Landmarks in Music - Essay Example

?Music is an expressive type of art form, which can be used to express our emotions, talents and our imagination. Music has evolved over time to its current modern day renditions, but if we are to select the most important pieces, to place in a time capsule, then I would have to select music from the baroque and classical periods. Music from Baroque and Classic periods forms a basis in a critical part of our history when we began to view music in a different light. During these periods, music became more of an art form, than just passive entertainment. Here are the 6 most important songs from the both periods and why they qualify to be put in the time capsule. Influential Baroque Period Compositions Baroque music was composed with the intention of arousing the emotions of listeners. This era of music lasted for 150 years, between the years 1600-1750 (Schulenbert, 2001). This stage of musical development saw the emergence of non-religious vocal music, orchestral music and operas. Composers from this period, often faced many financial challenges, and most of them could only earn a living from music if they were under the patronage of a religious institution or a political figure. This patronage would then dictate the content of their compositions, but none the less composers were still able to come up with very memorable and time honored compositions. Baroque period compositions can be broken down into two distinct groups: vocal (opera, oratorio and cantata) and instrumental (sonata, concerto and suite). My pick for the most influential songs from the baroque period are: The Four Seasons: Spring url: http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/sofia-chamber-orchestra/album/antonio-vivaldi-the-four-seasons By: Antonio Vivaldi Four Seasons, as a whole, is often considered the boldest or bravest of program music from the Baroque era. Each concerto is comprised of three distinct movements; one middle movement in a slow tempo and too fast outer movements. Antonio Vivaldi wrote the sonnets, to denote the movements of the four seasons (Schulenbert, 2001). It is also has a great influence in the era as early concertos did not have a standard form, but the success of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” led other composers to mimic his style over time, which led a standard form used to play concertos. Of the four movements, winter is the most technically complicated and also more accurate in depicting nature like imitations of nature, the very inspiration of the sound. It is also very solid even if you break it down into several parts. Each part is creates its own dissonance that may be adapted and reinterpreted as a separate sound. Messiah: The Overture url: http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/george-frideric-handel/album/handels-messiah by: Handel This oratorio was originally intended as a thought provoking work for eastern and lent, but due to its popularity, later became a common part of Christmas festivities that has lasted over many generations. George Frederic Handel, a German born composer, was gifted in playing music from an early age. Handel’s “Messiah” employs a unique technique dubbed text painting. This technique tries to mimic the lines of the text, to the musical notes (Schulenbert, 2001). “Messiah” is broken down into three parts, which follows the meaning of the text while still maintaining its opera-like qualities. Handel’s “Messiah” helped to popularize the oratorio; a musical form that highlighted the performance of solo artists. The Overtures one of only two movements that is purely instrumental. By Handel’s time, the overture was a common, if not standard opening, of an opera and was actually meant to welcome the king in an opera. Handel, however, made this one considerably darker by playing it in E minor. It helped assist in the desperate need of the world for a Messiah. Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello: Suite No. 1 url: http://www.rhapsody.com/search?query=Six+Suites+of+Unaccompanied+Cello by: Johann Sebastian Bach These suites were based on a set of instrumental compositions, which were similar in style to each other but with a certain amount of contrast and variety in speed and rhythm. The suites were written between the years 1717-1723 (Schulenbert, 2001), at a point when choral music had reached a plateau, which led to the evolution of music to a more instrumental form. Suite No.1 is the most popular today. It is still being used in tv shows and movies. Although popularity is never to be used as a measure of a song’s greatness, Suite No. 1’s popularity is not without reason. It is much easier to play but unique in its harmonic rhythm with two chords per measure. These two chords usually happen occur on beats one and two, with the first presenting a dissonance and the second a consonance. Influential classical period compositions This period in music history came after the decline of the baroque period, and lasted from the years 1750-1830 (Goulding, 1995). Classical music was lighter, clearer in texture and less complex than baroque music. Classical music can be best be defined by its rigid structure, balance, orchestration, and harmonic relationships. These are the three best songs from this period, which can best signify what classical music is all about. Haffner Symphony: Alegro Con Spirito url: http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/bruno-walter/album/mozart-symphony-nos-25-28-29-and-35-haffner by: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart This was written in 1782. Also known as symphony no.35, this symphony was composed at the behest of his father and took only one week to complete it (Swafford, 1992). It is made up of bold and often unison gestures that act as a “noise killer” (Goulding, 1995). Its first movement begins with a striking upward leap, played in unison. It then proceeds with dramatic silence, outlining an irregular 5 measure phase. The movement then edges toward the development section, without repeating the exposition. Most of the movements seem to have been derived from the opening theme, with its easily recognizable pattern and dramatic leaps. This symphony denoted an important time in the history of music, where composer preferred the natural rhythmic movement of classical pieces like Mozart's Haffner Symphony no.35 and departed from the more complex movements found in suites. Haydn Symphony Number 42: Allegretto url: http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/aleaensemble/album/franz-joseph-haydn-quartetti-per-archi-op-77-and-op-42-on-pe by: Franz Joseph Haydn This was written in 1772. This symphony was denoted by Haydn signature style of playing symphony music: poise, symmetry and emotional detachment. Also known by the nickname “Farewell” (Goulding, 1995), this is notable in its ability to tease listeners. With a barcarole-like accompaniment, it presents regularly elevates its melody but when it seems to be approaching ecstasy, it slows down. He came up with this ending, as a musical connotation of the need for rest expressed by the performers of the symphony, after he had completed working on it. Despite lacking a formal background as a music composer, Haydn Symphony Number 42 set a new landmark in the composition of music. Symphony Number 9: Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso url: http://www.rhapsody.com/search?query=Beethoven+Symphony+Number+9+ By: Ludwig van Beethoven He was one of the most celebrated composers of the classical period and to his credit, he was able to compose one of the most celebrated pieces from that era. The use of a chromatic fourth sets the tone for the whole symphony. It is pure terror, strong, and creepy. Then it pulls back to something soft and tentative only to break it out to something larger. It is this rapid shifts that makes this different from everything else. The impression left by music from this two period in history can still be felt, even now in modern times. I therefore believe that the above compositions can best describe the progression of music through history, from a stage when music took on a more serious note in the expression of human creativity and emotions. References Goulding, P., (1995). Classical Music, New York: Ballantine Books Schulenberg, D., (2007). Music of the Baroque, Wagner College: Hardback Swafford, J., (1992). The Vintage Guide to Classical Music, Los Angeles: Vintage Read More