Music Fundamentals: Cultures, Eras, and Forms

Musical Traditions of Oceania and Their Instruments

Maori Music in New Zealand

Maori music in New Zealand is primarily vocal. Besides war songs, love stories and lullabies are also sung. Instruments are crafted from natural materials such as wood, bone, stone, shell, or animal shells.

Aboriginal Music in Australia

Music plays a fundamental role in the social and sacred life of Aboriginal Australians. Songs serve as a vital link with the spirit realm. The instruments are few and rudimentary, reflecting the simplicity of their musical forms. The principal instrument is the didgeridoo, a wind instrument typically made from a eucalyptus branch hollowed out by termites.

Music in Indonesia and Malaysia

A characteristic instrumental ensemble of these cultures is the gamelan, an orchestra composed of metallophones, xylophones, drums, and gongs. The gamelan produces sound structures of great delicacy and highly intricate rhythmic precision, with its organizing principle being the simultaneous variation on a simple theme.

Understanding Classical Music

Characteristics of Classical Music

Classical music is based on balance, proportion, and symmetry of its musical elements: rhythm, melody, and harmony. Melody becomes more understandable and memorable when structured more evenly. There is often a "question and answer" feel across melodic phrases. Harmony becomes simpler, and the texture is predominantly accompanied melody.

Structure of a Sonata

A sonata typically follows a three-part structure:

• Exposition: Introduces the two main melodies.
• Development: Transforms and explores the main melodies.
• Recapitulation: Repeats the exposition, often with variations.

Three Most Important Degrees of Tonality

The three most important degrees of tonality are:

• Tonic (I)
• Dominant (V)
• Subdominant (IV)

Exploring Roma Music

Characteristics of Roma Music

Roma melodies are often built on scales different from typical Western scales, sometimes even using 8-note scales instead of the usual 7. Frequently, they reinterpret simple melodies upon which they improvise or embellish, showcasing their incredible technical skills.

Understanding Romantic Music

Characteristics of Romantic Music

Romantic music features a very broad melodic scope. Dynamic indications are highly varied, including diminuendo, sforzando, crescendo, and piano. The music becomes more chromatic due to the extensive use of accidentals. Expressive markings, as well as subtle changes in tempo, also contribute to conveying very varied moods. The melody is not as symmetrical as in Classicism.

Key Musical Concepts Defined

What is a Lied?

A lied is a poem sung, usually accompanied by piano.

What is a Leitmotiv?

A leitmotiv is a recurring musical motif (melody, chord, etc.) that a composer associates with specific characters, objects, thoughts, or places.

What is a Program Symphony?

A program symphony is a musical composition inspired by a literary work, a poem, or a picture, used to suggest moods, landscapes, or other extra-musical elements.

What is a Symphonic Poem?

A symphonic poem is a single-movement orchestral work with clear extra-musical content, such as a story, a picture, or personal experiences.