Musical plagiarism

I do not know how you have felt about this situation, but the state of affairs in terms of percussion has been tormenting my thoughts for the past several months. As Tyler and Patrick are graduating, and rumors of Harley, Ana, and Chase not participating in the program circulate, it is evident that we are going to have a shortage of percussionists in the marching band when we want to further expand the roster. Because of this, I do not feel comfortable in influencing your decision of my…

There are several differences between the texts of a motet and a madrigal; there are also a lot of similarities between them as well. A motet; in classical music, is a word that is applied to a number of highly varied choral musical compositions. For a Renaissance Motet, the text is very religious; while its expressive style is moderately conservative. The main purpose was for worship; whereas its performance practice was extremely sophisticated, well-practiced, preached to a higher calling,…

"Actors to places." I tap my fingers restlessly on the first page of my binder, waiting to hear the OK from my Assistant Stage Manager backstage. Opening night is always a bottle of anticipation. I hear the orchestra tuning their instruments, the music disjointed but with such a harmonious structure. The lights have just gone down and the audience members find their seats quickly. I run through my preshow checklist in my head once more to make sure everything is prepared: Props preset, lights…

I sat in shock and great disappointment as I realized that someone else's name was first on the list. The Atlanta Youth Symphony Orchestra was an important experience for my career as a musician. It is a renowned group of young musicians that work closely with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. I have been a part of the horn section in this prestigious group since my freshman year. After all of my original section mates graduated, I was the one who everyone thought would be able to take…

Phantom of the Opera has been a smash hit in the world of musical theatre ever since opening on October 9th, 1986 in New York City. Since then, there have been a countless number of different productions and tours that have graced audiences across the world. Currently, there is a new production of The Phantom of the Opera on tour across North America, involving one of the largest casts of any touring company. This marvelously humongous musical has been brought to life by a number of persons on…

Since I was very little, music has been a passion of mine. I began playing the piano when I was about 4 years old, and to this day I just love to play. I believe music is a thing that comes naturally to me. So, naturally, I signed up for band in sixth grade. From the beginning, I knew I would continue band into high school – I have always thought highly of marching band, and besides, playing clarinet is fun. It wasn’t until my first halftime show, however, that I felt a legitimate fear of…

common agreement, Hair (1967), composed by James Rado and lyricized by Gerome Ragi, is the first show considered as a “Rock Musical.” In this show, the rock songs provided a context of liberal thoughts raised during that time. Thus, the rock reflects a freedom attitude from traditional perceptions. However, it is remarkable to point that the use of rock in Broadway Musicals had several purposes. The show Jesus Christ Superstar (1970), which is based on the stories of Jesus written in the…

I bit my lip and tried the scale again. I felt my fingers fly through the progression, and I played the phrase just as my mind imagined it should sound. I rested my hands and waited for my teacher, Ms. Julie to respond. We had been practicing this piece exclusively in preparation for my audition to a prestigious middle school for the performing arts. I was intimidated by the audition as it was, but I was beginning to feel more intimidated by my teacher. She clicked her tongue in disapproval and…

After retiring from performing for a live crowd, Gould focused on studio recordings and radio shows. His anxiety while performing at concerts did not disappear after his retirement from stage, instead it shifted to the studio. In addition since he possessed limited amounts of education, Gould resorted to using sophisticated terms while conversing with others. Sadly, often what he said make very little sense as he used these words in the wrong context (Ostwald, 225). This in turn, affected his…

The drummer lays down a nice simple 4:4 groove. The rhythm guitarist starts with some bluesy chords. I ponder how to enter into this jam. As the lead guitarist comes in on the blues scale, I decide to let it out and enter on the downbeat, holding down the rhythm. I disregard technicalities and established norms and let myself play what feels right. Feeling the vibrations ring through my soul, I let the music take me. Suddenly, a phone call interrupts us; we realize we have been jamming for…