Steve Reich's Pendulum Music

It is then restated by each of the various families of instruments such as the woodwinds, brass, strings, and the percussion. It is then played again at the end, but by the orchestra as a whole. Each variation also changes the theme's dynamics (e.) by making the sounds go from a soft, mellow type of volume to a loud and very energetic volume. Throughout the piece it seemed that the tempo (g.) would go from a very fast, powerful pace to a slow, light and playful pace. In the final parts of Benjamin Britten’s piece, he makes use of counterpoint by showing how a melody (b.) can bounce from one instrument to another while still being in sync. The style period (j.) of Britten’s success musical composition was modern, since it was created in the latter years of the 1940s.The performance medium (k.) of this piece was of various classical instrumental

Milton Babbitt and John Cage were both composers who played pivotal roles in the post-World War II Avant Garde music scene and in the pioneering of electronic music. Both composers found their roots and were greatly influenced by German-Jewish composer Arnold Schoenberg, however they both adopted different viewpoints on the relationship between a composer and their audience . Babbitt believed that a composer or creator did not have an obligation to please his or her audience, and that his pieces were intended mostly for professionals capable of understanding the context and intention of his music. Cage on the other hand granted his audience more power and influence, believing that music was a platform on which audiences could utilize their creativity to adopt new ways of perceiving and being aware of the world around them. These stances, as well as the different techniques and methodologies of the composers pitted them on somewhat of a spectrum, with Babbitt and his systematic, modernist ideas that were largely based in the music schools of academic institutions on one side and Cage, with his uncontrollable, radical combinations of Avant Garde sounds on the other side. These ideas on audience construction and relations were also visible in rock music of the 1960’s, particularly in compositions of artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan.

Wolfgang’s life was profoundly impacted by the history of his time, it allowed him to compose, play and direct music and eventually live freely, ultimately setting the stage for him to create some of the best music pieces to date.

“Without Craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.” Johannes Brahms was an extraordinarily talented composer of his time, and, as said in one of his famous quotes, he truly crafted each piece of music he wrote with much care and delicacy. Ever since the early age of six years old, Brahms was infatuated with playing the piano, composing music, as well as conducting choral groups as well as symphonies throughout the entirety of his life. He was tremendously popular amongst friends, fellow composers, and other notable people of his time. His fame not only stood in the barriers of his lifetime, but also stood the test of time. His works are often compared to the likes of people such as the famous Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven. This impeccable trio

Many people compare the musical works of Ludwig Van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart because of the styles of music that they produced. They were also similar because of their age and the music period in which they created in. Throughout their lives these two composers had vastly different customs and behaviors. Each composer contributed to their own unique styles of music, however they continue to be a musical inspiration in today’s world. Many people of the early classical music period reacted differently to both of the musician’s works because of the unique way they chose to create and present their music. These musician’s created a lasting effect on the musical world that we see today.

Ludwig van Beethoven is a name that is common to most people and is synonymies with great classical music. He is known, quite loosely, as the German composer who created beautiful pieces with an incredible disability. Despite an unhappy family setting and the deafness that struck soon after, the man appeared to rise from his misfortunes and follow his passion. Mr. Beethoven created some of the most wonderful music and is considered one of the greatest musicians of all time. Ludwig, at a very young age, began his career as a marvelous piano player and composer of piano music. Beethoven continued his work expanding to string quartets and other kinds of chamber music, songs, two masses, an opera, and nine symphonies. The

The pendulum is working like a hypnotist to the narrator, he is not worrying about death, but rather is in awe by motion of it, as he explains,

Unfortunately after Bach’s death in 1750 his music and knowledge were brushed aside until the 1800’s when his works were brought about and used as tools in education. (Marshall, 2015). Johann Sebastian Bach had a lasting effect on music and this is evident in his nickname “The Father of Modern Music” (The Reformation Society, 2012). Bach’s teachings are still the basis in which

John Cage lived a very interesting, non-traditional life that allowed him to form his outside of the box philosophy on music that questions the very definition of music. After exploring many different careers in the art world, he decided to compose music and through a winding, tumultuous road, he rose to the top of the classical music world. His life greatly influenced his music. His study of Buddhism and working with the choreographies of Merce Cunningham allowed Cage to discover the other side of music, silence. Cage and his philosophies not only changed music for the better but also changed the path that all types of art for the good; without Cage’s philosophy on silence, musicians and composers would be doing their jobs differently.

Observer 1 and 2 also fully agreed on the effort qualities that were demonstrated, stating that the performance was free, sudden and light, agreeing with the dancer. The dancer expressed that the sound score provoked a “happy/upbeat” emotional response, effecting the performance by encouraging more “bounce, swing” and lightness to the movement (Appendix G, Dancer 3, p43). The observers stated that Dancer 3 “responded to the energy” and atmosphere of the piece (Appendix G, Observer 1, p44), contrasting with the feedback the observers gave Dancer 1, with Observer 1 stating that the music was “light and bouncy” and the movement didn’t reflect this (Appendix E, Observer 1, p36). Dancer 1’s results could be because of the difficulty with comprehending the score, supporting the suggestion that dancers could benefit from music training, as the apparent lack of understanding seems to negatively affect a dancer’s ability to respond to music, and perhaps their potential for

Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist- he was born in Hamburg , however, he spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria. Brahms is frequently considered both a traditionalist and an innovator. His music is embedded in the arrangements and compositional practices of the Baroque and Classical leaders. Brahms intended to honor the “purity” of the “German” structures and develop them into a Romantic idiom, in the process of creating fresh daring methodologies to harmony and melody (Swa. Johna. 5-10). The thorough, highly constructed nature of Brahms work was an introduction and a muse for a generation of composers.

Mendelssohn was an exceptionally gifted musical composer. A prodigy, reared in a highly cultured atmosphere, began composing at age 10, presented his orchestral compositions to illustrious audiences at the family estate. He wrote numerous compositions during his boyhood, among them 5 operas, 11

Arnold Franz Walter Schönberg was an influential Jewish composer faced with choosing whether to stay in the hostile environment of Nazi-occupied Europe or flee to unknown safety, leaving behind family, culture, and tradition.[i] With his development of the twelve-tone method, Arnold Schönberg believed that he had created a technique that would position Germany as a musical leader in the world.[ii] Although Schonberg’s music brought acclaim to Europe, with the rise of the Nazi party in 1933, he was seen as a Jew first and foremost, before his contributions as a composer and a teacher were considered. It seemed that although he had forsaken his Judaism and converted to Catholicism in his early years, his Jewish

Muczynski is considered to by many to be one of America’s foremost composers of the last few decades, and while his music seems to be relatively frequently performed, and finds its way into many competition performances throughout the world, it seems to be hardly discussed. I’ll talk a little about Muczynski and his life, his overall body of works, and then discuss and his Masks Op. 40 for solo piano.

Have the minimalist been co-opted by popular music? What elements are used and which are discarded? Provide a detailed examination of a particular piece.