Classical music consists of a variety of genres within itself. Neoclassicism encompassed the era of the 20th century. It included the emphasis of low tones with string sounds. The era of the romantic classical music was also one that created a great impact on the lives of musical followers. However, it was the modern era that encompassed American classical music, which is often associated with patriotism and American beauty.
Music Appreciation
Stravinsky, the Rite of Spring
) the Rite of Spring was written and composed in year 1913. The musical period and the artistic movement that this piece of music belonged to was the modernist period. The artistic movement was a part of the 20th century music which persisted from 1900-1950.
) the purpose for the composure of this music stemmed from the idea behind the rite of spring as being a pagan rite. During this ritual the elders watch a young girl sacrifice herself to the spring god by dancing herself to death.
) the Ballet Russe was the Russian ballet which performed between the years of 1909 and 1929. This Russian ballet originally performed the Rite of Spring with Vaslav Nijinsky's choreography.
) the opening of the Rite of Spring opens with the highest tones of a solo bassoon; it is this that makes it immediately identifyable as a 20th century composition. However, most of Stravinsky's work is reflective of the music during the 18th century. He does not put an emphasis on tone, which would normally be the case in 20th century music. His version of neoclassicism is obvious through the exaggeration of his musical gestures Stravinsky abandons traditional phrasing, by grouping his rhythms in a 9+2+6+3+4+5+3 pattern. The tonal dissonance is used to depict a different picture of humanity, evoking feelings of primitivism. Primitivism is the purposeful suggestion of basic power through constant sounds of percussion and persistent rhythms. Stravinsky attempts to portray the Introduction to Part I as representing the awakening of nature, such as the scratching, gnawing, wiggling of birds and beasts; this can clearly be heard in his piece.
5. ) as the Dance of the Adolescents starts, the string instruments pounding out a dissonant chord can be heard. There are unprecedented and asymmetrical accents whose violence is noticeable by the jabbing sounds from the eight horns. The new passage may be counted in this format: 1-2-3-4. 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, etc. The bassoon can also be distinctly heard as being a part of the unchanging dissonant harmony. Two different traditional chords are combined to form this sound. After these sounds are heard, melodic fragments soon accompany this piece with the repetition of the pounding chord and other figured. The melodic fragments, which are essential being played by the brass and the wood-wind instruments begin to oscillate, before once gain introducing the bassoon, however with slight variations at times. The rhythmic activity is tough and constant has a gradual transition where more instruments are then added.
6. ) Stravinsky's work had an influence attributed to Russian folk music and Russian pagan rituals. Therefore, his inclusion of Russian cultural influences is a manner of showing nationalistic/cultural pride.
7. ) at the end of Part 1 of the Rite of Spring, the ending seems to conclude in an abrupt manner. It does not have a convincing final cadence, as it simply just stops without warning or expectation, sounding simply like a last minute noise. The effect of composing his ending in this sort of way allows for listeners to immediately discuss the reasons for his particular ending.
Schubert, the Erlking
1. ) the piece of work was composed in the year 1815 and it belonged to the historical time period called the Romantic Period. This particular musical period lasted approximately from the years 1820 to 1900.
2. ) the genre of this piece of music is called Lied in German or art song in English. The usual instrumentation of this genre consists of a singer and the playing of the piano. The music was composed by Schubert and is based upon the poem written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
3. ) Program music is described as being instrumental music associated with poems, stories, ideas or scenes; it is deemed as being the story behind the musical piece. The nonmusical component is detailed by a title or explanatory comments. The program of this music is about a son who gets touched by the king of death, and as the father attempts to take his son away on horseback, the Erlkonig, which is the equivalent of the devil or of a ghost of death, is trying to pry the son away from the father.
4. ) Before the singer even comes in to the music, Schubert sets the introduction of the scene by portraying a unique piano piece. The piano plays quick octaves and the urgent bass motive portrays an intense wild ride. This strong galloping is also being formulated by the piano's triplet rhythm which allows for the development of the dramatic storyline's urgency.
5. ) There are four different characters in this piece: the Narrator, the father, the son, and the Erlkonig. Although Schubert uses one singer to portray and sing all of the four parts of the characters, the listener is able to quite clearly differentiate them from one another. The son is sung in the high register in a minor key with dissonant harmonies. On the other hand, the father is sung in low register while the Erlkonig is sung in a coy with pleasant and soft melodies in the major key.
6. ) There are two ways that Schubert builds momentum in his piece. The first way is by using the bass as a method of demonstrating the galloping horse. Every now and then the tones range from low to high and back to low again, insinuating the nervousness felt by the father and the son as they are running away from the Erlkonig. The second way that momentum is built is by the extra tension portrayed through the bass right before the son dies. The excitement of the music just goes silent as listeners get prepared to mourn the death of the son.
7. ) as the Narrator describes the final race to the home, the father holds his son tightly, the tempo begins slowing down as they reach the courtyard until it just suddenly stops. The piano plays a quiet, almost silent chord as the narrator, in a recitative a major, depicts the vivid description of the son in the arms of his father. This touching moment is then interrupted after another chord follows the short pause with the last words being: "was dead!" This loud and intentional voice in an Andante perfect cadence in G minor emphasizes the severity of the situation. They belong together because the stanza is a build up to the final phrase, elevating the impact of the final revelation.
Copland, Simple Gifts from Appalachian Spring
1. ) the work was composed between the years 1943 and 1944. This work was originally intended as a ballet score for Martha Graham who was viewed as a magnificent choreographer and modern dancer.
2. ) the melody of Copland's work comes from a Shaker melody called "Simple Gifts. " the classical form used by Copland to develop this piece was that of ballet music.
3. ) the instrument that plays the theme is a solo clarinet.
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