Orchestral percussion

“Think instruments can only be made of wood or brass? An orchestra called the Vegetable Orchestra hails from Vienna, and all the instruments are all made from various vegetables” (Interesting Facts about Orchestras). Instruments have advanced greatly over the years, and that has affected the size and the sound of the orchestra. The orchestra started off as small groups of instrumentalists, playing for important occasions. As time went on, it grew in size and the importance level changed. The…

I decided to rent Doctor Atomic by John Adams. Doctor Atomic is an English language opera that portrays the anxiety and tension felt by the scientists involved in the creation of the atomic bomb in 1945. I read the synopsis of several concerts and operas and they all were appealing, but then I read the description for Doctor Atomic and knew I should critique it. I am a chemistry major and the summary of this opera intrigued my scientific side. I also felt that I would enjoy this English language…

Throughout history there are significant moments that will shape and impact the future. Whether it be a war influencing politics, or an athlete changing the game of his or her sport, these moments can take place anywhere and at any time. For the film industry, one of the most important and groundbreaking films ever made was Star Wars, directed by George Lucas. Star Wars instantly became one of the most popular films once released, creating a fanbase that will continue for many generations. Lucas…

The saxophone is still considered, and in many ways, will always be the youngest wind instrument to have a foothold in western classical music. Having been developed and patented by instrument creator and businessman Adolphe Sax in 1846, the saxophone had already missed out on much of the literature and masterworks written for other wind instruments centuries before its time. Additionally, much of the major classical musical works written for the instrument happened during its constant…

Music is something we all enjoy and love listening to. It has shaped this country and the world as we know it. It is important we take a step back and examine how music of all types makes us feel. Histoire du Tango is a piece written for flute and guitar by Astor Piazolla (1921-1992). This piece of of music is very wonderful to listen to. The genre is classic tango but has hints of modernism with the way the composer wrote the piece. Piazolla is a big fan of using the guitar to play a rhythm…

Shakespeare in Love is a 1998 film directed by John Madden with an Oscar-winning score by Stephen Warbeck. The movie deals with William Shakespeare struggling to write a new comedic play in 16th century London, until he comes across a noblewoman Viola who he falls in love with and also becomes his inspiration in writing. The scene analyzed is Viola and William’s first encounter at her house. And The Social Network is a 2010 film directed by David Fincher also with an Oscar-winning score by…

most distinct characteristics of this piece of music compared to music from the romantic period is there is giant leaps. In addition, the orchestra introduced more instruments like bass clarinet and piccolo, to add richer colour they added some percussion section like xylophones, drums, harps, and bells in it. It was always believed the bigger, the better at that period. This big change gave a stronger rhythm and hence led the audience to whole scenario like they were in the forest. Overall,…

international success, but this triumph would soon be quelled. At a performance of Lady Macbeth at the Bolshoi Theatre in early 1936, Shostakovich noticed that Stalin was in the audience. Accounts testified that Stalin shuddered every time the brass and percussion played too loudly, that he and his consort laughed at the love-making scene between two characters and that when Shostakovich came on stage to take a bow he was “white as a sheet”. Two days later, an…

forms of samba in other parts of the country, but the modern urban samba, are sung to the sound of palms and beaten rhythm, with one or more parts of verses declamatory and played with stringed instruments such as cavaquinho, guitar, and Various percussion instruments such as tambourine, deaf and tambourine. With the passing of the years, other aspects of the samba urban of Rio de Janeiro have emerged, which have gained their own denominations such as samba de breque, samba-canção, bossa nova,…

Encountering difficulties is part of our daily life. They test our capacity to resist adversity and make us stronger. Moreover, challenging moments that we face can be compared with a storm, which produces intensive winds and heavy rain causing flooding and disaster but, after it everything returns to normal and the calmness will come. This is because a bad season or a moment in our life cannot last forever. Based on that principle, I interpret the overture of Don Giovanni composed by Wolfgang…