Classical and Romantic Music: Genres, Beethoven’s 9th
Classicism
Classical instrumental genres (formal structures were important as the musician’s life depended on noble or ecclesiastical courts):
- Sonata
- Concerto (instrument accompanied by orchestra)
- Symphony (Orchestra)
- String Quartet
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9
Hearing
Work: Symphony No. 9
Author: Beethoven
Period: Pre-Romantic
Medium: Vocal-instrumental (symphony orchestra, mixed choir, and vocal quartet)
Form: Symphony
Features:
First movement: There are two constant themes: a dramatic one and a calm one, which
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Characteristics of Urban Popular Music
Urban popular music is marked by a series of conditions that have always been present. It is influenced by technological advances, social connection, identity markers, youth culture, the business functions related to mass media, and the use of new instrumental timbres.
Music on Television
Music on TV primarily involves reinforcing the power of images in various contexts.
The Sound of Television
The relationship between the sound we hear and the image we see on the
Read MoreMedieval and Renaissance Music: Chant, Troubadours, Polyphony
Music in the Middle Ages
The Middle Ages cover the period from the fall of the Western Roman Empire (fifth century) until the fourteenth century. The organization of society was feudal. Artistically, this era saw the development of Romanesque and Gothic styles. In monasteries, the singing of the liturgy in Gregorian chant was central, representing a compilation of songs from Christian influence. In the courts, troubadours—poets and musicians—composed and sang about themes of love and war.
Gregorian
Read MoreClassical and Baroque Music: Characteristics & Genres
Classical Period Music (Late 18th C. – 1827)
The Classical period in music history covers approximately the second half of the eighteenth century until 1827, the year of Beethoven’s death.
Key Features
- Emphasis on simplicity and clarity in both harmony and melody.
- Fully tonal harmony, replacing the Baroque basso continuo. Harmony is based primarily on the three basic chords: tonic, dominant, and subdominant.
- Interest focused on the main melody, which is typically orderly, regular, and structured (e.g.
Musical Elements: Rhythm, Harmony, and Instrumental Forms
Rhythm: The internal motive of the music, where the sound unfolds in time and has a duration. Rhythm determines the style and character of a composition.
Pulsations: The pulse is a constant rhythm, like a heartbeat. The duration works with musical figures and is represented with silences.
Figures: Represent the duration of sound. Silences do not have sound, but they do have duration.
Compass and Tips: Is the motto of a musical fragment in parts, according to the accents or other prominent sounds among
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The Piano: A String Instrument
The piano belongs to the string family, where the source of vibration determines the classification. String instruments are subdivided based on how the strings are vibrated:
- Bowed strings: A bow is used to rub and vibrate the strings (e.g., violin, viola, cello, bass).
- Plucked strings: Guitar, Harp.
- Plucked strings: Piano.
When a piano sounds, strings are set into vibration. The piano’s development can be traced back to the 18th-century Baroque and Classical periods. Bartolomeo
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