He explores how social, political, cultural, and economic circumstances effected the artist and industry and conversely their influence on society and culture. He develops a strong and compelling historical narrative in four effective ways. First, his books use a variety of primary sources to recount and recollect the history in a detailed and well-rounded manner. While Guralnick uses many oral histories and interviews as source material, he never allows them to stand on their own. He insures their accuracy to his argument with either corroborating source material or comment acknowledging its potential questionability. Second, Guralnick places the music into a larger historical narratives of concurrent social, political, cultural, and economic histories. Third, Guralnick conveys a deep appreciation and respect for the music and the artists who create it. He avoids the low-hanging fruit of music journalism’s desire to critique and evaluate the music’s quality and authenticity. Finally, Guralnick avoids notions of romanticism and primitivism in his subjects and their…
Problems between composers and the general public have been mounting for over one hundred years. As advanced music rapidly changes, the public seemingly fails to posses the musical knowledge necessary to appreciate modern works of contemporary music. In 1958, Milton Babbitt examined this relationship in a piece entitled “Who Cares if You Listen?” In the article, Babbitt asses the public’s feelings on “advanced” music and concludes that it should not concern composers if their work doesn’t get an audience beyond a few colleagues. Musical masterpieces including Babbitt’s Semi Simple Variations and Stockhausen’s Gesang der Jünglinge exemplify why this is the case. Despite efforts to reach out to the public by composers such as Krzysztof Penderecki, the divide that separates these entities is even greater today.…
Throughout history, discoveries are constantly being challenged, questioned and their worth reassessed. As a result of texts’ questioning nature, responders gain a deeper insight into the subject matter which heightens or lessens their credibility. This is evident in Simon Nasht’s documentary Frank Hurley-The Man Who Made History (2004) and Hannah Kent’s historical fiction Burial Rites published in 2013. Via the use of literary and filmic techniques, notably narration, montage, point of view and embellished retelling, each composer provokes questioning and challenging of the historical, artistic and moral worth of their text’s subject matter, in turn producing new perspectives on and deeper insight into motives, nature and worth of the discovery.…
There have been many amazing composers of music. All composers come from different backgrounds. There are also many different composers from different eras of music and there has been a couple of different eras of music. There was Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th century and other different eras. I will mainly be focusing on the Baroque era with which Johann Sebastian Bach was born in and composed during.…
It is crucial with these types of questions to fully establish what is meant within the question. Just because an opera receives a positive review, does not necessarily mean it made a significant contribution to the genre. In fact, throughout musical history and across all genres, many performances which are poorly received are the ones which make the biggest contribution. It’s about pushing the boundaries. Therefore, my main focus will be exploring whether Tippett’s Operas pushed the limits of music at the time. I also hope to discover if they had a significant effect on others composers of the genre, or whether there was minimal impact at all.…
In this paper we will compare two compositions by composer, conductor, pianist, Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990). Bernstein was born in Massachusetts to a Russian Jewish family and began playing and taking music lessons at a young age. He went on to study music at Harvard and Curtis Institute of Music (Seldes Web).…
The music has presented ever-changing throughout history. A variety of musicians has passed through each century leaving a lasting impression on the world. Each musician gave you a piece of him or her and how he or she saw the world of music and life through his or her eyes (Kamien, 2011). The write will elaborate on two well-known musicians of the 20th century, and then contrast and compare a 20th century musician song and a modern day song which both had aspects of controversial issues within each work.…
Johnathan Sebastian Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart were both two extraordinary men that had a great influence in music from the past that still continues into the current present. Both of theses composers were well known in their time and had great schooling in the musical arts, which contributed much to their success-fulness in their careers as musicians. During the times of both Johnathan Sebastian Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the two composers impacted the musical world greatly with the work they have done.…
Samuel Barber, one of the most prominent and popular American composers of the mid-20th century, wrote effectively in virtually every genre, including opera, ballet, vocal, choral, keyboard, chamber, and orchestral music. His music is notable for its warmly Romantic lyricism, memorable melodies, and essentially conservative harmonic style, all of which put him at odds with the prevailing modernist aesthetic of his time.…
"The Signal and the Noise" is a non-fiction book written by Nate Silver that talks about predictions based on probability; particularly focusing on the outcomes of real-world predictions and why they did or did not fail. Published in 2012, this book is a commentary on the world of probability made by an ex-statistician. Silver begins this work by effectively emphasizing the relevance of his points by supporting his argument with data applicable to a wide audience.…
Cited: “A Composer 's Cancer, a Singer 's Collapse." New York Times 26 Oct. 2009: C2(L). Student Resource Center - Gold. Web. 9 Dec. 2009..…
In Igor Stravinsky’s essay, he describe his hatred toward the way conductors attract their audience with little effort and talent. In the passage, Stravinsky a composer of music, describe what Conductors are and what they do. He compares them to politicians and actors, who only care to play themselves and rarely attract people with original minds sets. A Conductor need not understand the concepts of music, nor does he/she need to have any musical talent of any sorts. Composer Igor Stravinsky uses unflattering comparisons to politicians and actors as well as sarcasm and negative diction to reveal his point of view that conductors are arrogant fools.…
The author states that in the 19th century, it was almost impossible to criticize a composer’s work. Technology creates an obstacle that if it is overcome, the results will be flawless. In the late 1970s, an interactive technology system helped individuals have the right to criticize pieces. In turn, technology helped artists to think and create through challenges. He also says that STEIM a company…
What makes a piece of music great? Is it the time and place it was premiered? Is its greatness defined solely by the reputation of the composer who wrote it? Why do some pieces become part of a canon of works, while others simply disappear in to the volumes of history? I believe it is a combination of all the above; however, the greatest element is a piece’s ability to speak to many people in many times and places. The universal appeal of a piece of music is what allows it to be accepted and adored beyond just its premiere. The ability of a piece of music to reach far beyond the black dots and scribbled lines is what determines its place in the musical world. The composer Alfred Reed was a master of combining different elements and ideas to clearly communicate to more than just his works’ intended audience. Reed’s works are now part of a greater canon of wind band literature that speaks to performers and audiences now, in addition to the mass of those who have been inspired by his works for the past half-century.…
Two of the most recognized composers of contemporary choral music today are Morten Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre. Often both are classified as impressionistic composers, displaying similar compositional techniques. Though there are differences found amongst the techniques of Whitacre and Lauridsen, a connection can be drawn between their composition styles. Through clever uses of harmonic and dynamic techniques, sonorities, and musical color, a connection is easily heard in both composers’ beautiful music. Each composer’s style remains present in each individual composition, such as Whitacre’s Sleep and Cloudburst and Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium and Madrigali; and though similarities are heard within the music of both composers, style representative pieces are rarely confused because both compose with their own unique elegance. Because of ingenious techniques used by both composers, a common music listener is able to appreciate their music. Brilliant composers, such as Eric Whitacre and Morten Lauridsen, make contemporary choral music enjoyable and accessible to the modern listener.…