Biographical Christian Cannabich, who was the son of the flautist and composer Friedrich Cannabich was born in Mannheim in 1731. A pupil of Johann Stamitz, Christian Cannabich entered the Mannheim court orchestra as a 'scholar' at the age of 12 (1744) and in 1746 he was formerly chosen as a violinist. The Elector Carl Theodor contracted him an electoral salary to study in Italy and in the fall of 1750, he then started a course of training with Jommelli in Rome where he endured until 1753. He…
Introduction The William Tell Overture is an overture to the opera, William Tell, which premiered in Paris on August 3, 1829, and was described by Hector Berlioz as a “symphony in four parts”. However, unlike traditional symphonies with distinct movements, the transitions in this overture were without breaks. This piece was composed by Gioachino Antonio Rossini and was the last opera he composed. Rossini was a transitionary figure of the Classical and Romantic period, well known for his operas…
Scott Hicks is an Australian film director and screenwriter. He’s best known as the author and director of Shine. Is a 1996 Australian biographical drama film based on the life of pianist David Helfgott, who suffered a mental breakdown and spent years in institutions. It stars Geoffrey Rush, Lynn Redgrave, Noah Taylor, John Gielgud, Goodie Withers, Justin Braine, Sonia Todd, Nicholas Bell, Chris Haywood and Alex Rafalowicz. The screenplay was written by Jan Sardi, and then directed by Scott…
Similarities The Renaissance and Middle Ages was two completely different time periods, but they also had some things in common with the way they used music. For example, both time periods used music in church and sacred gatherings. The Middle Ages built spaces to be used just for musical performances (Middle). The rooms were large with acoustic qualities and were surrounded by stained glass windows depicting Biblical scenes. In the Renaissance, religion went through Counter-Reformation which…
Jeanie with the light brown hair (published in 1854) by Stephen Foster is performed by a tenor with piano accompaniment. The piano introduces the work with a short prelude starting on a high note then descending in conjunct intervals, briefly ascends from a low note to a note close to F. The piano then varies the prior phrase by descending from a high note with eighth notes then sustaining a note close to A. Following the prelude, the tenor begins the first section on with “I” on the high note…
George Gershwin was born on September 26, 1898, in Brooklyn, New York. George The son of Russian-Jewish immigrants, George began his foray into music at age 11 when his family bought a secondhand piano for George’s older sibling, Ira. George was a natural talent with piano so eventually he began studying with the noted piano teacher Charles Hambitzer and impressed him so much that he wrote a letter saying that he found the new pupil who will make it successful and he was a genius. Gershwin…
George Gershwin was born on September 26,1898 in Brooklyn,New York. George started focusing more on his music when he turned 10. Gershwin had a natural talent but he needed to get mentors in order to fully flourish in his talent. Charles Hambitzer, was one of his mentors. He was a noted piano teacher. Some of the other mentors he studied under were: Henry Cowell, Wallingford Riegger, Edward Kilenyi and Joseph Schillinger. Gershwin dropped out of school at age 15. Gershwin played in several New…
EARLY VERDI In his early works, Verdi was known for using canons and fuges and also to have written vocal music, band music and chamber works. In his early opera he uses standard elements of Italian opera content of the period. Amongst the essential elements are the aria, the duet, the ensemble, and the finale sequence of an act. The aria format, involved three sections, a slow introduction, marked typically cantabile or adagio, known as the cavatina, a tempo di mezzo that might involve chorus…
Jesua Calderon John Phillip Sousa was not just a musician he was a great one. He thought all about the kinds of bands he wanted to do and were popular during that time. He also turned into a band conductor. One more thing that happened was that he became a well known musician. Never underestimate your dreams no matter what the cost. Sousa decided to look over the type of bands he wanted to do. Once he decided that, he named his band the “Sousa Band”. He also made it sound like a…
Have you ever heard of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? Mozart is one of the greatest composers in history. Some of his famous pieces include Don Giovanni and the Magic Flute. He is so well known that a film was based on the life of Mozart called Amadeus. In the film Amadeus, it contains a story line that is not completely true because it is historical fiction. In the film Antonio Salieri was the Court Composer to Emperor Joseph II. In real life Salieri and Mozart were never close but this film…