Journey Through Medieval and Renaissance Music
Secular Music
The Chivalric Love
The birth of secular music around 800 AD stemmed from the human need to express feelings of joy, love, and sorrow in their own vernacular language.
The Troubadour Music
Troubadours were poet-musicians who sang in honor of their beloved. They performed in castles, courts, plazas, and pathways, using both the Occitan (OC) and the Oil (Oïl) languages.
Qualities of Secular Music
Secular music distinguished itself from Gregorian chant with a measured pace, humanized expression,
Read MoreArgentine National Anthem: History and Evolution
The First Argentine Anthems
Information Contained in the First Official Anthem
The Gazeta de Buenos Ayres of November 15, 1810, featured a patriotic march composed by a citizen of Buenos Aires, set to music by another citizen. Esteban de Luca, an American regimental sergeant major, wrote the lyrics, and Blas Parera, a Catalan master, composed the music. This celebrated the Argentine army’s victory at Suipacha. Luca’s lyrics were printed and distributed among the people.
For the second anniversary of
Read MoreMedieval and Renaissance Music: Composers, Forms, and Instruments
Medieval Music
Vocal Works
Santa Maria strella do day, Alfonso X “El Sabio”: Galician-Portuguese cantiga, monophonic, religious (though part of secular monody, dedicated to the Virgin).
Sederunt principes, Pérotin: Organum (Ars Antiqua), Latin, religious, polyphonic (simultaneous interpretation).
Puer Natus Est, Anonymous: Gregorian chant, Latin, monophonic, religious, Introit.
Viderunt Omnes, Anonymous: Gradual, Latin, monophonic, religious.
Musical Concepts
Monody: Simple music, single melodic line,
Read MoreEvolution of Urban Popular Music: From Blues to Rock and Roll
Characteristics of Urban Popular Music
- Technological Advancement: Technological progress has significantly influenced music composition and perception.
- Social Connection: Urban music reflects a mix of cultures, social conflicts, and movements like civil rights, pacifism, and environmentalism.
- Youthful Identification: It serves as an identity symbol for younger generations.
- Commercial Function: Popular music is a commodity subject to market laws.
- Mass Media Relationship: The connection with mass media
Romanticism: Individualism, Freedom, and the Pursuit of Idealism
Romanticism: Historical and Psychological Context
Historical Circumstances
The roots of Romanticism can be traced back to 18th-century German philosophy and the Sturm und Drang (Storm and Stress) movement. This movement challenged classical artistic rules and emphasized the expression of feelings and experiences, laying the groundwork for pre-Romantic sensibilities that spread throughout Europe.
Romanticism, a major cultural phenomenon of the first half of the 19th century, influenced not only literature
Read MoreOpera and Zarzuela: A History of Musical Theater
France
Grand Opera
Characterized by a rich harmonic language and elaborate scenery, Grand Opera typically features three to five acts, ballet, and a chorus and orchestra deeply involved in the drama. It presents a succession of musical forms, including romances, cavatinas, arias, and often a passionate duet. Notable examples include Auber’s La Muette de Portici, Rossini’s William Tell, Bellini’s I Puritani, and Wagner’s Rienzi.
Opéra Comique
Favored by the bourgeoisie, Opéra Comique led to the construction
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