Music Appreciation - Semester Notes | MUS 1751, Study notes of Music

Download Music Appreciation - Semester Notes | MUS 1751 and more Study notes Music in PDF only on Docsity! Opera spread all over Europe and made it to Germany, France, and England. We will now listen to a bit of Opera from the great English composer, Henry Purcell. -Opera Dido and Aeneas (1689) In this Aria, Purcell uses a device called a basso ostinato that was popular in the Baroque. The English for basso ostinato is ground bass. This is a constantly repeated bass line that the rest of the music is build over. Aria, "When I Am Laid in Earth" (Required Listening) Act II Recitative "At the bitter news" (RL) Arioso "Thou art dead" (RL) Tocata from "Orfeo" The emergence of the Orchestra. An orchestra is an ensemble of musicicans organized around a core of strings, playing under a leader. Baroque orchestras had around 20 players, each playing a single line of music. The Violin - the most important string instrument of the Baroque period. Concerto "to strive together" a musical composition that features a soloist and an orchestra in a friendly contest or competition. When there is one soloist: solo concerto. When there is a solo group concerto grosso. In the concerto grosso the full orchestra is called the tutti and the solo group is called the concertino. The concertos consist of three movements. A fast 1st, a slow 2nd, and a fast 3rd. Fast-Slow-Fast. The first tend to be serious or grand. The second, lyrical and tender. The third, lighter and more dance- like. Block Architecture. Clearly delineated sections… -Ritornello Form. A main themes, called the ritornello, is played by the tutti. In between statements of this theme, the soloist inserts fragments of the theme and extends them in virtuistic fashion. Vivaldi "Spring" from The Four Seasons, I (Required listening.) Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Ordained as a priest. The Red Priest. Orphanage in Venice The Hospice of Mercy ***Listening exercise 18, from chapter twelve. The Late Baroque and Bach The music of the Late Baroque is more about refinement than about innovation. The music tends to be very rhythmic with continuous movement. Melodies are usually sequenced. Melodic Sequencing is when the melody, or a fragment of the melody is repeated 2 or more time at different pitch levels. The texture is dense. As the composers worked out the filling in of the inner voices, polyphony returns. J.S. Bach (1685-1750) Born to very musical family. Largely self taught by copying arranging and studying the music of Corelli, Vivaldi, Pachelbel, and Palestrina. Taught himself to play the organ and became a renowned organ virtuoso. Spent 9 years as organist in Weimar. Got a better job in Cothen, Germany as Music director for the court. Directed an "all star" orchestra for the Prince of Cothen. This is the time in his life that Bach wrote a series of Famous Concerto Grosso, called the Brandenburg. Mostly secular works. Concertos as well as his keyboard work the well tempered Clavier. In 1723 moved to Leipzig, Germany became the cantor of Saint Thomas's Church and choir school. A very important and difficult job. He had to proved new music for Sundays and holidays. A commitment of about 60 days a year. The greatest expression of polyphonic writing is a form called fugue. Of all composers, J.S. Bach is considered a master of this form. It is a way to show off technical skill in contrapuntal writing. First there is a main theme called the subject. Each voice enters with the subject. This section is called the exposition. Then this is followed by a free writing section called an episode. These two ideas usually alternate. Usually fugues are for 2-5 voices or parts. They have been written for as many as 32. Another technique preferred by Bach and certainly well suited to the organ: the pedal point. A sustained note in the bass with the harmonies shifting over it. The organ was the main instrument of the Baroque and Bach was considered a virtuoso organist. Listen to J.S. Bach Organ Fugue in G min. (RL) Church Cantata- multi movement sacred work including arias, ariosos, recitatives, vocal soloists, a chorus, small orchestra. Listen to excerpts from "Awake a voice is Callin" Movement 4 - all based on a Lutheran chorale tune. The operas did not go over as well as one would think, they played to undersold houses. Mozart's music fell out of fashion. His style was thought to be too dense, too intense and too dissonant. He was even warned by a publisher to "write in a more popular style or else I cannot pay for more of your music." In his last year of life Mozart wrote a beautiful clarinet concerto, The opera, The Magic Flute and most of his Requiem Mass. No one really knows what Mozart died of. There is a great deal of speculation from poisoning to bad pork chop. He was buried in a common grave so we do not have his remains for testing. Multi-movement works: alternating fast slow fast 1st Sonata Allegro 2nd Theme and Variation 3rd Minuet and Trio 4th Rondo Symphony: a large scalework for orchestra, 4 movements Symphony No. 40, 1st Movement, Mozart Sonata: a work for a solo instrument Either a piano or an instrument such a s violin accompanied by the piano 3 movements: fast, slow, fast String Quartet, a work fro 2 violins, viola, cello Several movements 3-5 movements Haydn, String Quartet, Opus 76 No 3, Second Movement The solo concerto, a alrge scale work for soloist and orchestra 3 movements, fast, slow, fast Double exposition Cadenza Mozart, Piano Concerto in A Maj. Form is discussed by giving different musical ideas letter names such A, B, C. Ternary form has a simple arrangement of an A section, a contrasting B section, then a return of the A section. The classical composers loved to use ternary form in relation to type of dance called the minuet: a dance in a moderate tempo and in a triple meter. There are actually 3 little ABA forms inside of a big ABA form. Minuet ABA Trio CDC Minuet ABA Sonata Allegro is preferred for first movements of classical multi-movement works. 2nd movements often use Theme and Variation form. A var 1 var 2 … Listen to : Haydn, Symphony No. 94 2nd movt. (RL) 4th movements often use Rondo form Rondo can be graphed out as ABACA or ABACABA or ABACADA. All are characterized by a return of the A section with contrasting material in between. It is similar to the ritornello form from the Baroque Listen to Rondo. Mozart Horn Concerto in Eb Major K. 495 (required listening) Assignments: Quizzes 16, 17, 19 His great operas date from this time The Marriage of Figaro Don Giovanni The Magic Flute The operas did not go over as well as one would thing, they played to undersold houses. Mozart's music fell out of fashion. Opera Librettist Lorenzo da ponte Don Giovanni Vocal ensemble La ci darem la mano We are transferring time periods from the Classical period which is all about form into the romantic period which is all about emotion The composer who first started to really exemplify both of these is… Ludwig van Beethoven, 1770-1802 - A giant figure in music history. He is the iconic image of the "musician as artist" and is famous for being angry, defiant, disheveled, and generally eccentric. Slow introductions Used the Scherzo rather than Minuet and trio False recaputulations Long codas Adding material in the recapitulation Using themes from previous movements in later movements Added instruments to the orchestra added choir to the symphony Started out as virtuoso pianist Beethoven, Piano Sonata Opus 13, The "Pathetique" Sonata (1799) 1st Movement The romantics became very interested in literature and in having their music express some sort of literary content. There was a great output of poetry and that poetry lent itself well to writing songs. This popularized a genre called the Art Song, a song for solo voice and piano accompaniment. Art Song was most popular in Germanic countries, which is why these songs are often referred to lied, or the plural lieder. A young Viennese man who was most famous for his lieder was Franz Schubert (1797-1828) In his short life span Schubert wrote more than 600 lieder. He also wrote 8 symphonies, 15 string quartets, 21 piano sonatas, seven Masses and four operas. This is a huge output for someone who lvied to be only 31 when he died. (He died just one year after Beethoven did.) Schubert lived the life of a "free artist". He was often broke but spent his mornings composing, his afternoons in the cafes and his evening were often spent at the homes of friends performing his music. These evenings became known as Schubertiads. Erlking (1857) Based on narrative verse by Goethe. (RL) Tells the story of the King of the Elves and his malevolent seduction of a young boy. The legend said that whoever was touched by the King of the Elves would die. This exemplifies the romantic fascination with the supernatural and macabre. The song requires the singer to use four different tones of coice to represent four different characters. The piano gets to be the galloping horse. Other types of program music: Dramatic overture Concert overture Symphonic poem Another main facet of the Romantic period is the importance of the piano as an instrument A few great pianists took what was essentially a parlor instrument and turned it into a medium for great performances and displays of virtuosity. Also, the piano was improved. It was made bigger, stronger, and louder. Consider the little pianofortes you can see in the plantation houses around here. These are the Classical period instruments. Then consider this grand piano here in the classroom. This is the instrument as it was starting to be made in the romantic period. Franz Liszt (1811-1886) Born in Hungary, trained in Vienna. Became a phenomenon and one of the most legendary pianists of all time. Patterned himself after Paganini. Established the format of the modern piano recital. All piano, all memorized, with the piano turned so the performer's profile could be seen. The Russians In the romantic period we see a rise of a concept called Nationalism. Now other countries are going to start to break off and form a national identity with their music. Of these one of the most important was Russia. Up to this point Russia has not been on the musical scene. But when the Russians develop their own style they become highly influential. It starts with an Opera by Mikhail Glinka called "A Life of a Tzar" This fueled a nationalist movement in Russia by inspiring a group called the "mighty handful" or the Russian Five. Alexander Borodin Cesar Cui Mily Balakirev Nikolai Rismky-Korsakov Modest Musorgsky Decided to compose in a distinctly American style. Used early Jazz, cowboy songs. Wrote a great deal of music the American West. His music is still associated with the west. His music is clear and simple with a strong bass and clear upper linees. Wrote for the ordinary listener. Listen to Appalachian Spring. p. 385 Post-Modern After WWI All art is of equal potential. Concept that there is no higher or lower art. All are considered equal. Two minds consider. Edgard Varese (1883-1965) Early landmark in electronic music. Poeme Electrique Composed to be played in the Phillips Radio Corporation's Pavillion at the 1958 World's Fair. Organized noise. John Cage (1912-1992) Born in LA Invented the prepared piano, partly due to his love of percussion instruments Why not leave the organization of Sound to chance? Wrote music by throwing dice, darts, drawing cards, etc. Developed his own musical philosophy. What is music? What is sound? Why do we call some sound music and other noise? Etc. John Adams (1947- ) American composer of minimalism Minimalism takes a very small unit of music and repeats over and over to form a composition Won Pulitzer in 2003 for "On the transmigration of souls" Also won a Grammy for the same work Famous for his operas using stories from recent history such as his opera about Nixon's famous 1972 visit to China, hence the Opera "Nixon in China". The latest Opera is called Dr Atomic. It is about the Manhattan project. New Orleans Style of Dixieland Jazz (transplanted to Chicago and NY) Focus on Louis Armstrong (1898-1971) Earliest Superstar of Jazz First great jazz trumpet virtuoso/improviser in jazz history Also pioneer of scat-singing- vocal improvisation using nonsense syllables; attempt at imitating instrument Big hits, popular fame William Grant Still (1895-1978) Music comes out of the Harlem Renaissance, a movement that evolved in the African American community in the 1920s and 30s to promote racial advancement through artistic creativity. Became the first African American composer to have a symphony performed by a major orchestra and the first to have an opera performed by a major opera company. Afro-American symphony Uses a blues theme Solo banjo George Gershwin's Rhapsody Blue - A Musical Melting Pot Blues, Jewish Music, Yiddish Theatre, 1920s Jazz, Broadway show tune style, Western classical tradition Opera became very popular in the USA. The most famous being Porgy and Bess by Gershwin. The Metropolitan Opera of New York being the first big Opera company. Importing musician from Europe to fill out the Orchestra. Summertime, George and Ira Gershwin. In American the Opera evolved into the Musical which has become an enduring USA institution. In America the opera evolved into the musical which has becom and enduring USA institution. Leonard Burnstein (1918-1990) a great American conductor and composer united Jazz and the Broadway Music in his Musical West Side Story. This is a modernization on the Romeo and Juliet story. With lyrics by Stephen Sondheim (his first job as a lyricist. National Endowment of the Arts is an institution that foster the Arts in the USA by providing grants for various arts related endeavors.