Great job so far guys! But here is where the real work begins. So far you should have the following accomplished.
1) You have read and re-read Blog #1 in this series.
2) You have taken notes on the bolded words in the blog.
3) You have listened to all the links. (Remember there will be a listening part of your exam where you label the period from which you think the music came.)
4) You have chosen and gathered information on a chosen period or subject from one of these periods.
Now it is time to write and post a 5-paragraph essay on your chosen topic. It may be more than 5 paragraphs (but no more than 7 please). It may not be less than 5 paragraphs. No music link is necessary yet (that is for week #4). If you need any further instructions, please come see me. I would be more than happy to help!
***Don't forget to review Blog #1 and/or your notes. You don't want to forget them before the final!***
P.S. Musicman - I agree that it would have been great to go one more period into the Romantic. We just ran out of time. Next year... :)
1) You have read and re-read Blog #1 in this series.
2) You have taken notes on the bolded words in the blog.
3) You have listened to all the links. (Remember there will be a listening part of your exam where you label the period from which you think the music came.)
4) You have chosen and gathered information on a chosen period or subject from one of these periods.
Now it is time to write and post a 5-paragraph essay on your chosen topic. It may be more than 5 paragraphs (but no more than 7 please). It may not be less than 5 paragraphs. No music link is necessary yet (that is for week #4). If you need any further instructions, please come see me. I would be more than happy to help!
***Don't forget to review Blog #1 and/or your notes. You don't want to forget them before the final!***
P.S. Musicman - I agree that it would have been great to go one more period into the Romantic. We just ran out of time. Next year... :)
The Classical Period
ReplyDeleteBy Rachel Wood
The Classical Period was characterized by immensely elaborate works filled sealed with melodic developments. The Classical Period ushered in clarity and secular pieces. From 1750 to 1820 it was the goal of the Classical Period to bring music “down to Earth” and away from God. Composers like Beethoven, Haydn, and Mozart led the classical period and the development of vocals and instrumentals surrounding their works of art.
Beethoven, Haydn, and Mozart skyrocketed in popularity with the rise of the Classical Period. Beethoven experimented with new rhythms; he composed music based on an idea, instead of a full rhythm. Beethoven wrote compositions for quartets, concertos, symphonies, and piano sonatas. Some suggest Beethoven is the father of modern music. Beethoven’s music is remembered as unique and defiant of the musical status quo. This defiance allowed him to bridge the musical world from old to new. Mozart has been quoted as saying, "From Papa Haydn I learned all I know about string quartets." It is no surprise that Haydn is known as the father of string quartets. Haydn added additional instrumentation into the orchestra and characterized the vocals with passion. Haydn is quoted as telling Mozart's father, "I declare to you upon my honor that I consider your son the greatest composer that I have ever heard." Mozart is considered the greatest child prodigy to have ever lived. Although Mozart was one of the greatest composers to have ever lived, he had much unhappiness in his life. Mozart was only half way through his Requiem when he died at age 35.
The vocal works of the Classical Period did not evolve much from the Baroque period, but did have important minor alterations. Opera changed from serious and tragic to artistic and showy; however, some composers dismayed by this change, sought the return to opera seria. Solo singers became less dominant, while choral ensemble became more frequent. Orchestra expanded its dominion and was no longer solely used for accompaniment. Composers made operas more dramatic with uses of techniques such as arias and chains. Melodic recitatives with orchestral accompaniment were favored over Secco recitatives.
ReplyDeleteInstrumentation was not left behind in the evolution of music during the Classical Period. The classical sonata was greatly evolved during this time. The sonata contained three movements: the sonata-allegro, development, and recapitulation. The sonata-allegro presents the theme in the tonic. The development section is where the composer developed and expanded the exposition in various keys, registers, and instruments. The recapitulation was a restatement of the exposition, but with all subsections remaining in the tonic key. The Classical solo concerto was similar to that of the Baroque but differed in the style and structure of movements. The Classical Concerto contained only three movements.
The Classical Period blossomed with the help of the “Big Three” composers. Their defiance of the previous period of church music allowed for the evolution of an important period in music. The Classical Period brought a huge amount of change in a small amount of time (70 years).
PART #2:
ReplyDeleteThe song I chose to focus on is Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. The three links I posted are 1) the original song, 2) a techno version, and 3) the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Video for it. This song fascinated me as the short, short, short, long pattern (Dat dat dat daaaaa) that we all know is V in Morse code, and V in Roman Numerals is 5, and this is Beethoven’s 5th symphony. Pretty cool, huh? Anyway… This song was written during a period of hardship in Beethoven’s life. He was a composer, obviously, and he was starting to suffer from hearing loss, so it was getting to start causing problems in trying to compose. Also, there was a bunch of political problems going on, so he kind of just got fed up, and vented through a song. There have been stories about how he was using fate to write the beginning of this song, but none have been proven completely true yet.
This composition meets the guidelines of a song during the classical period It has four movements, the first of which has the exposition, development, and recapitulation of a normal sonata-allegro. The second movement is lyrical, and in A¨ major. The third movement has the main scherzo, a trio section, a return of the scherzo, and a coda. However, while most Classical symphonies used a minuet and trio as their third movement, Beethoven chose to use the newer scherzo and trio form. The fourth movement returns to the beginning and most well known part. The three recordings are all pretty amazing in their own way. I definitely like the first and third, as I don’t really like techno. The original is epic, because it’s Beethoven. The TSO one is just flat out amazing. If you ever get the chance to see them live, DO IT! Amazing live performers! Also the video is pretty cool (although some sources say that Beethoven died on March 26th, not 27th). A cool element is that the people dancing and acting in the video are all members of TSO themselves. Just FYI…The second one is cool, I guess, if you like that kind of music. The video is somewhat strange, though, at least in my opinion.
ORIGINAL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4IRMYuE1hI&feature=related
TECHNO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FsFKQhFbEY&feature=related
TSO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsxzBCr2zNM&feature=fvwrel
I think that's all.... for now, at least... :)
PART #1... I don't know why this is out of order....
ReplyDeleteThe Classical Period was from 1750 to the 1820’s. During this time, music was developing individuality. Composers had been through a period of discovery, so no one was afraid to think outside the box and try new things. That is how some of the greatest pieces ever have come around. No one had any boundaries because everything had been being discovered, so they thought “Why not try….?” There was no one to say, “NO! You can’t do that!” everything was open to try and develop; there were no “rules”. The main instruments during this time period were orchestral instruments, (including the violin, viola, cello, flutes, clarinets, trumpets, etc), and the harpsichord, which was eventually taken over by the Pianoforte, now known as the piano. Most of the pieces composed during this time focused on the piano. This provided a new type of music, as one instrument could reach low and high, but also a variation of dynamics, as the name shows.
The Classical Period is responsible for many of the “Big-name” composers: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert, among others. They have brought us many of the most well known songs that we think of as “classical music, more so than any other era of musical development. Classical music is called “classical” because, during the mid 18th century, Europe (the heart of art and music) moved into a new "formally elegant" style called Classicism. Classicism actually originated during the Renaissance, but took on a more formal and contrasting style during the 17th century. However, referring to all past music or anything that could be played in a concert hall as “classical” is wrong. Classical music is music that was written from the years 1750-1825-ish, and has a good chance of being a sonata, a symphony, or a concerto.
These three types of music, sonata, symphony, concerto, originated and grew in popularity during the classical period. All these types, as well as chamber music, are based off of the sonata form, which consists of the exposition, the development, and the recapitulation. Sonatas are usually 3-4 movements long, and each had specific characteristics. The first movement is what created the sonata form, and it is usually called the sonata-allegro. The second movement is slower and in a different, usually contrasting, key. This movement is also more lyrical and melodic than the first. The third movement is moderately fast and is written in three-four time. The fourth movement, the finale, is again quick and lively, and holds the sonata-allegro format.
The Baroque Period was all about growing in dynamics and instruments-especially string instruments. Some of the famous string instruments were: lute, harpsichord, viol, and viola d’amore. I think the Baroque Period had to have been immensely based on expressing beautiful love in music form. A lot of these instruments are soft and sweet. Also the Baroque Period was highly centered on the rise of secular music. The term “baroque” came from the Portuguese word barroco which meant “misshapen pearl”. This negative description was of the highly ornamented music. The Baroque Period is widely performed and listened to.
ReplyDeleteOpera became a big part of this period. The Baroque Period spread with operas, concertos, and sonatas. But it took a leap down and became simpler, so that people could understand it better, but wouldn’t understand love more better than humans (God, but this era was based around secular music, i.e. love-a lot of secular music is about love-so humans were listening to it a lot)? Also, Italy was the beginning cornerstone of this music, and Venice was another popular musical center because both secular and sacred music.
Some famous composers were Handel, Bach (“The Father of Modern Theory” or “Old Bach”), Corelli, Monteverdi, Purcell, Vivaldi, and Rameau. Although Bach was not introduced to the piano until in his 60s, and then later in life went blind, he was the influential composers of all time. Handel helped develop the modern opera and modern oratorio form further, and his most famous piece recognized worldwide is “Hallelujah Chorus” from the Messiah. Corelli was a violinist who composed sonatas, and his pieces were richly spirited and melodic. Monteverdi was an Italian composer of secular, sacred, and opera music, and further introduced tremolo and pizzicato to the strings. Purcell is most known for his lively trumpet pieces and sweet vocals. He is known for his exceptional and pleasant use of harmonies. Vivaldi was an Italian composer best known as a violinist and solo violin concertos. Rameau was one of the greatest French theoreticians of all time. He broke the rules of harmony, and was very inventive in harmony.
The middle Baroque music was all about breaking rules and creating new techniques. Some of the famous composers mentioned above came about and dramatically changed the Baroque style and music forever. There was also an increased focus on inner voices of harmony and relationship to the soloist. Pretty diverse and cool, focusing on different aspects of what made music! Some of the composers knew each other and respected each other, and were greatly influenced by each other. The middle was the climax and it’s where the Baroque period took a drastic turn and reached its turning point.
Dates for late Baroque Period were 1680 to 1720, but this is because there was not a synchronized transition and different styles experienced changes at different rates and different times. The focus on the late Baroque Period was the absorption of tonality as the structuring principle of music. The transition from the Baroque Period to the Classical era was 1740 to 1780.
The Classical period (1750-1815ish)
ReplyDeleteThe Classical period was not about setting rules for music or trying to stick to them (except Mozart, the pansy). The Classical period was about refining the rules and, as Mary Beth so cleverly put it, "Thinking outside the box." There were rules, there were things you weren't really supposed to do, but they were ignored quite often. Take Beethoven for example. When the piano came into the world of music, most people played softly on them, without dynamics. Musicians played them like harpsichords. Beethoven took this unspoken rule and broke it - literally. He played so roughly and loudly on the pianos that the strings snapped. After a while, piano makers took the hint and made pianos better.
Classical music was more simple than, say, the Baroque period. While there were more instruments, the music was easier to follow. The harmonies were mostly homophonic, with parts moving together in rhythm and pitch. The style was geared towards balance and grace. I think alberti base (that alternating do-sol-mi-sol-do type thing that is, yes, usually the part for a bass instrument) was made into what it is today during the Classical period. If you think about it, almost none of the pieces composed in the classical period are rough pieces with a ton of harsh chords and whatnot. They were full of harmony and grace.
Don't worry, more is on it's way! Soon... ish... Hopefully....
SCHUBERTS IMPROMPTUS
ReplyDeleteby Sylas Schmiedel
Franz Schubert was a composer in the late classical period. He composed many works including solo piano works, operas, symphonies, including the famous Unfinished Symphony. Some if his less recognized work are his piano Impromptus. An instrumental Impromptu is a composition that is purely improv, and is usually written for a solo instrument. They are “inspirations of the moment” and also inspired many musical techniques of the romantic period.
Schubert wrote 2 sets of impromptus, Opus 90 and 142. Each of those sets contains four pieces. They are simply titled with a number and the key they are written in. Right before Schubert’s death, he composed 3 more pieces and after he died, were titled Drei Klavierstucke and are sometimes considered impromptus.
So, what is an impromptu? In speaking, an impromptu is improv. That stands the same for music. Its not pre thought out, and its not worked through and written down before performing. It is essentially what you’re feeling. It was referred to, back in the day, as an inspiration of the moment.
How did this lead to the romantic period? The romantic period was all about inspiration. Improv became popular in the romantic period because it was purely “of the moment”. The romantic period is called the romantic period because it was a time of being intimate with your musical side and what not.
So, even though Schubets impromptus aren’t incredibly famous, they were an important part of musical history!
The Renaissance, or "rebirth" as translated in french, was a period where the interests in ancient Greece and Rome arose. This was also a time of voyages of discovery, and advances of science and technology. But, this is about music. Certain styles of music or areas of music in the Renaissance had different ways of approachment or different preferences. I will discuss a few different styles of music during this time period.
ReplyDeleteFirst, I will discuss about the Renaissance's Church style music. The Church style music was polyphony in the voices, or choral polyphony. So basically many parts. Choral polyphony was intended to be sung a cappella. There were several styles of Church music but the main ones were the mass and motet. The motet is a choral polyphonic piece set to sacred Latin texts. The mass is the same sung in the ordinary language of the people and is not always straight from texts. For Protestant masses they sung German Chorales that were just protestant hymns.
Second, I will discuss secular music and the rise of instrumentation. Secular music was music written independant from the Church, or just non-religious. The main type of secular music was song, lied(German), frottola(Italian), chanson(French), madrigal(Italian) and villancico(Spanish). Until the 16th century (1500's) instruments were thought of as not as important as the voice. They were mainly used for dances or to accompany a vocalist-but only played what the vocalist would sing. But, in the 16th century composers began to write music for and play close attention to the instruments. Mainly intended for outdoor use. Consorts were then formed(kind of like the first bands), they would play instruments from the same family and a "broken consort" would play instruments from more than one family.
Third, I will talk about the types of instruments used. When instrumentation was rising the orchestra's were small and had many different types of instruments. A lute was basically the guitar of that time and was mainly used for outside playing. The early trumpets were valveless and also mainly used for outdoor playing. The sackbut was basically aa early trombone used for outdoor playing. The viol, a bow instrument, was basically the violin, viola, cello, and double bass of the time. The viols came in the sizes of treble, alto, small tenor, tenor and bass and had 6 strings with frets the strings would usually be tuned d, g, c, e, a, d. These are a few of many.
There were many variations of approaching music in the Renaissance, whether it be Church or instrumental. I have gone over many points and have given detailed information on each point.
P.S. Since i had many points I will find music to support both the Choral music and instrumental music.
The Renaissance period was a cultural movement in which the Europeans wished to bring back the focus on the arts from the Greeks. It was a period that lasted roughly from the 14th century to the 17th century. Now, what does this have to do with music? During the Renaissance period the music started to increase the reliance on the interval of the third. The music in the Renaissance advanced in theory and notation, instrumentation, and more parts were added.
ReplyDeleteThe theory and notation changed during the Renaissance period because bar lines were not used to separate measures. The note values were generally larger than are in use today; the primary unit of beat was the whole note. Notes with black note heads (we know them today as quarter notes) were very rare. The development of measurable notation was may have been a result of the increased use of paper.
The instrumentation of the Renaissance period also made many advances. Many instruments originated during the Renaissance; others were variations of, or improvements upon, instruments that had existed previously. Some of the instruments were the slide trumpet (similar to the trombone of today), the cornett (made of wood and was played like the recorder), the lyre (its construction is similar to a small harp), and the reed pipe (Made from a single short length of cane with a mouthpiece, four or five finger holes, and reed fashioned from it. The reed is made by cutting out a small tongue, but leaving the base attached. It is the predecessor of the saxophone and the clarinet).
More parts were added, I personally think that this is when harmony started because instead of the parts sounding separate they really aimed to blend them. This music started predominately in the church, but as time went on spread throughout many venues. The change that occurred was not only in the style, but also in the focus of the music. Renaissance artist sought to focus on human emotions and the music itself, with little regards to lyrics.
In conclusion, the advance in theory and notation, instrumentation, and more parts being added were what made the Renaissance period of music stand out and differ from the others. The Renaissance is a time that is well known in history but in my opinion I don’t think that many people really know about the music of this period. Thank you for the opportunity to learn more about a very specific period of music I enjoyed it very much.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe one above looks like a blob so I will re-post. The little delete button is not showing up...
ReplyDeleteThe Renaissance period was a cultural movement in which the Europeans wished to bring back the focus on the arts from the Greeks. It was a period that lasted roughly from the 14th century to the 17th century. Now, what does this have to do with music? During the Renaissance period the music started to increase the reliance on the interval of the third. The music in the Renaissance advanced in theory and notation, instrumentation, and more parts were added.
ReplyDeleteThe theory and notation changed during the Renaissance period because bar lines were not used to separate measures. The note values were generally larger than are in use today; the primary unit of beat was the whole note. Notes with black note heads (we know them today as quarter notes) were very rare. The development of measurable notation was may have been a result of the increased use of paper.
The instrumentation of the Renaissance period also made many advances. Many instruments originated during the Renaissance; others were variations of, or improvements upon, instruments that had existed previously. Some of the instruments were the slide trumpet (similar to the trombone of today), the cornett (made of wood and was played like the recorder), the lyre (its construction is similar to a small harp), and the reed pipe (Made from a single short length of cane with a mouthpiece, four or five finger holes, and reed fashioned from it. The reed is made by cutting out a small tongue, but leaving the base attached. It is the predecessor of the saxophone and the clarinet).
More parts were added, I personally think that this is when harmony started because instead of the parts sounding separate they really aimed to blend them. This music started predominately in the church, but as time went on spread throughout many venues. The change that occurred was not only in the style, but also in the focus of the music. Renaissance artist sought to focus on human emotions and the music itself, with little regards to lyrics.
In conclusion, the advance in theory and notation, instrumentation, and more parts being added were what made the Renaissance period of music stand out and differ from the others. The Renaissance is a time that is well known in history but in my opinion I don’t think that many people really know about the music of this period. Thank you for the opportunity to learn more about a very specific period of music I enjoyed it very much.
Classical Period
ReplyDeleteThe Classical Period of music was a reflection of the Enlightenment Era. With the focus on reason and the individualistic ideals, the Enlightenment foreshadowed to a brand new expression of music. This time of music was the aftermath of the Baroque Era; however, the classical mindset was based on simplicity and balance. Because of the views and ideals of the Enlightenment, Classical music was based upon simplicity over complexity. To say the least, composers of this time believed that there did not need to be elaborate scales or rhythms and sounds in a piece; but rather emotion and beauty through the simplicity of the piece.
The Classical Period allowed all people to take part in the beauty of music. Before this time, only musical experts played music. As time went on and as classical music developed, it soon became music for the middle class- who was slowly rising. It was simpler for people to play music whether for an audience or in private. Many composers appeared during this period. Such composers include Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Mozart. Much of the music composed during this time was focused on the melody, as other instruments played chords and graceful notes in the background. Typically, the melody was played on a violin; thus leading to the formation and development of the string quartet.
Ludwig van Beethoven, easily recognized for his Fifth Symphony, can be easily associated with the Classical Period. One of the three main composers at this time, Beethoven soon shaped the way in which people absorbed and analyzed music. Many questions can be regarded to Beethoven; however, one stands above others- “Was Beethoven the Greatest composer of all time?” With countless hours of practice in his room, Beethoven did not achieve greatest without aid. His father pushed him to strive to be the best by forcing him to study and practice the art of music.
Classical Music can be defined by one word: structure, notably, sonata form. The polyphonic style moved to the homophonic style in which melodies were played over accompaniment in the form of chords. Homophonic music allowed a larger variety of melodies. The classical movement consisted of two different melodies that relied on the contrast of the other. Sonata form can be dominated by contrast rather than the uniformity of the notes. Typically, music composed of brass instruments and wind instruments with stringed instruments playing long notes above the others. As the Classical Period reached its peak, the stringed instruments became the main focus (along with the piano). The piano was the invention of the era, permitting musicians to be able to play loud and soft simultaneously.
As the classical period came to an end, thankfully, the music lived on. This time was the birth of some of the greatest and most well-known composers of all time. With a new style and mindset in writing music, the composers of this era were able to be more simplistic and were able to bring out a melody in a more uniform way. Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven changed the way music was composed. The Piano was born and so was the stringed quartet. Music was able to be written and absorbed and analyzed in a more unified and simple way because of this time.
The Renaissance Period
ReplyDeleteNow the Renaissance period was a period of rebirth. It was a time when people found a new interest in the arts and science. This period brought the idea of blending instruments together. I can be seen as the period that brought the formation of musical groups. People started to become more interested in harmony. It brought people away from boring choir music to a new way to play music.
This period brought more interest in writing music for instruments. Not just for choirs. These instruments included a lute, a valveless trumpet, the early trombone, and early percussion instruments. When these instruments were combined to play a song, the group was not called a band, but a consort. There are two types of consorts. A whole consort consists of instruments from the same family. A broken consort consists of instruments from different families.
Percussion instruments were simple compared to today. The renaissance percussion instruments consisted of bells, timpani, and different types of drums that were handheld, like side drums. Now percussion back in the renaissance is used as it is today. It is used to keep a beat. It adds to the other instruments. It gives more power.
The combined harmonies of the renaissance also brought an early form of dance music. Now it started in the middle ages, but it didn't gain popularity until the renaissance. There were many types of dance music that required a different style of music. Some, like basse dance, used long notes as a bass line. Branle dance, on the other hand, was kept at a 2/2 time, so it went very fast.
Now the renaissance music never ended, but it evolved. Now today it seems that it can never be heard anywhere, but some bands, like the Sword, have some songs with renaissance roots. Also, if it wasn't for the renaissance, there would be no bands today, so we owe it that.
Gerardo Angeles Jr.
ReplyDeleteHOMOPHONIC
Classical Period: 1750-1820:
`HOLA!! The Classical Period is a very interesting period of time for music. Many people say that it helps you study and concentrate, i agree. I decided to pick The classical period mostly because of Beethoven. He has inspired me in the way he wanted to change his music and make it a different way and break the rules. His Way of music is said to be the start of the Romantic Period, The Classical Period has always been something that has fascinated and inspired me.
The Classical Period is intersesting because of the mood that the music sets is amazing in my opinion. There is always a story behind the music if you listen and the story can change just by the change in music. You can imagine someone walking in a medow slowly thinking about someone or something and all of a sudden they are thinking of someone dying and they get depressed. The mood of a Classsical song can change gradually or just suddenly. I LOVE playing classical music on guitar it makes me feel..right.
There has been many studies of theories saying that classical music helps you concentrate and study better. I personally 100% agree. Many people use classical music to concentrate. and also many people listen to help there moods, Kind of as a stress reliever.
Beethoven was an amazing dude. He composed his music in several different music genres and with many different instrument variations. His way of making music is very unique because he always tried to stretch the rules and make it his way to discover new music of his own and to make it even better, which he succeeded greatly in. His way of making music is said to be the road to the romantic period (who doesn’t love that? xP) The way he wrote his music let the ways of music being made more open and more options came up to write and not be limited.
The Classical period is pretty dang cool. It has always helped me when i cant concentrate or when i need to concentrate. (actually im listening to some right now) The way the mood changes and the way it is made is just..mmm.. that how i can explain it. Beethoven has inspired me because you cant let anyone limit your way of making what you know you can do. THe classical Period shall never “end”. It will always live.
(i only had a limited time to use the internet, my internet has a boo boo :,( )
cello suite V by bach
ReplyDeletemost of bach's piece of the german style of music, very thick, or italian, like most of his suites. but one of bach's most know cello pieces, cello suite v prelude is know of the french style, unlike the other suite which has more of an Italian style. the begin is slow and full of emotions, if you close your eyes and clear your mind, you can be taking away from this piece.
one technique that helps this piece is the use of gigue. gigue is a baroque dance started as the british jig, but come to france in mid-17 century. it was never used as a court dance, but nobles did dance it. gigue has the 3/8 tempo such as: 6/8, 6/4, ans 12/16.
another french dance style bach used was couraute which is triple meter dances. couraute is the slowest tempo of french dances.
cello suite v was mainly famous from the use of sarabande, dance of rhythm. in sarabande, the second or third notes are tied. but is funny, the fourth part of Suite V is called the Sarabande, which is the second of only four movements in all six suites that doesn't have any chords.
bach rules :)
Im not sure how much of this will post, but here I go!
ReplyDeleteThe Classical Period 1750-1820
-Lizzy Giroux
The classical period was characterized by the composers Ludwig Van Beethoven, Joseph Haydn, and of course, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Along with these composers brought new usages of instrumentation, such as the development of the piano forte. Piano Trios, Sonata form, Chamber Music, Symphonies, and Concertos contributed to the growth of music during the classical period. However, these are just the “tip of the iceberg” of all the things you could know about the classical period.
Mozart and Beethoven are probably the most predominant composers of that time. Beethoven is most known for his symphonies. One in particular that seems to prevail over the others is his “Symphony No. 9”. On the other hand, Mozart is best known for his piano concertos and operas, as well as symphonies. His most famous work is the opera called “The Magic Flute”, which is one of my personal favorites (go figure). However, an unjustly overlooked composer of that time was none other than Joseph Haydn. Haydn was quite unique in the sense that he is known as “The father of the modern symphony”. He contributed a lot to the instrumentation of symphonies at the time, which is what he is most well known for. His most famous piece is “Symphony no. 45”, also titled “Farewell”. Beethoven, Haydn and Mozart all knew each other (according to Ms.Burk) and contributed to each other’s styles during that period, and all greatly influenced the further development of classical music. Other great composers of that time include Franz Schubert, Luigi Boccherini, Christoph Willibald Gluck, and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach.
So, along with these composers, new instrumentation was introduced to the music scene, mostly by Haydn. Haydn introduced clarinets as part of the woodwind section, a change that was to be permanent. He also separated cellos from the double basses, woodwinds were given the main melody (like flutes and piccolos) and he implemented the idea of trumpets being used independently rather than doubling them. In the Military Symphony (No. 100) Haydn introduced some percussion instruments not normally used in the orchestras of this time. These included the triangle, hand cymbals, and bass drum. And what is more unusual and unique, these percussion instruments were employed in the second movement, which in the classical tradition is normally the slow movement.
Along with a change of instrumentation among the symphony, what is called the “Forte Piano” was developed. The earliest pianos by Cristofori were lightweight objects, hardly sturdier in framing than a harpsichord, with thin strings of iron and brass and tiny hammers covered with leather. During the classical period, when pianos were first used by important composers, it was only somewhat more strong than in Cristofori's time. It was during the period from about 1790 to 1870 that most of the important changes were made that created the modern piano. An interesting fact is that the keys we have now that are white, were black then, and vice versa.
Part 2!
ReplyDeleteFinally, a development in the actual format of music took place in the classical period. Concertos became widely popular among the great composers of that time. A concerto was a composition divided into three movements in which a solo instrument (typically a flute, piano, or violin) was accompanied by a symphony. Also at that time, Chamber music was also developed. It was generally written for a small group of instruments, which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. The word "chamber" signifies that the music can be performed in a small room, often in a private salon with an intimate atmosphere. Also developed was the Sonata Form: a musical form having 3 sections -- exposition and development and recapitulation. It is the characteristic of the 1st movement of a sonata or symphony. Finally, the most interesting development, in the format that music was played, was the piano trio. A piano trio is a group of pianos and two other instruments, usually a violin and a cello all working together to play a composition. It is one of the most common forms found in classical chamber music. The piano trio, sonata form, and chamber music all marked the classical period, and put a little uniqueness and color into that time period.
So, the classical period was characterized mostly by three principles. The first, changes of music format (sonata, piano trio, chamber music, etc.). Second, the actual instruments used were changed, such as the introduction of the clarinet into symphony, as well as the piano forte. And last but not least, the most famous composers of all time thrived in that period and changed music history; Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn.
I hope this is sufficient ;)
Did you know that Beethoven’s third symphony was written for Napoleon Bonaparte? It is said that the composer had been intrigued and inspired by the French Revolution. Apparently it was so deep that he felt the need to write an entire symphony on it. The work was therefore to be given the title “Bonaparte.” The entire piece is written for Napoleon, but for what? What made Beethoven so connected to Bonaparte that he would write an entire symphony on his behalf? It was the essential themes of the Revolution, the freedom and liberty it symbolized, that made Beethoven respect and love Napoleon, the figure-head of the Revolution.
ReplyDeleteBeethoven was born in a world at war. The strife he must have gone through in order to survive and grow up was enough to make his crave and fight for freedom. What was he, but a musician-for-hire? He didn’t fight in wars, but he did use his music as an influence to all. He wrote this symphony as a dedication to Bonaparte. When Beethoven saw Napoleon, he saw freedom. Not being part of the government, Beethoven only heard rumors and what was probably the public story of the revolutionary war going on, but none the less, he was displaying his sense of nationalism through his music.
Beethoven didn’t know who the real Napoleon Bonaparte was, but only who the media and propaganda told him he was. All he could hear was the raising of an army led by this man. How was Beethoven supposed to know that Napoleon fought for the exact opposite dream? Beethoven was not a politician and had often written to friends to gain information on what exactly was going on in the war. He began to realize after writing to a particular friend that he had misjudged exactly who Bonaparte had been. His friend wrote him: “Everything is trying to slide back into the old rut after Napoleon signed the Concordat with the Pope.”
The dedication to Bonaparte in his score was scratched out and the piece was now “Eroica” (a shorter name of the real tribute to an unnamed hero) when the holy oil was poured over Bonaparte’s head on May 18, 1804. You could feel the hate and anger in the action. Beethoven felt upset and betrayed over the fact that his country was falling under the rule of yet another emperor. Beethoven had believed in Bonaparte and he had believed that things would change. He wanted the violence to be over, but it he realized that his hopes over the past years had all been in vain.
Had there been a group of revolutionists? Absolutely. Had they won? Not even close. The hole through the paper of Beethoven’s original manuscript proves his furiousness with the matter. Beethoven had been tricked and he had absolutely hated that. As I listened to this first movement I felt light and happy, but I know now that this happiness was all deceit and a touch of foolishness. In the end we learn from Beethoven to fight for what you believe in, even if the idea isn’t completely revealed to us. This music represented hopes and dreams, which in the end, was all Beethoven meant by it. The fact that it had been dedicated to Bonaparte did not mean that the composer was a communist or monarchist, it meant he had hope for a better and brighter future to come.
Bibleography:
ReplyDeleteEusebeus, 67.160.226.204, and Pgk. "Symphony No. 3 (Beethoven)." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, 8 Nov. 2005. Web. 15 May 2011. .
Woods, Alan. "Beethoven: Man, Composer and Revolutionary - Part One." In Defence of Marxism. Marxism, 19 May 2006. Web. 15 May 2011. .
The Baroque period was a period in time where the arts exploded! It was right after the Protestant Reformation, so the Catholic Church was willing to support anything that communicated its views. For this reason, they supported the musicians, architects, and artist of this era. Some of the greatest composers during this era were Vivaldi, Handle, and Bach.
ReplyDeleteAntonio Lucio Vivaldi was Italian. He was born in Venice, Italy on March 4, 1678, and had five siblings. This fiery redhead had many health problems, and perhaps this is the reason that he was so musically inclined. He joined the priesthood, but kept his love for music going. His favorite instrument was the violin, which he played up until he died. Before dying on July 28, 1741 at the age of 63, he composed many successful concertos and operas.
George Frideric Handle was born on February 23, 1685. He was German. His father wanted him to be in law, but his love for music was too great. He would secretly play organs, harpsichords, and other instruments during his childhood. Against his family’s wishes, he went to study music in Italy, and then settled in London, where he composed many of his famous operas, oratorios, and concertos. He never married before he died on April 14, 1759 at the age of 74.
Johann Sebastian Bach was born on March 21, 1685 in Germany. He was the youngest of eight children. He was a musician from the start, but then again it was in his genes! He was a composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist. He married his cousin Maria Barbara Bach, and they had seven children. She died in 1720. Quickly after in 1721, he married Anna Magdalena Berhard, and they had thirteen children. Over all, Bach had 20 children, but only 10 of them lived into adulthood. His health was faltering in 1749 when he went blind. A doctor tried to give him a surgery that was unsuccessful and may have been the cause to his death. He died of a stroke on July 28, 1750 at the age of 65.
As you can see all of these men were very different, but they all had one thing in common…music. The music of this era is inspiring. The word baroque’s origin is from Italy, and it means bizarre. This era of music is very bizarre to me. It is just baffling how the arts just exploded, and the strides composers like these men made for music were amazing. There were so many instruments incorporated in this time period. I guess that is why it is called the melodic structure of the universe.
-KBond
I had too many characters, so I am just going to email it to you.....
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ReplyDeletemonophonic is a musical term thar describes music with melody and no harmony.monophonic music is believed to date back to the beginning of creation and continues into modern times,monophonic music is a voice,or group of voices and instruments performing the same melody,with the same rythem.
ReplyDeletejubal is mention in the beginning of genesis.he is believed to be the father of all musical intruments,david,king lf israel wrote many of the psalms.the paslms are very poetic and were considered the standard hymnal for the jewish nation.
instruments of the first few thousand years were mainly string instruments played in unison with vocals.when wind instruments such as trumpets begant to be used it was for calls to war or worship.other wind instruments like flutes were used for festive accasions.
when other cultures such as pagan greek and roman traditions were using.monophonic music,the early church tried to avoid association with it.they almost seemed to stop music development for a while.it was also suggested to play with no instruments and no emotion.
monophonic music still strongly influenced by greek and jewish traditions emerged into the early church.it was later colored with other cultures and gospel spread rapidly.the church developed chant,a monophonic form which all western music grew.
Polyphonic: Middle Ages Music 500-1400 A.D.
ReplyDeleteBy – Emily Taylor
During the Middle Ages, music changed a lot. More than one singer sang the same melody. Composers began to notate music to help musicians know when to come in. The Church began using chants, which became popular during this time. Music developed in many ways.
More than one singer sang the same melody. This was different from the time when only one singer sang a song with an instrumentalist plucking a one-note melody. At first, the singers sang in intervals of fourths and fifths. Then, the multi-singer songs began to have the singers sing in different rhythms. The singers also sang in rounds.
Composers began to notate music. This helped the singers who sang in rounds know when to come in and how long to hold their note. (I assume the choir was grateful because this finally prevented their less-than-talented tenor, Henry, from singing for too long.) The musicians also knew the melody. The composers used compound meter, which was in divisions of three. Three was seen as the perfect number, so this meter was used.
The Church began using chants. The main chants that were used were Gregorian chants. The Church tried to unite the different kinds of chants into Gregorian chant. The music of chants was used in the Roman Catholic Church.
The polyphonic period helped music to develop. Many aspects of music were helped in growing during this time period. The polyphonic period of music history helped music to start becoming what it is today.
Have a great day!! :) :)
ReplyDeleteChris Waite
ReplyDeleteHistory of the Piano Forte
Have you ever wondered where your piano talent came from? Or where the actual piano came from? That is what I wondered when thinking about what my essay should be about. I always have been interested in music and history. I learned the piano actually originated with the piano forte. The piano forte is our version of the regular piano. Whether it may be the grand, baby grand, or upright, they all originated from the piano forte. The more research I did I found who invented it, the sound that came out of it, and the builders that sparked the revolution.
In the 1700’s century a harpsichord maker name Bartolommeo Cristofori invented the piano forte. His project was financed by the Cristofori’s, patrons. He continued to build and perfect it starting in the 1720’s. Cristofori's instruments instead used thicker, tenser strings, mounted on a frame considerably more robust than that of contemporary harpsichords. Cristofori was also the first to incorporate a form of soft pedal into a piano (the mechanism by which the hammers are made to strike fewer than the maximum number of strings). Cristofori's instrument spread at first quite slowly; because, it was more elaborate and harder to build than a harpsichord, and very expensive. The first music specifically written for piano forte dates from this period was the Sonata da cimbalo di piano (1732) by Lodovico Giustini.
The sound that we hear today originated with the piano forte. Like the modern piano, the piano forte could vary the sound of the volume of every note. You just had to hit it differently. However the tones of the piano’s form back then are different in one way, the tone. The piano forte is softer with less sustain. Fortepianos also tend to have quite different tone quality in their different registers: noble and slightly buzzing in the bass, tinkling in the high treble, and more rounded in the mid-range. In comparison, modern pianos are rather more uniform in sound through their range.
One famous builder that had an effect on the piano forte was Johann Andreas Stein from Augsburg, Germany. His piano had a Viennese action. The hammers would strike backwards, closer to the player than the hinged end. I was similar to the Cristofori action because it had a very sensitive touch. The wood he used would go through a weathering process to reduce cracks or chips in the wood. There are even surviving piano fortes in work today. The first piano was $400. Now they cost $2000.
In conclusion, the piano forte was a huge part of the musical revolution. It was created by Bartolommeo Cristofori. The sound was softer and with less sustain. Lastly, Stein used the Viennese action.
Aaron
ReplyDeleteI am doing the classical period. The classical period was the start of the homophonic era. The classical period was from 1750-1820. The goal of the classical period was to bring music more to reality and freedom and get away from the religion aspect. The classical period was the start of freedom in music. Composers were breaking rules in a sense. The classical period brought about new musical ideals, new music forms and well renowned composers.
The classical period brought about many changes to music, but the main ideal of the classical period for the music to be homophonic. Homophonic means melody with accompaniment. Classical music focused on the melody. In classical music you would have a main melody and then have background rhythm and tone to support the melody. The classical period was like a blank canvas for music. Just as an artist uses different strokes and hues an colors to make a beautiful painting, a composer uses different rhythms and tones and techniques to perfect his song. During the classical period the piano was brought into use. At first harpsichord were used, but the term piano forte came into use. Piano means quiet and forte means loud, this changed the harpsichord from plucked to hammered strings. Thus the piano was invented. Changes in classical music were more commonplace and they were more distinct. The classical period set the stage for future music developments to come.
Along with new music ideals, new forms of music came into play. Some of the major new forms were sonatas, concertos, and symphonies. A direct definition of sonata means to play. Sonata was used to organize music. There are three parts to a sonata, the exposition, the development, and the recapitulation. The exposition was parts A and B played and repeated the exact same way, then came the development which was parts A and B but completely changed and thrown askew, they would change keys and tempo and do all sorts of stuff in the development, and finally was the recapitulation which was exactly like the exposition. Sonatas were a big part of the classical period. A concerto is when a soloist is playing and is accompanied by an orchestra. A symphony is played by an orchestra and is an extended piece of music.
Some of the most famous composers in the classical period were Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Each of these three composers are different and unique in their own way. Haydn is called the “father of the symphony.” Haydn’s music followed perfect music form and rules. He never broke a rule in his music. Haydn is known most for his symphonies, but he is also known for his humor. Haydn played for a Royal Austrian family who never appreciated his music. So he composed surprise symphonies. His surprise symphonies would startle the loud rude obnoxious guests at the royal parties. Mozart was also known for his proper music technique. Along with his proper technique he, Mozart was also ADD in his music. He would change tempo and tone in his songs, one minute it would be slow and quiet and the next it would be fast and loud. Beethoven was the oddball of the group. Haydn tried to teach Beethoven the proper ways of writing music, but he never listened. Beethoven would break every rule in his music, but the music would still be genius. Beethoven often played with the rules of harmony. In fact, Beethoven has often been called the bridge between classical and romantic periods.
The classical period is known for giving music the “right of freedom.” The classical period is known for revolutionizing music and setting the stage for the romantic era. The classical period gave music great composers such as Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven who took the new ideals from the classical period and made it their own. To me, the classical period is the most interesting and fun periods of music.
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ReplyDeleteThe vocal forms of the Renaissance were marked by smoothly gliding melodies conceived for the voice. This period of time has been regarded as the golden age of the a cappella style, which means a vocal work without instrumental accompaniment. It's polyphony was based on a principle called continuous imitation, a style in which the motives move from line to line within the texture, often overlapping one another. As a result, the same theme or motive was heard now in the soprano or alto, and in the tenor or the bass. There resulted a close knit musical fabric capable of the most subtle and varied effects.
Most church music was written in a cappella style. Secular music was divided between purely vocal works and those in which the signers were supported by instruments. The period also saw the growth of solo instrumental music, especially for the lute and the keyboard instruments. In harmony, the Renaissance leaned toward fuller chords. There was turning away from the parallel fifths and octaves favored by Medieval composers to the pleasing thirds and sixths; also a greater use of dissonance was linked with the text, although in sacred music this tendency was carefully controlled. Species counterpoint was now invented, to help students learn counterpoint. Counterpoint is the study of setting independent melodies against each other. The word counterpoint comes from the Latin word Contra - Punctum - which means “Against a point" or in other words, " point against point" or " note against note" . Counterpoint therefore is a horizontal medium and is not like harmony, which is considered more of a vertical concept. Renaissance counterpoint was the best example of clear melody writing, with minimal use of consance - chords one, five and the octave and more use of the dissonance - the sixth and third chord. All melodies were built above or below the cantus firmus- a fixed melody. Now being able to compose for other purposes rather than just for the church, composers asserted themselves as creative artists, not simply church functionaries.
Music played a prominent part in the ritual of the church. There were several types of music of church services in addition to the Gregorian chant; these include polyphonic settings of the Mass, motets and hymns. These were normally based on counterpoint and, especially in the early sixteenth century, on preexistent music. The mass was the central service of the Roman church. Of the Masses for special services, the most important is the Mass for the Dead, the Requiem. Included are prayers in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion. The history of the Mass as an art form extends over the better part of eight hundred years. In that time, it gernered for itself some of the greatest music ever written. The Renaissance motet now became a sacred form with a single Latin text, for use in the Mass and other religious services. These works were in three of four voices, sometimes based on a chant or other cantus firmus. One of the greatest masters of the Renaissance motet was the Franco Flemish composer Josquin Desprez.
ReplyDeleteDuring this time, Musicians of the sixteenth century were supported many the chief institutions of their society - the church, city and state as well as royal and aristocratic courts. As the influence of the art spread, professional possibilities widened. There was a corresponding growth in a number of basic musical institutions. There were also increased opportunities for apprentices to study with master singers, players and instrument builders. The rise of the merchant class brought with it a new group of patrons of music. When the printing press was made available to music in the early sixteenth century, printed music books became available - and affordable. This in turn made possible the rise of the great publishing houses. As a result, there was a dramatic upsurge of musical literacy.
The secular music of the Renaissance was intended for both the professional and the amateur. With the rise of the merchant class, music making in the home became increasing popular. Most prosperous homes had a lute or a keyboard instrument. The study of music was important for girls and to lesser degree boys. Women began to play a prominent part in the performance of music both in the home and in the court. Dance was also increasingly popular. The instruments to be used in these dance arrangements were determined by the particular occasion. Outdoor performances called for loud instruments such as the shawm and sackbut (Medieval oboe and trombone). For certain civic occasions, soft instruments such as the recorder and bowed strings were preferred. Although percussion parts were not written out in Renaissance music, the evidence suggests that they were improvised at the performance. In the court taffle music was often played, that is table music, the people of the court would often dance after their dinner. There were a number of dance types that were popular. The stately court dance known as the pavane often served as the first number of a set, followed by one or more quicker dances, such as the Italian saltarell (jumping dance) and the French galliard. The allemande, or German dance, was popular during the Baroque and finally the ronde, or round dance, a lively dance associated with the outdoors.
In the 1600 century, towards the end of the Renaissance period. This time bristled discussions about le nouve musiche, "the new music", and what its adherents proudly named "the expressive style".They soon realized that this representative style could be applied not only to a poem but to an entire drama. In this way, they were led to what many regard as the single most important achievement of the ending Renaissance music and early Baroque music : the invention of Opera.
...The last post was the last three paragraphs...
ReplyDeleteIn Venice, from about 1534 until around 1600, an impressive polychoral style developed.Wth multiple singers, brass and strings in different locations in the Basilica San Marco di Venezia.These multiple revolutions spread over Europe in the next several decades, beginning in Germany and then moving to Spain, France and England somewhat later.
ReplyDeleteThe Roman School was a group of composers,mostly church music in Rome, spanning the late Renaissance era. Many of the composers had a direct connection to the Vatican and the papal chapel, though they worked at several churches; stylistically they are often contrasted with the Venetian School of composers, a concurrent movement which was much more progressive. By far the most famous composer of the Roman School is Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, whose name has been associated for four hundred years with smooth, clear, polyphonic perfection.
The brief but intense flowering of the musical madrigal in England, mostly from 1588 to 1627, along with the composers who produced them, is known as the English Madrigal School. The English madrigals were a cappella, predominantly light in style, and generally began as either copies or direct translations of Italian models. Most were for three to six voices.
Musica reservata is either a style or a performance practice in a cappella vocal music of the latter, mainly in Italy and southern Germany, involving refinement, exclusivity, and intense emotional expression of sung text.
The cultivation of European music in the Americas began in the 16th century soon after the arrival of the Spanish, and the conquest of Mexico. Although fashioned in European style, uniquely Mexican hybrid works based on native Mexican language and European musical practice, appeared very early. Musical practices in New Spain continually coincided with European tendencies throughout the subsequent Baroque and Classical music periods. Among these New World composers were Hernando Franco, Antonio de Salazar, and Manuel de Zumaya.
In addition, many composers observed a division in their own works between a prima pratica (music in the Renaissance polyphonic style) and a seconda pratica (music in the new style) during the first part of the 17th century.
~~~I chose the Middle/Dark Ages which includes the Renaissance. During the era musical revolutions were going on. The Venetian School was a group of composers who dealt with a "poly-choral" sound in the music they played. This was going on during the late Renaissance through the beginning of the Baroque period. The Roman School was also during this time period. This group of composers was different than those of the Venetian School because the Venetian School was much more progressive.
ReplyDelete~~~The composers of the Roman School had connections to the Vatican. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was the most famous of all of the composers in the Roman School. He is known for his amazing polyphonic sound. Some other composers were Giovanni Animuccia, Felice Anerio, and Giovanni Francesco Anerio who was the younger brother of Felice
~~~Some brass instruments from the Renaissance were the Slide Trumpet, Cornett, Trumpet, and the Sackbut. Strings were used in holy and secular circumstances. Some of the instruments included the Viol, Lyre, Irish Harp, and Hurdy Gurdy. Some percussion instruments were the Tambourine and the Jew Harp.
~~~The Renaissance was all about new ideas in art and science and the re-interest in education. A new value was placed on knowledge. The Catholic Church lost its control over society's actions and thus the greatest composers and artists of this era were introduced.
~~~Though learning about this time period I have a new appreciation for the music of the past. The Renaissance was a fascinating time filled with new ideas and a new hunger for knowledge.
The Baroque period was European music from the years of 1600 to 1750. The term Baroque came from a Portuguese word meaning a pearl of irregular shape or bizarre. When compared to earlier music, the Baroque era is rather intense. This era was between the Renaissance and Classical era. The baroque period established a new form of performing called opera. In this essay I will describe by section (early, middle, end) the Baroque era’s history.
ReplyDeleteEarly baroque composers favored homophonic texture over polyphonic. The early section was from about 1600-1640. The Composers felt words could be projected more clearly by using one main melody with a choral accompaniment.
The violin was the most popular instrument at this time. This period was until about 1710. Italy was the foundation of this music, and Venice was a top spot for its secular and sacred music.
Many aspects of harmony arose in the late period. Instrumental music became as important as vocal for the first time and the period went out with polyphony style. This style was from about 1680–1750. Fux and Rameau were great composers from this era. Many operas and violin concertis came about in this time, and a famous one commonly performed today is The Four Seasons.
The separate periods of the Baroque era were different, yet fantastic, in their own ways. As time went on, the vocals were more important than the instrumentation, then they were equally important. The Baroque era was unforgettable and very bizarre as we know it, and many wonderful pieces have come from it. And even though it’s Baroque, I wouldn’t do anything to fix it. ;)
As Miss Burk said at first in the middle and dark ages they just developed rhythmic modes or patterns (6 of them). They would simply mix and match the six rhythmic patterns to create their song. All of the patterns were compound meter (in divisions of 3). 3 was considered the perfect number where as singing in 2/4 or 4/4 would have been imperfect.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to music from the early part of the medieval era, sometimes called the Dark Ages today, very little is available. What does exist is plainchant, something people do not associate with the violent ideas behind the Dark Ages concept. The middle ages saw great change in the English culture including in music. The violent times of the dark ages had led to a society lacking in elegance.
Traditional English influences over the medieval music of the middle ages that involve the growth of Christianity in the dark ages leading to the introduction of secular music. During the dark ages composers started to write stuff down except it was on parchment paper that wears out. There for we have no books that can that can transcribe the music that was written during the dark ages. The music was written as a reminder for the monks who already knew it. If a person composed the music played in the dark ages they expected them to teach it as well. Jongleurs were professional musicians who wondered from town to town.
One problem the middle age had was it dealt with in the study of medieval music and that the system of musical notation developed only slowly, if it was even in use at all. The first preserved finds of musical notation come from the 9th century. Rhythmic notation wasn't developed until the 12th - 13th century. During the first great centuries of the middle ages, the music was mainly in the church.
In the dark ages those known as Troubadour's were not professional musicians, they were just from wealthy families and had nothing to do with their time, but sit around and do nothing. Goleards were people who followed a false saint and their music tended to be the internal trinity of male concerns: wine, women, and sitarnd and write songs and poetry.
Here is the repost...I felt it was necessary:
ReplyDeleteDuring the Renaissance, a lot of rebirthing of science, arts, architecture, and thinking was going on. Because of this rebirthing, people thought differently on how they should play their music. A new form of music called dance music was invented. Dance music was basically improvised, and was very instrumental. Most dance music was very bouncy and repetitive, making it easy to dance to.
Many composers would make music for several different voices, normally sopranos, basses, tenors, and altos. Therefore giving different interweaving lines, which is called polyphony, although polyphony sounds good when sung correctly, it is a very difficult and complicated piece to sing and to write.
One of the most famous polyphonic composers is Palestrina, Mozart, Brahms, and Beethoven spent their entire lives studying his type of polyphony to get better. It is hard to imagine anyone better than Beethoven and Mozart.
The Renaissance did not just change dance music, it also changed Church music. In the Church, it was more a cappella, meaning no instruments. Church music was all choral except for the occasional organ or piano that the specific church had.
Until the beginning of the 1500’s instruments were less important than voices, during the 1500’s however composers basically put the instruments in the lime light, some of the instruments are: a valve less trumpet, a crumhorn, a viol, a lute, and a sackbut. All of these were in the spot light of Renaissance music.
The Classical Period (1750-1820ish)
ReplyDeleteThe Classical period was a time to refine rules, write pretty balanced music, then break the rules and write awesome music too (except Mozart, the genius pansy). I like how Mary Beth put it: Nobody had any boundaries because everything had been discovered (except screamo). There were rules. There were lots and lots of rules. However, these rules weren’t particularly binding. It seems like they were made to be broken. Beethoven was very popular even when he was alive, if that shows you how much regard people had for the rules. He followed very few of them, and was still one of the greatest composers the world has ever seen or will ever see again. Mozart’s music is considered “perfect” because it follows all of the rules, but “perfect” means “ordinary” which means “boring.” Mozart’s music wasn’t boring, exactly, but it does get tiring if you listen to too much of it at once.
The pianoforte was invented in the Classical period, whereas people had only used harpsichords before. The first ones weren’t very sturdy, as people were used to playing he harpsichord. The harpsichord plucked strings instead of hit them, so you got the same volume however hard you hit the strings, so people played them very softly. The pianoforte was made a bit sturdier after Beethoven got a hold of it. He decided to PLAYED the piano, instead of kind of brushing the keys with his fingers like most people. He played so hard the strings snapped LIKE A BOSS. The makers decided this wasn’t too good for business and started making them better. After the piano came into use, a lot of music was written “For piano or harpsichord” until the harpsichord faded out of use.
-The Violin Elizabeth, Blog 1
The music was geared towards balance and elegance, with neither too many notes crammed into the music or too few spaced out. It had a light texture, unlike, say the Baroque period which was rather thick. Classical music was homophonic, which allowed for a much greater variety of patterns and harmonies. In polyphony, there is one main melody played in a canon of sorts, with the melody played by one instrument, joined by an earlier bit of itself on a different instrument. This is all fine and dandy, but it’s a little restrictive. In homophony, the melody has a lot more emphasis, while the harmony is made up of stacked chords instead of more of the melody.
ReplyDeleteOperas became more secular during this period. While they all sound like a saint is singing and there could never be anything wrong with it because it sounds so pretty, a lot of them were considered ‘secular’ music. Not all people liked it (the same as today). In fact, a lot of people hated it. These operas were referred to “comic operas,” and were often about light, not-so-delicate subject matter. In many of them, the dialogue was spoken instead of sung, so that the opera was like a play.
Now to my favorite composer: Beethoven! Beethoven was a pretty cool dude. He kept the rules that should have been kept and broke most of the others. His music was very heavy for the Classical period, darker and more cynical than most compositions. He wrote with passion and feeling and his music was geared towards making the audience feel what he felt instead of harmony and grace and all the other stuff. He poured himself into his music, really believed in what he wrote. He’s been called the ‘bridge composer,’ acting as a bridge between the Classical and Romantic periods. His works did have balance and grace, but they also had the feelings behind them that were so typical of the Romantic period. I won’t go too into this, as it’s not on the timeline, but the Romantic composers used their emotions in their compositions more than in any other period. Before, it was more about making someone else feel a certain way. Then in the Romantics, it was writing how you felt no matter what else. Beethoven was way ahead of his time, maybe because he was insane and didn’t care what anybody else thought, or maybe because he was deaf and insane and didn’t care what anybody else thought. Whatever the reason, Beethoven is not only my favorite composer of the Classical period, but the coolest composer to ever have lived.
-the Violin Elizabeth, Blog 2
Part 1
ReplyDelete*Music, the international language, a window to another realm, a journal of man’s history. Music has a history of its own.
The baroque era, was the period when music took a large leap into modern music and modern techniques were created and mastered. It was the dawn of a new age in the world of music. Composers began to gain more discipline with their music but still branched out to discover new things. They made music the way they wanted to but it was also made so the common person could understand it. It had major influence on not just the Church but the secular world as well. It could be heard everywhere including ceremonies, festivals, and even common street performers. It was a time where everyone was able to be brought together through the mystery of wonders of music. Great composers were born into a world that was dying to find new and unexplored territory not only in land for their country, but the territory of culture and society.
Part 2
ReplyDeleteBaroque music can be defined by many words and phrases. I believe it is a time where, “I want to be heard,” type thinking dominates the composer’s minds. An idea from ancient Rome and Greece was that music was a powerful tool of communication and could even be used to influence or control another man’s actions. This philosophy played in on how composers began to express themselves through their music and what they wanted to convey to others. Text painting then became a huge part of music as the dynamics, tempo, harmony, etc. were the tools needed to help the composer illustrate what he wanted.
Part 3
ReplyDeleteBaroque music was very complex but simplified from the former polyphony methods. It was still rich in counterpoint but now in the chord progression form and was accompanied by a rich melodic line. Baroque music evolved overtime and gave birth to other forms of music such as operas, concertos, sonatas, cannons, and suites. Another famous style of play, mastered by Bach during this period, was fugue. In a fugue, one voice starts the piece and then more voices begin to enter, one after another. Just like a song around the campfire where people join one by one. The difference is that the voices in fugues enter on higher and lower pitches. They also continue to play new material while the other voices make their entrance. This is became a very popular style of play during this time.
Part 4
ReplyDeleteThe Baroque period not only gave us a new style of play, but also new toys to play with. Due to the rise in popularity of operas, the first orchestras began to come into play to accompany the singers. They later evolved into their own group and began playing instrumental concertos. During this time the growing perfection of string instruments served a large purpose and offered more selection to composers on not only how it will be played, but “what” will be featured as the main instrument for their piece. Of many string instruments, the violin became very popular. This period was also home to many great and daring composers, but the most famous is Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach was a pioneer of the new cultural frontier. He was born into a world of change and he lead it deeper in innovation than anyone could have guessed. He had perfected tonal theory and is today known as “The Father of Modern Theory.” We still study his methods today in all levels of music education.
Part 5
ReplyDeleteAs you can see the Baroque period was a very special time. It was a time not only for music but for society itself. Whether it is in the colonization of new lands, growth in religion, or the innovation of music, it was a time of exploration for all men. To me it compares to the many movements of the younger generation in the United States during the 1960’s. These were both cultural, technological, and music advancements at these times, and they both can be defined by Music and the history it carries with it.
The Classical Period was a period of music spanning about 70 years from 1750-1820. The Classical period brought the appearance of more instruments and thus, more instruments than voices. During this time, the piano-forte came to be from the harpsichord. The most famous of the Classical Period composers were Beethoven, Haydn, and Mozart.
ReplyDeleteThe Classical period is defined as a period in music where Baroque made the transition to Classical. Classical kept all of the rules of Baroque, but Classical went in the secular direction instead of being influenced by the church. Classical music focused mostly on the melody than the harmony. The classical period also focused on form, sonatas, concertos, and symphonies.
Of the most well-known composers, Mozart was a child prodigy. From an early age, he showed incredible talent that no one else had seen. He supposedly started composing by age 5. Mozart's family was also well into music. His father, Leopold was a kapellmeister (music maker) for the court orchestra of the archbishop of Salzburg, a minor composer, and a teacher. Before the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Leopold published a violin textbook called Versuch einer gründlichen Violinschule and was successful.
Mozart was taught by his father. Even his father was surprised at Wolfgang's skills. A few years later, Mozart would know Joseph Haydn who in turn will teach Ludwig Van Beethoven. In fact, Beethoven was influenced by Mozart's works.
Also during this time, Operas began a type of "comeback". Operas had first began to appear during the Renaissance period.
What I'm trying to get at is that Mozart I think was the most influential and probably the most successful due to his abilities to compose great music for generations to come. He has about 600 creditied works under his name so that itself is really impressive.
Sonata form (also sonata-allegro form) has three main sections: an exposition, a development, and
ReplyDeletea recapitulation.
First everyone knows first impressions are everything. That is way composers have introductions
leading up to the exposition. The introduction is usually slower and generally sets everything up
for the exposition.
The exposition usually has an A B phrase. That means there are different themes. Mozarts 40th
symphony has this phrasing. The contrast and drama between two or more themes and tonalities is
the basic premise behind Sonata Form. The exposition is the place where the composer 'exposes'
all of the musical ideas that he is going to use in the movement. With A B phrase it is usually
something asking a question and them it is given an answer. As Miss. Burk said in a piano lad
class its like the little kid asking for a cookie and the mom answers back no and then the kid gets
all mad which eventually leads up to the development.
The Development section of the movement is essentially a 'free fantasia' on themes established in
the Exposition. This is where the composer is allowed to let his imagination run wild - it is where
the drama and conflict occurs. The little kid at this point is sad and crying and the mom is yelling
because the kid really wants a cookie but is not listening to the mom. The development is the “C”
phrase. This allows the composer to do whatever he wants. In Sonata Pathétique Beethoven turns
it into something like bugs bunny trying to trick someone and yelling at them in his silly
outrageous costume. From one webiste I found that Schubert, composed sonata forms with three
or more key areas. The first movement of Schubert's Quartet in D minor, D. 810 ("Death and the
Maiden"), for example, has three separate key and thematic areas, in D minor, F major, and A
minor, not my words but words from a website. I would cite it in this essay but there is no author
so I cant. At least the truth is being told.
The Development section eventually leads back to the Recapitulation, which is where all
the previous themes return. With recapitulation Principal Subject returns (sometimes modified),
Bridge Passage returns (sometimes modified), Second Subject returns in home key, or another
related key (sometimes modified), Closing Section returns in home key (sometimes modified).
And sometimes a Coda is put in place. All the recapitulation does is repeat what the exposition
does and sometimes as it says it changes keys, themes, it can even be in the relative minor of the
original key (BACH!!! he did not write sonatas just to let you all know)
This is Sonata form. It is really fun to play. I say if you do play a sonata work on
it...EVERYDAY OF YOUR LIFE or at least until you get it down well enough. Pay special
attention to dynamics, be grateful Beethovens dad isnt your dad at all. Play all the movements
because there are usually three and they last a really really really long time. The first movement to
Sonata Pathétique is 10 mins. That is because it has a repeat.
I wrote mine in word so it looks like funny formating sorry :/
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