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

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The Intangible Art of Music

Music is an intangible art that is transmitted through the air and does not remain as other arts do. Little is known of the writing of music in ancient civilizations, with information gleaned from archaeological remains.

The Origins of Musical Notation

Musical notation has its origins in the monasteries of the Middle Ages, where the Greek theory of music was collected. Alphabetic writing can be represented as ABC, and diastematic notation as Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La. A score is a graphical representation of a musical composition.

The Middle Ages

The Middle Ages is the historical period that begins with the fall of the Roman Empire and lasts until the fifteenth century.

Medieval Church Music

Church music consisted of...

Renaissance (15th-16th Centuries)

History

Civil society flourishes during the Renaissance, with a focus on nature, humans, and discovery. Power resides with influential bourgeois families. The Catholic and Protestant churches separate.

Art

Inspired by ancient Greece and Rome, Renaissance art emphasizes balance, beauty, and proportion. Painting, sculpture, and architecture thrive. Advanced mathematics contributes to sophisticated architecture. Owning instruments and employing skilled musicians becomes a status symbol among the ruling class.

Music

Polyphony and expressive music triumph. Vocal and instrumental music flourish. Songbooks compile songs and dances. Musicians hold esteemed positions in church chapels and courts, traveling and exchanging...

Musical Evolution: Impressionism & Expressionism

Impressionism and Expressionism can be seen as two distinct manifestations stemming from a similar post-Romantic position. Musically, both movements mark a shift away from the traditional laws of tonality and functional harmony.

Impressionism

Occurring in the late 19th century, Impressionism was a reaction against prevailing realistic and naturalistic currents. Musically, it is a typically French movement related to these artistic trends.

Characteristics:

• Blurred melody lines without clear cadences.
• Free harmony, with chords valued for their sound rather than tonal function.
• A new concept of timbre, using instruments individually.
• Creation of a sound atmosphere based on auditory impressions.

(Composers:

1. The Birth of Opera

1.1 Origins in Florence

Opera emerged from Count Bardi's intellectual circle in Florence, known as the "Camerata Fiorentina." This group pioneered the concept of accompanied monody, which became the foundation of the opera genre.

1.2 Characteristics of Opera

Opera is a vocal art form that combines music, drama, and stage performance. It typically involves an orchestra, choirs, and soloists, and is structured in three main parts:

• Overture: An instrumental introduction that sets the tone for the opera.
• Sung Parts: Featuring soloists (main characters) and choirs (supporting characters). Two main singing styles are used:
  • Aria: Expressive melodies for conveying emotions and introspection.
  • Recitative: Declaimed singing for advancing

Malú: A Spanish Pop Music Icon

Malú is a Spanish pop singer who made her smash hit debut as a teenager in the late '90s and remained successful over the years that followed. Born María Lucía Sánchez Benítez on March 12, 1982, in Madrid, Spain, she is the niece of legendary flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía.

Early Career and Debut Album

While still a teenager, she made her full-length debut with Aprendiz (1998), on which she collaborated with singer/songwriter Alejandro Sanz on a couple of songs, including the smash hit title track. Aprendiz reached the Top Ten of the albums chart and spawned several singles in addition to the title track, firmly establishing her as one of the most exciting new voices on the Spanish pop scene.

Continued Success

Introduction to Musical Language

The way musical language occurs is analogous to how literal language is produced.

A **Phrase** is a group of sounds that convey more or less complete sense.

The fundamental elements form the basis of a scale, capturing and ordering sounds to express greater meaning.

Components of Musical Structure

The phrase can be divided into two smaller parts called **semiphrases** or **periods**. These can, in turn, be divided into an even smaller unit, the **melodic motif**.

The material is basic and simple. From a group of three or four notes, we create sentences. We continue this parallel between literal language and musical language.

With a few sentences, we create a musical theme. With this theme, we will make a song. The...

Understanding the Baroque Era

What Does "Baroque" Mean?

The term "Baroque" describes a period where artists and art forms were often characterized by their ornate and elaborate monuments. Key figures associated with this era include San Juan de la Cruz, Santa Teresa de Jesús, Luis de Góngora, and Francisco de Quevedo. Notable architectural examples include the Valladolid Cathedral and the Collegiate Monastery of San Isidro.

When Did the Baroque Period Begin and End?

The Baroque era typically spans from 1600 to 1750.

Baroque Vocal Music Forms

Forms of Organized Vocal Music: Religious and Profane

Baroque vocal music is broadly categorized into two forms:

• Profane: The opera, a baroque musical form that presents a narrative through sung drama.
• Religious:

Fundamentals of Sound Art

Fundamentals of Music

The fundamentals of music are:

• Rhythm: The combination of sounds and silences. It serves as the skeleton of a melody.
• Melody: The most visible element of a musical piece, i.e., that of which we are most aware when listening. It is usually the starting point of a composition consisting of a free combination of musical notes.
• Harmony: The musical part that regulates the relationship between melody and the instruments that accompany it.

Towards the end of the 19th century, composers became interested in the traditional music of their countries and cultures, which enriched their music through the use of new rhythms and instruments.

Musical Forms

The starting point of a composition is usually one or more melodies,...

Romanticism

Romanticism began in the late 18th century and covered the entire first half of the 19th century.

Definition

We can define it as a school, movement, and flow. As a school, it had a manifesto in the preface of the book "Cromwell." It was important as a school in France. It was a literary and artistic movement, but there might be a flow because it razed everything and was in all the arts, philosophy, economics, politics, and even life itself.

Origins

The origins are Nordic; it began at once in Germany and England and immediately was in France, spreading from there to the rest of Europe.

Characteristics

1. Lyricism: This comes from "lyrical," the lyre (a musical instrument that accompanied poetry in antiquity). Lyricism is a very subjective

What is Flamenco?

The term 'flamenco' describes a type of song, a way to play the guitar, and a dance that is found essentially in Andalusia and Murcia, and even in some zones of Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha. The word 'jondo' refers to a few classic types of songs related to the tradition of flamenco, which are different from more modern and festive versions.

The Origins of Flamenco

The origin of flamenco is uncertain: some theories believe it comes from India or Pakistan, from the Persian musician Ziryab, who worked in the courts of Cordoba in the 8th century. Others believe it has Arabic roots. There are many opinions that link flamenco with ancient Hebrew and Byzantine religious songs. And then there are others who think the Roma people...