The Sopranos

Anne Hathaway is known for her break out role in ‘Princess Diaries’. She is also famous for her portrayal as a Parkinsons’ patient in ‘Love & Other Drugs.’ While she is clearly a talented actress, able to move from one spectrum to another, not a lot of people know that she had her share of higher education. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Anne Hathaway was inspired to pursue acting because of her mother. Her mother, Kathleen, appeared in ‘Les Miserables’ - during the first U.S. tour. But she was…

In the original novel, Leroux presents the story as entirely true. A journalist by trade, Leroux based his characters on real people, such as contemporary soprano Christina Nilson. He details actual productions that the opera company had been performing at the time, including Faust. The climactic chandelier crash in the novel was based on an actual event in which the counterweights of the chandelier in the…

The saxophone is one of, if not, the most played woodwind instruments available. It is just a very popular instrument in general for its unique sound, instrument variations and versatility, and difficulty of play. The instrument is generally made out of brass metal and produces sound through the vibration of a reed, or a piece of wood put in the mouthpiece of the instrument. The sound travels through the inside of the horn and comes out at the end projecting it out with a pitch (or note). The…

Johann Sebastian Bach is a world renowned German composer that is ranked as one of the most amazing musical geniuses ever. Bach got this title by stepping outside the box and exploring the uncommon practices for his time. One of Bach’s most famous collection of works broke barriers in the music world, and it's because he had the innovation to change a long tradition. Bach broke the tradition of tonality practices and invented a new way of tuning. This is why Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier is…

Summertime, from the folk opera Porgy and Bess, is a haunting, languid melody created by the highly esteemed American composer and pianist, George Gershwin. Gershwin was one of the twentieth-century’s most influential, beloved composers, and a multitalented musical genius. He composed numerous orchestral works for piano and jazz orchestra, and created popular musical compositions for several stage works and films. Gershwin’s most famous piece, however, is undoubtedly Rhapsody in Blue. I have…

Occasionally, musicians become “crossover artists” whom can per- form good in more than one field of music. For example, Wynton and Branford Marsalis was train in jazz by their father, the great pianist Ellis Marsalis. Both of the sons has became successful classical artists. Bran- ford’s saxophone captures the richness of pieces by Ravel and Stravinsky. Wynton’s albums of classical trumpet music from the Baroque period has brung him many awards. Still, if he was to choose which kind of music he…

CORE 105 Aesthetics: The Artistic Impulse Study Guide Chapter Four: Music and Opera CLASSICAL FORMS • List and describe in complete detail the classical forms listed in Chapter Four for classical vocal music? List examples from the text (composers and works). 1. The first classical form of classical vocal music is mass. It is a sacred choral composition consisting of five sections: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei. These form parts of the mass ordinary- the Roman Catholic church…

During my trip to Ohio, I was also able to view a dress rehearsal of Handel’s Messiah performed by Heidelburg College choir in Tiffin, Ohio. This has always been one of my favorite musical pieces to see performed. I enjoy both instrumental and vocal performances, specifically pieces with a cappela. Heiedleberg college is a Christian institution which only adds to the dynamics of the piece. The conductor began performance by indicating the original performance date of April 1742 in Dublin,…

The Clarinet’s development in the Sonata A Sonata is a composition written for one or two instruments that has three or four large movements that are different from each other in rhythm and mood. The Sonata originates from Latin and Italian which means “to sound”. Throughout the Baroque period the Sonata was for one or two instruments almost always with continuo. After the Baroque period most works designated as sonatas specifically are performed by a solo instrument, a piano, or by a solo…

“I’m going to treat myself to a pedicure done by a white lady. That’s when you know you’ve made it,” an excited Jessica Huang exclaimed to her husband in the “License to Sell” episode of ABC’s Fresh Off the Boat. With this statement, Jessica Huang deemed the white race the gold standard of human beings and simultaneously demeaned other ethnic groups by equating them with the lowest common denominator. Despite the humorous effect of Jessica Huang’s comment, the statement is a prime example of the…