Beethoven. One of a kind! His music fell in between the Classical and Romantic Eras; he was very innovative and set his own standard of music. He was considered an absolute genius! He traveled around all of Europe, writing and selling music everywhere.
He got sick and began to go deaf while he was still in his prime. He became depressed and moved to a small town, contemplating suicide. There he wrote what is known as his Heiligenstadt Testament, where he committed himself to keep going, and to devote his life even more to his music.
He finished his 9th Symphony around this time, but never got to hear it performed.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Romantic Time Period
Romantic Music Characteristics:
- Very expressive
- Program Music: the music tells a story
- New forms and dissonances, more creative sound effects
- Passionate lyrics, and music to fit them
Hector Berlioz- a very famous Romantic Composer. Symphonie Fantastique.
He sees himself at a witches' Sabbath in the midst of a hideous gathering of shades, sorcerers and monsters of every kind who have come together for his funeral. Strange sounds, groans, outbursts of laughter; distant shouts which seem to be answered by more shouts. The beloved melody appears once more, but has now lost its noble and shy character; it is now no more than a vulgar dance tune, trivial and grotesque: it is she who is coming to the sabbath… Roar of delight at her arrival… She joins the diabolical gathering… The funeral knell tolls, burlesque parody of the Dies Irae, the dance of the witches. The dance of the witches combined with the Dies irae.
- Very expressive
- Program Music: the music tells a story
- New forms and dissonances, more creative sound effects
- Passionate lyrics, and music to fit them
Hector Berlioz- a very famous Romantic Composer. Symphonie Fantastique.
He sees himself at a witches' Sabbath in the midst of a hideous gathering of shades, sorcerers and monsters of every kind who have come together for his funeral. Strange sounds, groans, outbursts of laughter; distant shouts which seem to be answered by more shouts. The beloved melody appears once more, but has now lost its noble and shy character; it is now no more than a vulgar dance tune, trivial and grotesque: it is she who is coming to the sabbath… Roar of delight at her arrival… She joins the diabolical gathering… The funeral knell tolls, burlesque parody of the Dies Irae, the dance of the witches. The dance of the witches combined with the Dies irae.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
Walking in the Air - adapted from movie "The Snowman"
Elements to pay attention to:
- Instrumentation
- Creativity
- Vowel Shapes
Performed by USU Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Cory Evans
Circle of Life - arr. by Fidel Calalang Jr.
Elements to pay attention to:
- Sound effects
- Vocal effects
- Unity of pitch and rhythm
O Magnum Mysterium - Morten Lauridsen
Elements to pay attention to:
- Dynamic Contrast
- Unity of Sound
- Vowel Shapes
- Clarity of words
- Flow from pitch to pitch
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