Begin Again Music Analysis

Music in The Music Man Music is an element that can modify the atmosphere of anything. Whether it is in a movie, a party, or in a musical, it can change the scene from melancholy to cheerful. In The Music Man by Meredith Wilson and Franklin Lacey, music is the most important element of the production as it drives the plot and changes the emotion of the audience to match what the playwright imagined. I watched this musical in the Performing Arts Center of North Royalton High School, Directed by Megan Dolar.

During the late 1980s, two brothers from Leith, Scotland, formed a Celtic rock band called The Proclaimers which gained popularity in Europe. After their first hit album, The Proclaimers released a second album called Sunshine on Leith, and from that album came their most famous song, “I’m Gonna Be 500 Miles,” which woul¬¬¬¬d reach number one on the charts in New Zealand and Australia, as well as number 3 on the charts in the United States. Later in 2013, a cover of “I’m Gonna Be 500 Miles” was recorded by Sleeping at Last, an alternative rock band formed in 1999. Both of these covers have distinct and noticeable differences, including, genre, feel, lyrics, and instrumentation. Comparing these two songs, it is easy to see the reflections of the different artists who produced them.

Asses Tod - Play this piece with an appropriate dark ensemble tone color, and a wide dynamic range is required from the performers.

The Music Man was written by Meredith Willson who was a Mason City native. According to Ellen Leslie, Meredith Willson began developing his first musical in 1948 and it would be almost another ten years before the show opened onto Broadway. The play was an instant favorite among fans and critics alike, since its debut in 1957 The Music Man has gone on to receive multiple revivals, international praise, and a few film adaptations. This play has become a favorite of professional, regional, amateur, and high school productions because of its interesting characters and catchy songs.

Into the Woods brings together all of the fairytales one learns to love as a child, but it brings interesting twists to their stories. Not only do these beloved character’s storylines intermingle, they work together, and sometimes against one another, for the ultimate goal: a “Happily Ever After”. The main plot of the barren baker and his wife’s hunt to break the curse the evil witch placed on their family leads them on an adventure, that gets them into many sticky situations, propels the long complex storyline along. You’re introduced to a spunky, almost bratty, little red riding hood; a Cinderella who runs from her prince; and two princes that are full of hot air. This musical leads the audience through many twists and turns with compelling

Giovanni father came from carina shortly before Giovanni birth. By 1548 Giovanni came back to Venice the he became principle organist at saint mark’s basilica. In 1585, after Claudio merulo left the post following his uncle’s death. The following year he took the post of principle composer as well. After his uncle’s death he began editing much of the man’s older music.

The music industry has undeniably evolved over time and through the betterment of technology, music has the ability to be heard worldwide. Most artists become popularized through the internet and social media, but numerous composers have become well-known through the music they produce for movies. Soundtracks are extremely popular today, especially with the ever growing entertainment industry. One cannot simply hum a tune from a classic Disney film or any other well-known film without others recognizing the piece. The relevance of soundtracks in our culture today would make the main theme from the film “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” a perfect piece to include in this course.

Rhythm is best described as the musical organization of sounds. The beat, meter and tempo help when describing rhythm.

Duality, a rather whimsical alternative rock album produced by the exuberant band Set It Off, truly encaptures the attention and ears of many because of its ability to make the thirty-seven minute experience feel like a mind-blowing journey through different genres of music such as pop punk, pop rock, and general rock. Released in October of 2014, Duality hastily found its way to Rock Sound's "Top 50 Albums of the Year" list, landing at number 5. In addition, this cross-genre compilation is Set It Off's best album to date because of its unique sound and fresh style along with the notion that it was completely unexpected. Beginning with "The Haunting," a song that contains a sound similar to the band's older material, the album carefully introduces an eerie feel with a mischievous twist that swiftly transitions into a playful tune with songs such as "Forever Stuck In Our Youth" and "Why Worry." Duality, an upbeat, wild album released by the playful band Set It Off to symbolize limitless and unavoidable life experiences such as a breakup, has

“It is, then, all the odder that major figures concerned with education, in both nations, continue to behave as if the goal of education were economic growth alone.” Pg. 17

There is a common misperception in society today that the roots of rock and roll began in the 1950s with Elvis Presley shaking his hips. Few know that the roots of rock and roll actually go all the way back to slavery. Rock and roll first got its start with the blues and has since evolved over time into the rock and roll we now know of today. As each new band and artist would come along, they would go on to add their own sound to the mix, and once it was introduced it would never be taken away. The influence of blues artists, such as Mamie Smith, and hillbilly (country and folk) artists such as Hank Williams, could be heard in the music of 1950s rockers Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley, and their influence could be heard in one of the most famous

A person’s heartbeat changes to mimic the music they listen to. Different types of music portray an emotion or specific memory of an individual. Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe is a story of pre-colonial times in the Niger villages. The protagonist’s, Okonkwo, ideals of masculinity are challenged by various forms of misfortune portrayed through the music in his community, Gbo. The music highlights the key points of Okonkwo's village and culture as it looks ahead at the disintegration of their values, because there is no longer a harmony between the flute and drums.

Overall, Begin Again is sincere and heartfelt and its narrative strength outweighs its shallower elements. It is simple and earnest. It flows with the even pace of a relaxing summer song. The director John Carney has an abiding belief in the power of music to change lives. Music, in general, is an art form that can move us to tears with one simple chord or touchingly real lyric. It alters us in a way that can't be explained. Through music, we may find a reason to live and make amends with ourselves and those around

I enjoyed the tune “If Ever I Would Leave You.” More specifically, I enjoyed the vibraphone solo (starts at 4:04). I really like the sound of the vibraphone and the manner in which Bobby Hutcherson is able to take an electric, mechanical instrument, and produce beautiful music from it. I also liked “The Kicker,” and I was particularly drawn to the vibraphone solo again (starting at 27:23). In this solo, I liked the allegro tempo and quick dynamic changes; Hutcherson is able to execute the shift from piano to forte smoothly and play a clear, staccato notes, at both dynamics.

Rock ’n’ Roll music is a subgenre of the meta-genre, Rock. Freed (2009, 169) described it by saying, “rock ’n’ roll is really swing with a modern name.” Ennis (1992, 253) identifies, ‘First, early rocknroll allowed every performer to draw on the full musical resources of pop, country, and rhythm and blues.’ and on rockhall.com (2014) his viewpoint is expanded upon, The more immediate roots of rock and roll lay in the so-called "race" music, or rhythm & blues, and "hillbilly" music, or county & western of the Forties and Fifties.