Classical Music Observations

Plato once said, “Music Gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” Music has touched the human soul since the dawn of time. In the Bible times, music was directly related to the worship of God. For example, David the Psalms talks about dancing and music to praise God with the “lute, and cymbal”. Music, like much of everything else, has been affected due to the fall. Music was still mostly used for worship and praise of God until the early 1800’s. Between the 16th and 18th Century the classical genera of music evolved greatly. Bach, Mozart, and Vivaldi all wrote music within the classical genera, but within different eras of classical music.

The Classical period of music has also been called the “Rococo” period. The Classical time period was between the 18th and 19th centuries. Spanning the years of 1750-1820. The transition from the Baroque period to the Classical took the music from polyphonic to homophonic where even though it seems like that would make the music less complex we look at a whole different type of complexity. The music typically contained two different melodies and a contrast in sections. This made the chords in the music much more defined and the tonal part of the music became more defined. The Classical period had a significant influence on several aspects of music. Chamber music had a sonata form. This means it had an exposition, a transition, and a recapitulation. Composition in the Classical time was mainly dominated by eclecticism which made the music more diverse. Concerto was driven at first by the Italians. They started the idea of the solo concerto. Orchestration was mainly developed during this musical time period. This is partly due to some of the most talented musicians that lived during this time. They did a lot of work in making the orchestra mainly string instruments. Some of these being the violin, viola, cello, and the contrabass, just to name a few. All of these things had a great influence in the way the music made the transition from the Baroque period to the Classical period.

When someone thinks of classical music, one name often stands out among the rest: Beethoven. Ludwig Van Beethoven is often referred to as one of the greatest composers and pianists of all time. He grew up in and around music. He was active between the Classical and Romantic musical eras. His piano work was performed on many different, but as his instruments improved, his playing and composition did as well. His most important pieces were the works he composed within the last ten years of his life, during which he went deaf (A&E Networks Television).

This concert consisted of four pieces, all played by two musicians: one on piano and the other on viola. Four pieces were included in this concert. They varied significantly in terms of their historical era, their style, their composition, and the overall feel. The first piece was by Ludwig van Beethoven. It was Beethoven's 7 Variations on 'Bei M채nnern, welche Liebe f체hlen', which is "For Men Who Feel Love" from Mozart's "The Magic Flute." The second piece was a Sonata in G-minor Op.19, which was written originally for cello and piano. It was by Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943). It was arranged and the cello part changed to fit the viola by Jeffrey Showell. The third piece was Sonata No.2 in D-Major by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). It was originally written for viola da gamaba. E. Nauman edited this piece for the concert. Finally, we heard what was originally written for an orchestra: Concerto for viola and piano by William Walton (1902-1983). Although the same two instruments played four different pieces, they each sounded completely unique.

Music during the twentieth century and beyond all found their basis and roots in music produced during the areas preceding it. Wozzeck, Pavanne, and Concerto Grosso by Alban Berg, Bill Evans, and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich prove to be no different. All three pieces draw on the inspirations left by their predecessors in order to create truly unique and memorable works. Though the pieces are from the same time period, they sound inherently different. This all stems from the fact that each composer drew from dissimilar musical eras and put their own type of improvisation or flares on the work.

Serious or conventional music following long-established principles rather than a folk, jazz, or popular tradition. This is the universally accepted definition of what classical music is. But what is classical music defined as in my opinion? Well, classical music for myself falls within the serious category, same as the first definition. A serious composition of music without vocals. Classicl was also a time period, and that is what I will focus primarily on for the subject and question at hand, what is classical?

Since I was a small child I have always been musically inclined. My dad being a musician and producer, and my uncles being popular reggae artists, it is easy to understand my interest. Growing up, I taught myself to play several instruments, including the xylophone and the piano, and made many failed attempts at the guitar. I also experimented with singing, participating in both school and church choir as an alto. As a child, I found Beyoncé to be one of my biggest inspirations. In fact, some of the most memorable moments I had regarding music at this time revolved around her. For example, I can recall the first long note I ever held being from her song “Dangerously in Love”; I was just six years old. I would also memorize every one of her

Whether you play a musical instrument, or listen to it, it can have great influence in how a person can learn like a song to help them learn a certain order of words for a test. Mary points out that learning how to play music isn’t easy. However, after a student learns how to play, it usually brings joy to the individual and the people around them. Some tests have shown that students who have music in their lives do better academically. Students once again apply the elements of self-control and discipline into other classes. Music can affect a student’s social stand point as well. Music connects individuals, groups and even also connects countries. There are organizations that take students worldwide to share music. In sum music plays a key role not only in education, but in strengthening soul and emotional bonds amongst people in general. Music has integrated itself into the human life so much that it is imperative for us to survive because of the mind-set, relief it brings, and the spiritual side to it.

Listening to this symphonic piece it seems to have many characteristics of a piece from the Classical Period in the Classical Era. I do not believe that this is a piece from the 20/21st Century because doesn't fall into the many subcategories of the music of that period. This piece could not be from the “atonal phase” where the music avoids what is considered a tonal center. It could not be considered to a be a piece from modernism, populism, serialism, experimentalism, minimalism, or post modernism as it is structured and follows many of the characteristics of the Classical Period and Era. Listening to the entire piece I noticed a variety of meter and tempo changes the piece seemed to be fast then slow then fast again. This made a very dramatic feeling as the music would slow then increase tempo

From a young age, I’ve had a great interest in all sorts of music. I appreciate and enjoy listening to classical, opera, rap, hip-hop, country, contemporary and Mexican music. When I signed up for Music Appreciation, I was excited to learn more about the history of music and the instruments used. I wanted to learn what to listen for and how to understand the different types of music. There are many styles of music from different eras. After taking notes on a variety of listening exercises from different eras, I understand what composers were trying to accomplish with their music. I will discuss an influential composer and his musical time period, along with events that helped shape his career. I will also cover a musical period that I believe to be most important to music history. I would also like to discuss how this course has influenced the way I listen and hear music. Lastly, I will analyze the aesthetic qualities of a musical selection from Space Odyssey: 2001.

Instead, classical music, provides a connection between most of the phenomena that occurs in life, from all the failures to all the successes and everything in between. Classical music is quite diverse; it can be blissful, agitated, contemplative, among many others, reflecting the multitudes of human behavior, instincts, and processes. However, no matter the theme, all music have a purpose, a direction, and a message. No matter what chaotic events happen in between, the destination is always reached, just like our own lives.

Music with influence from Europe always uses a number of instruments, together with vocalists and choirs. In some instances, the most current instruments like electric guitars are used together with the traditional instruments of an orchestra. One prominent artist within this field was Hildegard of Bingen. Hildegard was always known as a very influential nun during the time of middle ages and developed a number of compositions that had unearthly beaury. One of such great composition is O pastor animarum. This music is highly held up in the west to illustrate

1. I chose to travel to the classical period because I think the music from then is truly beautiful.

What people come up with when they hear the words “classical music” is a big concert hall, while what people come up with is a small bar or something when they hear “jazz”. It seems they are different as they are named differently, but are they really different? Also, given that the mainstream in the music industry is popular music, both classical music and jazz are not appreciated by many people, but how have these two music survived up until today?

As an infant, classical music became a pivotal part of my life. Since those early days, I have been intent on going to college and majoring in piano performance. My love for classical music and the art of performance has intensified progressively over the course of my life. My appreciation for practice has also intensified over the years, as it has become second nature to me. Aside from the numerous aspects of being a performer, I am an avid composer, and I firmly believe that composing allows me the luxury of pushing the parameters in a more personal, adventurous frame of mind. These several avenues available in music inspire me to better myself as a musician, and as a person each day. I want to major in music because I am deeply interested