Classical to the Post-Modern Eras Essay Example for Free

Classical to the Post-Modern Eras Essay In this essay, I’m going to trace the development of Classical Music from the late 1750s to the Post-Modern era in the 2000s and provide a brief history of music, and how they link together to form what we have today. There are many preconceptions of what the history of music is. Some people think it is mainly a biography of composer’s lives, but they are wrong. The history of music is primarily the history of musical style. In order to appreciate this, it is essential to become acquainted with the different sounds and to hear them in their contexts. Fashions in history change with the generations, like fashions in musical tastes. Lets first start with the classical music, Classical is an era; it is from about 1730 to just after 1800. A few people who contributed to the music in the Classical era are: Ludwig van Beethoven, Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The Classical period focused on the opposite types of sounds- music during that period was orderly, uncluttered, well planned and precise. Music was expected to be technically pleasing and grounded in certain traditions and styles that had been approved by the public, often quite formal. Composers were seen as workers who were hired to write music that would please their employer (Sagebiel). The classical period of music combined harmony, melody, rhythm, and orchestration more effectively than earlier periods of music. The classical period is best known for the symphony, a form of a large orchestral ensemble. The symphonic pieces generally had three movements, the sonata, the minuet and the finale. Building of the achievements of earlier composers, Haydn, and Mozart brought the symphony to its peak in the last twenty years of the 18th century. Haydn excelled in rhythmic drive and development of theme-based music (Bishop 325). Mozart also added to the symphony by contrasting memorable lyric themes in full sounding orchestral settings. There are many styles of music within classical music, including symphony, opera, choral works, chamber music, Gregorian chant, the madrigal, and the Mass. A Classical composition will fluctuate in mood. Not only there are contrasting themes within a movement, but there also may be striking contrasts even within (Vardy). In Classical music, there is a flexibility of rhythm. A classical composition has a wealth of rhythmic patterns. Classical music is basically homophonic. However, texture is treated as flexibly as rhythm. Classical melodies are among the most tuneful and easy to remember. The Classical composers interest in expressing shades of emotion led to the widespread use of gradual dynamic change crescendo (gradually getting louder) and diminuendo ( gradually getting softer). By varying the finger pressure on the keys, a pianist can play more loudly or softly. Classical works show a great deal of musical sophistication and use development, key changes, variation, musical phrases of varying lengths, counterpoint, polyphony and advanced harmony development. It uses very specific instruments, most markedly those invented before mid-10th century and adopted in the 18th and 19th centuries, such as instruments like violin, cello, viola, woodwind instruments, brass instruments and other instruments in the orchestra and solo instruments such as piano, harpsichord, organ and guitar. The classical period had a musical style that was consistent, which means that if you were a composer in this time period; you knew what was expected of you. Haydn had a huge influence on the development if Classical music and so did Beethoven but he chose to focus on a more romantic style which had a simple chord structure. This brings us to the Romantic era; The Romantic music period began in 1825 and ran until 1900. Several historical themes were at work during this period, including the increasing role of science as a worldview, the rise of nationalism in Europe, and a growing appreciation for the arts. The style of the Romantic music period is generally characterized by a wider range of dynamics, a greater variety of instruments, more dramatic melodies, more extreme tempos, fuller harmonies, and expanded formal structures within the compositions. Some of the most famous composers of all time lived and worked during the Romantic music era. Schubert, Chopin, Wagner, Brahms, and Mahler are among the most recognizable names. The transition from nineteenth-century Romanticism to twentieth-century Modernism is perhaps one of the big points in music history. Because the speed of twentieth-century innovation in all areas has been so accelerated, music has also moved from one new idea to another with such speed that no previous era can be compared to. Technology and scientific discovery are probably the basic influences on musical creativity and production. Dissonance became very important and in fact most of the pieces are made up of dissonant chords (Palisca). During the Modern era, many new musical techniques emerged. They were seen in melody , harmony , rhythm, meter, texture, tonality, and sonority . It is important to note that during the twentieth century not all changes in music were a revolution or a return to old ideals. Contrapuntal textures in music dominate the Modern era. While, homophonic textures are present, it is to a lesser degree and with less importance. During the 20th century, tone color has become a more important element of music then it was ever before. It has a major role which is creating variety, continuity and mood. Consonance is no longer in use in the 20th century. 20th century music sound fantasy like, distant and mystifying. Chords are never as fundamental as it is in previous centuries. Poly chords are created by placing one traditional chord over another. The rhythmic vocabulary of the 20th century was expanded with increased emphasis on irregularity and unpredictability. The Melody was very elusive.

Appalachian Music :: essays research papers

Appalachian Music Appalachee - people on the other side Folk music - What is folk music? Traditional songs existing in countries. Handed down through generations. Passes on by word of mouth, not written in musical notation. Don't know who wrote it. Melody and lyrics change as they are passed on. Folk Music is History in song: Tells about daily lives. Tells about Special events - often tragedies, themes of romance, battle, adventure, and history. Purpose of folk music: Entertainment, recreation, socializing, dancing, games. Teaching, make work go faster, religious. Tells a story (ballads). Origins of Appalachian people: Ireland Scotland England Music influenced by folk and mountain music: Country Bluegrass Modern folk Musical instruments used (folk instruments): Dulcimer, fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, autoharp, mouth bow, washtub bass. Body percussion, spoons, washboard, Jew's harp. Harmonica, jug. Bluegrass Music - What is bluegrass music? Direct descendant of old-time string band tradition, which developed out of Southern mountain dance music & songs. Combines old-time string band music with gospel harmonies & blues rhythms. Played on acoustic instruments (natural sound): Banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, bass fiddle, dobro (resophonic guitar) Instrumental leads used to show off technical ability Distinctive vocal harmonies Originations of Bluegrass Bill Monroe - "The father of Bluegrass" Grew up in Rosine, Kentucky (Ohio County) Music takes its name from Bill Monroe's band, The Blue Grass Boys Influenced by - Pendleton Vandiver ("Uncle Pen") the uncle who "raised" Bill and taught him how to play the fiddle. Arnold Schultz, black "blues" singer and guitar player. Timeline: 1911 - Bill Monroe born on September 13 1940's - development of bluegrass music 1950's - people began referring to his style of music as Bluegrass 1960's - concept of "bluegrass festival" introduced 1996 - Bill Monroe died on September 9 1997 - Bill Monroe inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Because of his influence on popular music Bluegrass Music featured in: Films of "Bonnie and Clyde", "Deliverance" Television Shows of "The Beverly Hillbillies", "The Dukes of Hazard" Written Overview A sample overview of the history of bluegrass music follows. It should be brief but comprehensive, as it may also be the introduction of the music to teachers as a study guide before or after an in school presentation or they may include this information in a history of social studies discussion if a program presentation is not possible. Bluegrass Music: The Roots The street balladry of the people who began migrating to America in the early 1600s is considered to be the roots of traditional American music. As the early Jamestown settlers began to spread out into the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky and the Virginias, they composed new songs about day to day like experiences in the new land.

In rehearsing and performing Essay

When I performed my character I put on a bad back as in the 17th century middle aged women were getting on a bit and would have had injuries. Mrs Putnam behaves in shock and panic because she cannot believe what is going on around her. First of all Abigail states † She makes me drink blood†. So Mrs Putnam just hopes in fear that it isn’t her baby’s blood, â€Å"My babies blood†. Then Goody Osbourn is accused of being with the Devil. Goody Osbourn has been midwife for Mrs Putnam 3 times. Mrs Putnam reacts with shock that someone so close to her has been behind peoples back and been with the Devil. When our group was acting out a scene from act 1, we had Betty lying down asleep in the middle of the stage. The effect of this is that everyone keeps on coming back to the plot, which is McCarthyism. With Betty in the middle of the stage nobody forgets why the characters is there, they all want to find out what is going on and who must be punished, this helps the audience understand the play and keeps them involved. With Betty in the middle of the stage it improved our performance because it gave us a centrepiece to work around and kept us in a huddle portraying that we were all in fear. The language of the scene is a mix between old English and Native American. The language is part Native American because in the 17th century the English had just settled in the US and the only people there before them were the Native Americans so they took over the old English and then picked up some Native American language. There is also a regional dialect in the writing † I be innocent†. This is because Salem would have been in a rural area isolated from any other towns or villages, so they had their own style of language. The themes run through the scene are fear, shock and nervousness. Fear runs through the scene when talk of people has been with the Devil get mentioned. † I saw, Martha Bellows with the Devil. † When the characters hear this they react with fear † The Marshall, I call the Marshall. † Shock runs through the scene when something out of the ordinary is said, † Oh, how many times he bid me kill you, Mr Parris. † † Kill me! † Also nervousness runs through the scene for example when Tituba rambles, † He say Mr Parris must be kill! Mr Parris no goodly man, Mr Parris means man and no gentle man†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. And look- and there was Goody Good. † When she says this all of this it sound like she is making it up because she is nervous. When we performed the play we wanted to show that it wasn’t from our culture but from another one. So we decided in rehearsals if we wanted to convey this we had to put on an accent from that era and part of the world, this worked well. We wanted the audience to feel the fear and the shock of the scene when we performed it. This is because you can’t get into the scene if you don’t fell both of these, as they are what the scene is about. So if they did feel the fear and the shock they would of understood and enjoyed the scene more than if they didn’t feel them. Also we wanted the audience to go away and see what can happen to a small community if something like the Salem witch trials went on and what devastating consequences it can make. Leigh O’Brien Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Miller section.

The Necessary Intellect of Ordinary People - 1449 Words

The uneducated are often unaware of how people take advantage of them when under the power of a leader using propaganda. Propaganda is an opinionated advertisement used to control and appeal to peoples judgement and emotions, and gets them to do what they want (Stults). Not all persuasion is propaganda, and not all propaganda is bad (Stults). George Orwell writes Animal Farm as an allegorical fable associated with Lenin’s lead over the revolution that established the Communist control of Russia. After the animals of Animal Farm are successful with the Rebellion against Jones, they to lose sight of how the pigs are slowly influencing them. Like the use of propaganda in Russia, the pigs on Animal Farm are able to manipulate the other†¦show more content†¦The pigs train the animals to repeat the phrase so much which makes it impossible for any animals on the farm to think humans are not evil. The pigs are able to manipulate the animals on the farm using distortion and bad logic because the animals are quick to believe anything and will trust whatever the pigs say. Propagandists often have to change information that could disturb their opinions to make it appeal to an audience (Stults). Propaganda will often be illogical if the propagandist thinks that their ideas are believable (PBS). Because few of the farm animals are highly knowledgeable, the pigs take the milk from the cows and the windfall apples in Chapter 3 and the other animals barely question them. In fact, the pigs say it is for the animals’ own good that they drink the milk and eat the apples because it helps them run the farm and they actually dislike them (Orwell 36). The animals are foolish and do not argue with Squealer’s explanation for drinking the milk and eating the apples. They are so incredibly lacking in common sense that they do not notice the pigs control of the farm and the pigs are able to have a way to take more food than the other animals. After the van takes Boxer, the pigs tell the animals a fake story to conceal that the sell him. When Squealer tells the animals that even though Boxer is picked up in the knacker wagon, it takes him to the hospital, the animals believe him. Benjamin theShow MoreRelatedMill ´s Construction on Representative Government Essay1011 Words   |  5 Pagessurreptitiously advocating for elitism in the subsequent sixteen chapters. In these sixteen chapters, he manages to maintain the democratic faà §ade he develops in the first two chapters while championing elite rule by promoting a governmental scheme in which the people are theoretical supreme, but practically play no role in exercising authority. The first instance of this dichotomy surfaces in Mill’s appreciation of democracy. 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