This semester in my Music Appreciation class I learned a plethora of information from all types of music genres ranging from Classical music to the Blues. I have learned to appreciate all types of music regardless of if I like them, I can still appreciate them for their unique qualities. I have especially learned more about Jazz and that their are so many different genres of Jazz and each has their own unique story and traditions. I will carry this knowledge on with me and try to explain to others the importance of music appreciation.
Section 6C - Rhythm
We will now talk about music in 4/4 (1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4) time.
This is the most common time signature used in western music and is almost the time signature used in all popular music. It can be difficult to differentiate music in 2/4 from music in 4/4, unless you have the score.
This excerpt is “Ah! non giunge” from Bellini’s La Sonnambula
Section 6B - Rhythm
This post will focus on music in 3/4 time (1 2 3, 1 2 3). This rhythm is primarily used in music to give it a dance like rhythm, such as a waltz.
Listen to the example of 3/4 music.
This aria is the “Chanson Bohème” from G. Bizet’s Carmen.
The stong beat occurs every three beats.
Section 6A - Rhythm
In western music common patters of rhythm include:
- 1 2, 1 2
- 1 2 3, 1 2 3
- 1 2 3 4, 1 2 3 4
In this post I will show you an example of music in 2/4 (1 2)
“Vissi d’arte” from Puccini’s Tosca
Notice that the strong beat is every other beat.
Section 6 - Rhythm
Rhythm is a word that refers to the length of time between each major “beat”, or accent in a piece of music. The beats are placed into ‘bars’. The first beat of each bar feels stronger than other beats in the same bar.
Rhythms differ from culture to culture. Western culture tends to favor tightly structured rhythms, while in other cultures, the rhythms can be more loose, relaxed and free improvised.
Section 5 -Harmony
Harmony can be simply defined as playing several notes together to make “chords”. Usually the harmony in accompaniment to the melody. (stuff going on the the background)
Watch the video above starting at 1:37. Take notice the the simple harmony being played under the melody.
Section 3 - Instrumentation
Instrumentation in described as the use of different musical instruments to make up a certain sound or timbre. Instrumentation has greatly changed over time due to different instruments being invented, public demand, size of concert halls, and what was available at the time of the music being written. In the baroque era orchestra were limited in the variety of instruments that have available to them at the time. A typical baroque orchestra consists of violins, celli, bass, harpsichord and occasionally, trumpet, flute/recorder, organ, etc.
Over time the size of orchestra grew to a huge size. Today the average orchestra has 100+ members compared to an orchestra of 15 in the baroque period.
Watch the video above to watch and hear a baroque period orchestra. Compare the size of the orchestra to some of the videos we watch in class, such as the Rite of Spring.
Section 2 - Timbe
Timbre is used to describe the quality of a sound and what makes each sound unique or different from one another. For example, what makes the violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter sound different from the violinist Sarah Chang? It can be hard to describe because it is incredibly personal. It could be that both violinist play instruments made my different luthiers or that they both use different brads of strings or a number of other things.
Listen to the following two singers: Marina Poplavskaya & Philippe Jaroussky.
Even though the two singers have the same range and essentially sing the same repertoire, what makes the voice different? What are the differences in timbre?
Video No. 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXbCsaKHYGs
Video No. 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTf14maKtT8
Section 1 - Form
Music from can have two meanings:
It can be the kind of composition such as: symphony, concerto, sonata, etc.
OR
It can be the shape of the music and how it is structured such as: sonata form, theme & variation, etc.
I am going to show an example of theme & variation because I think it is one of the simplest forms to understand.
Watch the video posted above. It is of Paganini’s Caprice No. 24. Notice that from 0:14 - 0:31 a simple theme is introduced that for the next 5 minuets unfolds into a series of virtuosic variations all based on the first theme.
