The Soloist

It wasn’t until rock music was out of its prime that soloists started to gain popularity once again. Rock music was at a peak in the 60s and 70’s, but after the audience it originally attracted grew up, there was a new audience to entertain that wanted their own unique styles. This phenomenon drove rock in, and it is partly what caused rock to fade. In terms of record sales, bands circled the top for a majority of the time with a few soloists joining them. When rock was first forming, it was the…

When people listen to Tchaikovsky’s repertoire they would say his music exudes passion, energy, and depth. The first movement of the Piano Concerto No.1 in B-Flat Minor by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky exhibits elements of true orchestral genius utilizing its range to the fullest in combination with the complex and intricate yet powerful fingerings of the solo pianist. What perplexes yet entertains the audience is the contrast from the beginning of the piece where the introduction is lyrical,…

The Big Day As I sat there waiting for my results, surrounded by friends but feeling so alone, I pondered at all the possibilities "maybe I qualified for state or maybe I didn't" I kept thinking. I could hear the blasting of horns and the beating of drums in the distance, strangely though I was surrounded by sound and vibrations I still managed to tune it out. For some reason to me sitting in that one seat became almost my own little bubble filled with self doubt while at the same time a shred…

a very motivational, “pump you up” kind of vibe to it. Additionally, it was a cool incorporation of more popular music. Many of the songs included solo performances by various band members which made the music far more interesting and all of the soloists performed beautifully. Another aspect of the performance that I found neat was that two of the songs were composed by the director, Mike Flaherty. Even more impressive was that the last song played by the second quintet was composed by their…

Acquired knowledge can be categorised into 2 types: personal knowledge and shared knowledge. The former refers to knowledge held by an individual and is not universally acknowledged. The latter refers to knowledge shared among a group, and that knowledge is largely the same for every member of that group. Although there may be slight differences in shared knowledge for individual members, knowledge can be classified as shared knowledge if if it is easily shared. However, every individual within…

While stepping onto the stage, a performer is accompanied by vigorous clapping from the audience. Immediately following booming noises comes an eager silence, waiting for the performer to begin the concert. Without further hesitation, the soloist begins the excerpt from Bach. The style of this performance has changed due to variations in interpretation throughout the history of music. Music performance has evolved because of the enhancements of the classical period, propaganda of the war era,…

During the 1920s he believed in putting emphasis on the virtuosic soloist, instead of on the melody of the band as a whole. In the song, “West End Blues”, Armstrong clearly demonstrates his skills as a genius artist on the trumpet, as can be heard at 0:50, while also paying homage to the sultry tones common to the New Orleans…

melody that is accented by the quick separated notes played by the flutes. A few minutes into the piece the pianist adds in and establishes a trade off between the main orchestra and the staccato, high pitched notes that seem to string together as the soloists hands fly across the piano. Although the piano and orchestra seem to move together clearly repeating a light hearted melody, the piano adds flourishes with the harmony played by his left hand. When the piano drops out, the orchestra plays…

section in support of more loosely-tied wind, brass; the amount of improvisation in the song would vary, depending on band-leader, arrangement, song or band. The most common style consisted of a soloist taking center stage and improvising while his bandmates played support. As a song progressed, multiple soloists would take over and improvise their parts. There were also some instrument changes that came with the swing era. One such change was the tuba, commonly used in large dance bands of the…

“The King of Pop” The 1980’s was a time of inspiration. Music had a big impact on the young people in the eighties, from the way they dressed, to the way they acted. “The King of Pop” Michael Jackson; was one of the most popular artists during this time, climbing his way to the top. Staring out in a family band to becoming the most popular pop artist of the time. During the sixties before Michael became the “King of Pop” he started out in his family band, “The Jackson Five”. The group was made…