Hearing a rhythm or melody and calling it ‘music’ with no further analysis or specificity is perhaps the most vague definition on earth. Music is, in fact, so much more. Not only can music span across all sorts of genres, but these genres can be divided even further and made more specific by looking at the number of musicians performing - that is, the orchestral, ensemble, and solo music. Style, perhaps, fluctuates the most of all aspects of a performance with the size of the group. Large…
During this time, some of the most original and talented composers manifested. One Antonio Vivaldi, was an Italian Baroque composer who was born 1678 in Venice, Italy. Vivaldi was trained by his father (Giovanni Vivaldi) to play the violin. He had become quite fine at playing the violin but, could not learn wind instruments because his shortness of breath. Vivaldi also wanted to become a priest while having musical education. So, he began to study and was ordained the “the Red Priest” in 1703.…
Hello Mr. Gershenson, I am the composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and I will be telling you about my early life and education, early success and failures, and most famous pieces and achievements before my life ended in 1983 at age 53. Cholera is said to be the reason I passed away as well as the reason that my mom sadly passed away when I was 14 while attending boarding school in St. Petersburg. Throughout my life I have always regret the past, hoped in the future, and have been unsatisfied with…
Alberto Evaristo Ginastera was a Latin American composer from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was born on April 11, 1916 in Buenos Aires and died June 25, 1983 at the age of 67 in Geneva Switzerland. He was half Catalan and half Italian. Ginastera started his composing career when he was only 18 years old and won first place in a contest for the piano. He studied music at the Conservatorio Williams and the National Conservatory, both in Buenos Aires. Ginastera later co-founded the League of…
On the night of February 20th, 1967, the cry of new life spread soundly through the maternity wing of Grays Harbor Community Hospital. This seemingly average night in Hoquiam, Washington would prove to be one of profound and unforeseeable significance; Wendy O’Connor and Donald Cobain would welcome their first-born child Kurt into their lives and, in that very same instance, the world would gain one of the most influential musical icons to strum a guitar. It was in this northern logging town on…
This symphony was written in Dresden during a love affair, according to Jeremy Dibble in (Dibble, 2016). The evidence of the love affair is evident in the third movement (Intermezzo), which contains a scherzo section of three motives. The symbolism of these motives are as follow; first motive is love, second is the religion of philosophy and the last is about the battle to live. Just by reading, the symbolism drawn to these motives shows us the romantic, poetic, and philosophical side of Bax. In…
Early Days J.S Bach was born in Eisenach Germany on March 21, 1685. Bach was one of 8 children in the Bach family. His career was shaped by his families cultural and musical interests. As a child, he went to the local latin school. He also participated in the St.Georg choir and sung as a soprano. One of Bach's more recognizable musical inabilities as a child was that he was unable to play a keyboard instrument. After Bach's parents died in 1996 Bach moved to Ohdruf where he later learned the…
Mr. Holland’s Opus is a film about a musician, Mr. Holland, who wants to compose a symphony; however, he must instead begin teaching at John F. Kennedy High School to ensure financial safety for his pregnant wife and soon-to-be newborn son. Mr. Holland initially believes that his new teaching position will allow him a plethora of free time to focus on his aforementioned passion project—to compose—but very quickly realizes that teaching is a full-time job, not a part time one. Mr. Holland…
In the poem, “Beethoven”, Shane Koyczan makes the point that the best way “to know the man” is to listen to his music. He brings Beethoven’s story to life by using a variety of literary devices. The poet goes into detail by using imagery, diction, metaphor, and allusion to show the life of Beethoven and the effect his music had on others. Koyczan explains the conflict and abuse in Beethoven’s life by using different poetic devices. In the beginning, his choice of words suggests abuse. In the…
is Ludwig II of Bavaria, who was infamous for spending all the money of his kingdom on extravagant castles, running his country into debt. Ludwig II is the perfect example of someone who was thrown into power due to heresy but destroyed his country because of his own self-interest. Part of the reason for Ludwig II’s failure to lead was his upbringing. At the age of 18, Ludwig II became king of Bavaria, which was troublesome as he had not learned very much about politics or how to lead.…