half of the 19th century, nations sought independence from major political powers. Composers reflected this by incorporating folk elements into their work.

2. Instrumental Music

• Importance: Instrumental music was considered the most important art form due to its ability to express deep emotions without words.
• Orchestral Growth: The orchestra expanded, leading to the concept of the symphony orchestra and the construction of large concert halls to meet bourgeois demand.
• Rise of the Piano: A need for intimate music suitable for bourgeois homes led to the piano becoming the most important instrument

70s Music Trends: Pop and Rock

Heavy Metal (Heavy Rock)

Heavy Metal, or Heavy Rock, is characterized by screaming melodies, a strong and marked pulsation rate, and highlights the sound of electric guitars.

Key Artists

• Deep Purple
• AC/DC
• Iron Maiden
• Led Zeppelin

Punk Rock

Punk's aesthetic is defined by **provocation** and the protest slogan: "No Future."

• Characteristics: Fast pace, cries, and melodies that challenge the existing class structure.
• Key Artists: The Sex Pistols, Ramoncín.

Glam Rock

Glam Rock marked a return to strong melody and musical quality, often relying on good advertising and promotion. It placed a strong emphasis on theatrical stage presence.

Key Artists

• Freddie Mercury
• Elton John
• David Bowie

Reggae

Reggae is a mixture of Jamaican popular music,...

The Orchestra Before 1700

The orchestra was not stable before 1700. During the early Baroque period (up to 1600), the composition and instrumentation of ensembles varied greatly.

Evolution of the Orchestra

The orchestras of Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725) and Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) began to resemble those of today. The mass of bowed string instruments characterizes the modern orchestra.

Six Musical Forms of the Baroque Period

The six forms of music from this period are:

• The Suite
• The Sonata
• The Concerto
• The Symphony
• Variations
• Fugue

Definitions of Baroque Musical Forms

Brief definitions of each form:

• Suite: A succession of dances for the harpsichord or small groups of instruments.
• Sonata: A resounding piece on instruments. A cantata, in contrast, is

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,...

The Power of Music

There's a song that seems made expressly for us.

Human Responses to Music

People cannot stay indifferent while listening to music. Before the sound stimulus, we always react in one way or another.

Types of Responses:

• Emotional Response: An emotion is an intense mental state that arises spontaneously in the nervous system, causing a positive or negative reaction. It is involuntary.
• The Body's Response: Often, while listening to music, we make small movements without being conscious of them, and we follow the beats. But what makes us dance is the rhythm, which also marks the style of dancing.
• Intellectual Response: Many times when we hear a song, we look at any aspect that draws our attention: the timbre of a singer's voice, the