Jazz Music: Origins, Characteristics, and History
Jazz Music: Origins and Characteristics
Jazz is a type of music that originated among Black Americans, characterized by its rich and varied rhythms, influenced by both African and European musical traditions. It’s clear that Jazz arises from a union of elements of Black origin, like rhythm, and Euro-African elements, such as melody and harmony.
Formal Qualities Defining Jazz:
- Use of Syncopated Rhythms: Jazz features relentless, syncopated rhythms. Sometimes, several different rhythms can be heard simultaneously.
Major Drama Genres and Subgenres: A Detailed Look
Major Drama Genres
Tragedy
Tragedy is a dramatic form in which the characters face a mysterious, unassailable, and unavoidable fate, often decreed by the gods. This leads to a fatal outcome, driven by a blind force—fate or fatum—usually foretold by oracles. Tragedies typically conclude with the death or physical and moral destruction of the protagonist, who is sacrificed due to their pride or hubris. Classical tragedies aim to generate catharsis in the audience.
Comedy
Comedy is a dramatic genre
Read MoreBaroque Music: Composers, Instruments, and Styles
Baroque Music (1600-1750)
Baroque melody accompanied the 17th century and the first half of the 18th century until 1750 (Bach’s death). The art of this period is flashy and bright. In the republics and states, Protestant artists reflected the emerging power of the rich class, the *bourgeoisie*. It was a time of great contrasts: religious and political strife, social tension, and economic crisis. Europe had been divided into two camps: Catholics and Protestants.
Performing Arts in the Baroque Era
Performing
Read MoreElements of Music: Melody, Harmony, Rhythm
Melody
Melody: A sequence of pitches ordered with an aesthetic intentionality. A complete musical idea.
- Range: Distance between two notes.
- Sequence: Repetition of a melodic pattern at a pitch different from the original.
- Cadence: Pause or rest (similar to punctuation in written language).
Characteristics of Melody
- Profile: Rise and fall of the melody, resulting in a curve.
- Scope: Distance between the lowest note and the highest.
- Tessitura: Area in which it is played or sung with ease, without strain or
A History of Galician Theater: 19th Century to Today
The Early History of Contemporary Galician Theater
The early history of contemporary Galician theater usually begins in 1882 with the premiere of A Fonte do Xuramento (The Source of the Oath) by Francisca María de la Iglesia. Dramaturgy between centuries had four basic trends: social, costumbrista-humorística, historical theater, and lyrical theater. Rural environment theater was built on dialogue, peopled by characters, and Brazilian topics.
From 1916, through the work of the Irmandades da Fala
Read MoreAlban Berg and Anton Webern: Serialism Pioneers
Alban Berg
Alban Berg was a favorite pupil of Schoenberg. He is considered the most lyrical of the three (Schoenberg, Webern, and Berg), perhaps because of his friendship with Mahler. Mahler’s works, especially the 6th and 9th Symphonies, exerted a great influence on Berg, despite his music being strictly atonal. Even in his strictly twelve-tone second stage, Berg remained lyrical, ordering the series on a pitch with reminiscences, making his work more easily accepted by the general public than Schoenberg’
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