Classical music

Exoticism, The Gamelan, and Sexuality Western music has drawn on many musical styles. Exoticism is one of the styles that was popular in the late nineteenth century. Exoticism, according to much literature, is deliberated as a form of representation that predicts people, cultural practices and places as foreign from a composer’s perspective or intended audience. Ralph Locke, in “Musical Exoticism: Images and Reflections,” defines exoticism as “a process of evoking a place, people, or social…

Importance of Music Education written by Alexis Kalivretenos, a trumpet player with a Bachelors Degree in music education from the University of Maryland, is a compelling article that argues the importance of keeping music in the core curriculum of education systems across the nation. Kalivertenos uses a combination of ethos pathos and logos to argue that music should not only be kept in the curriculum but actually benefits the other subjects in the curriculum. Kalivertenos states that music…

and influential. Much like America, Charles Ives was a blend of both traditional roots and innovation. He drew his inspiration from America’s contradictions and complexity as a society. His music had complex textures, layers, melodies, and harmonies all interlaced with each other to create bold and different music. Ives is known for his eerily expressive pieces like “The Unanswered Question” and “Central Park in the Dark”. “The Unanswered Question” is an ominous and…

I chose Bach Cello Suite No. 1, rewritten for eight cellos, to represent me through the elements. I chose a cello on purpose because I admire and strive for its strong yet timid timbre. It’s used more often to create harmony then be the main focus, however in this song it more than rises to the occasion by showing off how many varied sounds and abilities it has in both the harmony and the melody. It’s an elegant, yet powerful and capable instrument that is brought to its full potential in this…

Each time period takes from one before and expands to a whole new level. Although there are many differences between the musical elements in the Medieval and Renaissance time periods, they in fact have similarities and have made music become what it is today. Before music became what it is today, it was often used as a way to communicate with God. The church was a powerful educational source in the middle ages taking place from the fifth…

The Romantic Period or Romanticism was a development in literature, music, and art that originated in Europe around 1800s. It was characterized by works that mirrored individual uniqueness, self-expression and emotions. In the musical scene, this period was seen in expansive symphonies, passionate songs and superb piano music. Compositions in this time showed intense energy and passion. It also drew inspiration from literature and art. There are a handful of composers who became known in the…

Frank Sinatra—In the wee small hours When it comes to thinking of our favorite genre of music, it is generally held that pop-music is people’s favorite. Depending on personal experience, personality type, and emotional concern, however, we find that some people hold the idea of “old fashion” such as Jazz, Blue, Rock and Roll and so on. At that period, there existed quite a few of outstanding singers. Take Frank Sinatra, who was “one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the…

The music of Pierre Boulez’s “Le Marteau sans Maitre”, and Milton Babbitt’s “Phonemena”, where strikingly similar in their styles. Both pieces resembled the style of atonal music, because each piece lacked a tonal center or “stable” key. Both pieces contain complex rhythms, and the scoring of instruments is thin. Both require a virtuoso player, because of the technical requirement to play the music and the range of the music. For example, in Boulez’s piece, the flute part contains multiple leaps…

Next, the works of Ravel and Gershwin were songs that were more familiar and understandable than the works of Kahane. For example, the addition of speech rather than just vocal and instrumental music in “Gabriel’s Guide to the 48 States” was not a typical action that is encountered at Symphonic Performances. Additionally, Kahane kept switching instruments from the electric guitar back to the banjo. The addition of the electric guitar and banjo changed the timbre and feeling of the orchestral…

Orchestration: The techniwue of setting music ofr instruments in various comninations. Romanticism: The movement emphasized intense emotion as an authentic source of aesthetic experience, placing new emphasis on such emotions as apprehension. Virtuoso: Performer of extrordinary technical ability. a charismatic figure who was technically brilliant on his or her instrument and who riveted audiences in public concerts as well as in private recitals in fashionable salons. Tempo Rubato: Perfoemer…