Reactions to orchestral music

Music Review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15rj-xFh2yg Henry Purcell - Abdelazer Suite: II. Rondeau This is piece from the late 1600's. It is the second part of a larger set of music. As indicated in the title, the wider set of pieces is called Abdelazer. The piece is entirely French by nature. The Rondeau in particular, including this one, has two "halves" where there is a refrain that is prominently featured. The work was written by Henry Purcell.

He lived in the latter half of the 1600's. Given his French roots, it's obvious where that part of his music came from. As for the piece itself, the video shows smooth yet crisp notes that start off the piece. The entire orchestra is involved. Only strings are in play...violins, violas and cellos. The piece is not very long as the video is not even two minutes long.

Very obvious that the different instruments are playing different parts but they all mesh together to form a good overall piece and experience. Volume is not low but it's not too high either. Apparently, the play in question (Abdelazer) was also commonly known as The Moor's Revenge, which also came from the late 1600's. The other parts of the suite of pieces include an overture, a few airs, a minute, a jig a hornpipe and a piece that wraps up the suite.

Not much to this movement but a lot of good things to take in here. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-Purcell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO5vlAtYV6c Gustav Holst - St. Paul's Suite - I, Jig: Vivace This one is much younger than the one just covered. This piece came in the early 1912 and, as indicated by the assignment, was written by Gustav Holst. Holst was from England and operated or otherwise lived in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

Also like the first movement, there are multiple parts, although this one only has four. The Jig/Vivace is the first movement. There is also the Ostinato, Intermezzo and then a Finale to wrap things up. One very interesting thing about the Jig itself is that there is a clear alternation between different times as the piece goes on. This one is a bit longer, coming in at just over 3 minutes per the Youtube video. It is also smooth at the beginning...longer notes and less crisp...much smoother.

One thing that is clearly different is the changes in volume, in addition to the changes in time. Things go from medium to soft to rather loud and the piece does not stay in one place very long. There are continual shifts with each part of the piece. Even with the shifts in volume, it never gets too loud or obnoxious...it's always got a soft touch...even when loud. I absolutely enjoyed the piece.

http://www.gustavholst.info/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M66GwhA2EU Benjamin Britten Simple Symphony, Op.4 - II. Playful Pizzicato Like the second piece, this one came in the earlier part of the 1900's...the 1930's to be precise. The piece was apparently dedicated to his viola teacher, a woman named Audrey Alston. Like the second piece, it is meant for a four-piece string group or a wider group of the same.

Also like the other snippets, there are multiple pieces and the part in question her is the plucking-strewed second part, Playful Pizzicato. As the title suggest, the song is dominating by string instruments plucking their strings rather than using the bow, as is normal. Also like the other pieces covered in this assignment, it is not all that long, coming in at only a bit over three minutes. Like the second piece, there are clear and obvious variations in volume.

It is also clear the first minute is its own section. There is a pause and then a shift into a new part...even if it because similar in many ways. Britten lived more recently than both of the other people, living from the 1910's to the 1970's. He apparently did a lot of work for movies and other similar productions that needed scoring and mood-setting music. This was a very different piece and I absolutely like it.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benjamin-Britten https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x37gXulKVfE Malcolm Arnold-Prelude, Siciliano and Rondo The final piece is by far the longest...coming in at over eight minutes. It is also the first piece among the four to clearly involve instruments other than strings as there are all pieces of the band...cymbals, brass...all of it. The song starts off opulent and roaring but has variances in tone and volume not long into the piece.

Of the four, Malcolm Arnold was by far the one to live the most recently....as he died only 10 years ago after being born in 1921. Like.