The romantic music has been influenced from
the idea of romanticism. Romanticism extended to Europe in the latter half of
the 19th century in the middle of the 18th century. The thought has extended
the philosophy, literature, musical, and others. Classicism to the contrary, feelings,
individuality, freedom, and others were esteemed and the mystical experience
and the yearning for infinite were expressed.
In music, the Classical music has been
developed based on romanticism. A lot of piano pieces were made because it was
freely expressible. Moreover, the traditional music expression was used while
pursuing new music. Therefore, it was a goal at the harmony of old and new.
The Early Part of Romantic
Musicians who were belonging exclusively of
the court and the church started becoming independent, and it becoming a free
artist. A literary element was taken into music. The pursuit of a richer
expression started from the music of the form valuing. Groping fornew harmony started, too.
The title was applied to the instrumental
music tune, and "Program music" was born. The pioneer of the program
music has two people, Ludwing van Beethoven and Hector Berlioz. Beethoven named
the sixth symphony in F major key "Country". Berlioz were in music
some themes, and composed "Der Freischutz" that was music with
the story. A lot of program music were seen in the piano piece. It is this age
that Frederic Francois Chopin who was called a piano poet was born. It is said
by Berlioz that it established the program music in the symphony.
The opera also faced the heyday from a
literary relation in the romantic age. At the same time, a regional
characteristic became remarkable, and the work that reflected a racial taste
arose. "Der Freischutz" in Germany and "Grand opera" in
France is a typical music.
The Latter Period of Romantic
The musician in the latter period of romantic
valued own principle and insistence. "Symphonic poem" in a new field
was born as a result of pursuing a novel expression. This was made by the Franz
Liszt. It was influenced from "Der Freischutz" of Berlioz who was his
friend. The symphonic poem is not an orchestral music work of a single movement
with "Title" but poetry by orchestral music. Liszt took up
"Epic" as poetry.
The new music style that was called "Nationalist
School" was able to be completed in the underdeveloped country of music.
Nationalist School is nationalism music. It thinks mainly about politics and
the culture by thinking about our race. And, it is called nationalism to
request sense of values. The feature of Nationalist School is to use a peculiar
music style of the folkloric music and the folk song of the home country.
Therefore, the music of each country of various styles is completed.
In this age, there were a lot of music in
which composer's individuality and regional were reflected. Moreover, a new
concept that it was like Nationalist School, too.
Thus, the romantic music heralded the
modern music. And, it has developed into the modern music.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Feature of Baroque
The baroque music was active in the 18th
century from the 17th century. The feature of the music at this time was that a
gorgeous opera had become active.
Vocal music was a center of music in the
old days. However, the instrumental music tune has increased because the
performances of musical instruments have gone up when becoming a baroque age.
Therefore, various musical instruments have been developed. Musical instruments
that had been often used were the recorders, viola de gamba[1],
and cembalos. The improvement was added also as for musical instruments that
were before. The cembalo is musical instruments that became it in a present
piano. The color of the cembalo keyboard is opposite to the piano. However, it
went out of use because neither the recorder, viola de gamba nor the cembalo
had the room for the improvement when changing at the classical period in the
baroque age.
viola de gamba
The cembalo
It is a baroque age that the opera that was
the play music arose. The opera was made in Italy. The opera is the performing
art that synthesizes literature, the play, the art, and music.
In the first, it tried to manage to
reproduce the play in a Greek age. People were not satisfactory in a chorus of
a multi voice alone. Then, it thought the music of the form of accompaniment
with musical instruments to be a soloist. However, a Greek play was not
researched in detail at that time. It was presented, and it was read aloud, and
however, the opera was born though it did not know whether to have been sung
the birth very of a Greek play while researching.
"Euridice" called the first opera
was born by Girolamo May who is research music, Rinuccini who is poet, and Peri
and Caccini who is composer.
As for this opera, the harpsichord, the
lute, and viola de gamba were used. Afterwards, monte Verdi built the base of
the opera. He composed "Orfeo" in 1606. After, the opera has extended
to Venice, Rome, and Naples.
As the instrumental music tune developed,
it was necessary to match conditions of musical instruments. The rule to adjust
pitches of each musical instrument was made. It is a tuning method that is
called "Temperament". Andreas Werckmeister establishes this rule. And
Johann Sebastian Bach wrote "The Well-Tempered Clavier", and he made
this rule known.
There are "Major key" and
"Minor key" in the tonality. The concern for harmony has risen. The
music scale of major key and the minor key was considered to be a discord. However,
it has been gradually standardized in the baroque age. In around 1680, Johann
Pachelbel composed "Canon", and it became an example.
The comparison between the melody and the
bass was very valued in this age. It is called a thorough bass to mark the
figure that shows harmony, and to supplement and to perform harmony with the
keyboard and others improvising.
There are musical historically two
important things in the baroque age. The first was born the play music. The
second was that instrumental music rises. Thus, the baroque music was
constructed.
[1]The volumes are smaller than violins.
Musical instruments are supported by the leg and played.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Performance Form
Today, I want to tell the orchestra and the solo as the performance form.
Orchestra
・Orchestra playing-Nutcracker-Pas de deux- (4:46) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG0jMkoKLJo The orchestra came into existence from the
instrumental music ensemble in around 1650. It consists of the musical
instrument group named the stringed instrument, the woodwind, the brass
instrument, and the percussion instrument. Moreover, there is a leader who
generalizes the whole. It is Intendant to generalize the orchestra as the
organization. Let’s see the organization of the orchestra with the performance.
It is Kapellmeister, Musikdirektor, and Concertmaster to generalize the
orchestra in music. Kapellmeister is a person in charge on the music side of
the entire court band that matches the singer to the musical instrument
performance. Concertmaster is a facilitator as the organization of the musical
instrument performance. Moreover, the orchestra is pulled while performing in
most cases by the player of the stringed instrument (especially, violin). The
orchestra uses various musical instruments. Kinds of the musical instruments
have changed. It is possible to read it from records of the past. It introduces
typical musical instruments.
Violin
There is putting the best bowstring in the
violin respectively. The bowstring of strength that is appropriate for the size
of the violin is put. The sound shuts oneself up when the bowstring is too fat.
When the bowstring is too thin, it becomes a weak sound. It can be said that
musical instruments will have been changed considering the volume, too. The
violinist supports the violin firmly by the jaw and the left hand. Therefore,
the movement of the position is not easy. It is necessary to raise the left
hand when becoming loud tones. The violinist often performs at a high position
in the orchestra work. The violinist has acquired such a technology.
The bow changed the performing technique of
the violin. It changed from a so-called baroque bow into Flachbogen. The
tension of the bow doubled. The violin is added the improvement, and arrives
now afterwards.
Flute
In the 18th century, the recorder and the
flute were concurrently used. However, the flute came to be used gradually in
the orchestra because tone quality has been improved by a technical improvement
of the flute. The compass of the flute became three octaves by the 18th end of
the century. The role in the orchestra of the flute was solo and a concertino.
However, so as not to be buried in other musical instruments of the orchestra,
the flute has been improved. In the middle of 19th century, it came to be able
to put out the compass of four octaves by using a key with the lid. And, the
flute became musical instruments indispensable for the orchestra.
Oboe
In the 18th first half of the century, the
oboe was the typical woodwind in the orchestra. The role of the oboe is to play
the melody with the violin besides solo. The performance ability of the oboe
was almost the same as the violin in around 1700. When the upper register was
performed because of a weak sound, the advanced technique was necessary for the
oboist. Therefore, the composer did not write dynamic marks of “p” in the part
of the oboe.
In addition to this, there are trumpet of
the brass instrument, tympani of the percussion instrument and others as
musical instruments that compose the orchestra.
Solo
Solo is said the alone performance while
the orchestra performs a lot. Piano solo and the violin solo are the solo
performances. Moreover, it is called solo to perform a certain part alone in
the orchestra.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Opera Music
I want to tell the "The Marrige of Figaro" and "Don Giovanni".
The Marriage of Figaro（Le Nozze di Figaro)
Mozart composed "The Marriage of
Figaro". The first performance was held in the court theater in Vienna on
May 1, 1786.
Story
Overture
It is an event in Almaviva earl's castle of
about 1780. Servant's Figaro is supposed to marry Susannah who is countess's
maid. However, the Almaviva earl began to send goodwill to Susannah. The Almaviva
earl frames the enlargement of the marriage on that day of the marriage.
The first act
Susannah and Figaro are chatting in the
room. As soon as possible, two people who know Almaviva earl's strategy try to
obtain the permission of the marriage. However, there were people who tried to
prolong the marriage.
Cherubino who was Almaviva earl's page came
to the request so that Susannah may take and do between females in the castle.
At that time, the Almaviva earl has just come. Cherubino quickly hid. However,
Cherubino hears the Almaviva earl favor Susannah. Figaro brings the chorus and
the permission of the marriage is requested in those days. The Almaviva earl
tries to say that it is necessary to do as colorfully as possible, and to
extend the marriage. The reason is that the Almaviva earl tried to give time to
the plot of woman's vassal's Almaviva.
The second act
To teach the Almaviva earl a lesson, Figaro
hatches a conspiracy. And, it sends a letter to the Almaviva earl. The content
writes the countess's fickleness concocting it. At the same time, Susannah
promises the earl the date at night with the garden. However, Cherubino who
disguises it as Susannah there tries to show up, and to surprise the Almaviva
earl.
When Cherubino is disguising it, the
Almaviva earl has beaten the door. The warrant card has been dropped there,
though Cherubino who had panicked ran away from the window. The Almaviva earl
who had heard Figaro's plot from Susannah and the countess a little cross
examined it with Cherubino's warrant card. Figaro smoothed matters by grace of
the countess. However, the cabal that centered on Almaviva entered, and the
marriage became an extension further ahead.
The third act
Figaro's plot fell through. Then, the
countess and Susannah newly refine the strategy by two people so that the countess
may clarify the husband's infidelity. It was the one that Susannah invited the
earl to the date, and the countess who had put on Susannah's dress there showed
up. The plot of Marcellina had fallen through in those days. The reason is that
Marcellina and Figaro are in the relationship between a child and his parents.
The countess made Susannah write a letter
addressed to the Almaviva earl, and sealed it with the pin. It is written that
this pin is returned in the letter. It was quietly passed to the Almaviva earl.
Then, the Almaviva earl did not settle down, and postponed the marriage again.
The fourth act
It looks for the pin that Barbarina has
dropped. Figaro who shows up there is told the story that coils round the pin.
Figaro who doesn't know the plan of the countess and Susannah are surprised.
However, the plan advances. Barbarina speaks to Susannah Figaro's having learnt
this plan. The Almaviva earl did not know that the countess was disguising it
as Susannah, and was persuading his wife in front of parties concerned entire.
All the people of parties concerned knew this plan. The earl came to be able to
do nothing but beg permission to the wife admitting defeating completely.
Mozart composed "Don Giovanni".
The first performance was held in Prague on October 29, 1787.
Story
Overture
The first act
Don Giovanni who is a young aristocrat in
Spain seduces a woman one after another. Don Giovanni sneaked in to the room of
Donna Anna who was the daughter of the head of the knight on a certain night.
Donna Anna flung out of the house while shouting. Father of Donna Anna also
came in the voice. Her father tried to interrupt the way of Don Giovanni.
However, her father has been killed at the end of a short fight. It was sworn
to him to find "Murderer" to Don Ottavio who was her fiance for help,
and to make the criminal compensate for her.
Don Giovanni requests the following woman.
He marks down the woman who was covered of the veil. However, it was Donna
Elvira who was his wife. She tried to have him stop indecent acts any further.
Nevertheless, Don Giovanni looked for the
woman by gatherings of farmer's weddings. Zerlina who was the his bride. Don
Giovanni disregards the resistance of Masetto who is the bridegroom, and takes
her out. Donna Elvira who is his wife comes there. In addition, Donna Anna and
Don Ottavio that looked for the criminal of the knight head killing came. These
two people had the conviction that it was Don Giovanni to see the behavior of
Don Giovanni, and to have killed the head of the knight. Don Giovanni invited
two people to the dance party. Donna Elvira, Donna Anna, and Don Ottavio also
appear applying the mask to "His shameless act can be disclosed" and
this dance party. Of each started dancing. Don Giovanni started taking zerlina
into room next to mine in the place where everyone was confused. However, Donna
Elvira pursue Don Giovanni by her yell.
The second act
Leporello who was the servant of Don
Giovanni followed it only for money. To hilt, Don Giovanni and Leporello
exchanged clothes for Zerlina. This strategy succeeded. However, it is
obstructed by the large crowd whom Masetto has taken along. Don Giovanni and
Leporello have run away to the graveyard. Then, two people are effective the
voice that the statue of the head of the knight is frightened. Don Giovanni
invited the statue to supper. The statue acknowledged this invitation. He
doesn't accept it though the statue is urged on him to quiet down when the
statue comes to the house of Don Giovanni. Then, the statue was requested Don
Giovanni to come to me. He approved it without fearing it. The statue was not
stubbornly accepted though urged the current doing to be repented at the last
time. And, it disappeared in the flame of the hell.
Don Giovanni who was everyone's enemy
built, and it was gone, and of each began to build a new life.
I want to tell "L'oisau de feu" and "The Nutcracker".
L'oisau de feu
Stravinsky composed "L'oisau de
feu". The performance time is about 42 minutes.
The first part
･Story
Phoenix appears. Phoenix begins to dance. Phoenix
is finally captured by the prince Ewan. The prince Ewan lets Phoenix go by
dancing this entreaty. 13 princesses put on magic show up. Free time of
princesses ends when daybreak approaches. It enters the castle gate of Kaschei.
The monster appears, and the prince Ewan is captured. The devil appears. Phoenix
appears. The monster is made to hear the baby-sitter song. After, Kaschei dies.
･Progressing of music
It starts from the rhythm by the pizzicato
of the percussion instrument and the cello. The horn symbolizes the prince
Ewan. The phrase of the oboe symbolizes the prince Ewan's appearance. The
subject of the dance of Phoenix appears to the woodwind. It divides into an
unstable melody, and the stringed instrument and the woodwind perform this
alternately. This composed three parts. The motif caused by the clarinet shows
the princesses' appearance. It is possible to hang, and the motif with an eerie
piccolo and flute is performed. In the scene of the death of Kaschei, it is
symbolized with the bassoon, the tympani, and cymbals. A cold melody is played
with the viola and the violin.
The second part
･Story
The castle and the magic of Kaschei
disappear. Knights made a stone revive.
･Progressing of music
The subject of the horn appears to the
tremolo of the stringed instrument. It is performed with all musical
instruments through the flute as the violin repeats this. The scene of the coda
is grandly performed with the trumpet, the trombone, and the tuba. Afterwards,
the finale is received with all musical instruments.
Tchaikovsky composed "The
Nutcracker". He is born in Russia in 1840. The performance time was about
45 minutes in the first act and about 45 minutes in the second act.
The first act
The first
1:Scene－The Christmas Tree
・Mr. and Mrs. Stael decorate the Christmas
tree with the servant for the preparation of the party.
This music is 4/4 rhythms in the allegro.
The woodwind expresses the light of the candle. The children's appearance is
shown by performing the tympani.
2: March
・ Children dance around the Christmas tree.
This music is 4/4 rhythms. The clarinet and
the brass instrument perform the melody like the fanfare. The violin expresses
children's movement.
3: Children’s Galop and Entrance of the
Parents
・A new customer appears. Then, children dance
further blithely.
The violin performs the galop of 2/4
rhythms. Afterwards, it is shown that the guest came to the hall in the minuet
of 3/4 rhythms.
4: Dance Scene
・Drosselmeyer elderly person comes. The
elderly person takes out the doll with setting the spring. The harlequin of the
soldier doll begins to dance with Columbine of girl's doll.
Drosselmeyer elderly person's appearance is
performed with the viola and the trombone. When the elderly person takes out
soldier's doll, comical is expressed in the waltz of 3/4 rhythms.
5: Scene and Dance
・Children try to take the bedroom the doll.
The elderly person hands The Nutcracker. Children start the scramble for the
doll. Flit is angry, it throws out to the floor, and it destroys it.
This music is 6/8 rhythms in the andante. The
place where the elderly person puts out The Nutcracker is performed by a bright
melody.
6: Scene－Invited Guest's Coming Home and Night
・The party ends. She timidly approaches The
Nutcracker. The mouse appears. The Christmas tree becomes a gigantic tree. In
addition, the soldier doll appears, and it begins to walk in the room.
The clarinet and the bassoon have expressed
Clara's fear. The piccolo shows rat's movement.
7: Scene－The Nutcracker and Rat's Kings' Fights
・The soldier doll begins to fight against
the mouse. Clara helps when the doll is attacked, and the doll wins. And, Clara
is invited to the country of the cake that helped reward.
The comical scene that seems to be the
combat of march trumpet and soldier's shouts and report of a gun, etc. is
expressed. When dolls win victory, a graceful melody is performed.
The second
8: Scene－Dance of Pine Woods / 9: Waltz of the Snowflakes
・ The energy of the snow meets it. The energy
of the snow prince begins to step a waltz with the queen.
The harp accompanies the arpeggio. The
violin repeats the subject. Afterwards, a waltz fantastic the syncopation of
the flute is expressed.
The second act
10: Scene－Castle of Magic in Country of Cake
・It enters the castle of magic in the
country of the cake more and more.
The woodwind performs the subject, and the
appearance that enters the castle of magic is shown.
11: Scene－Appearance of Clara and Prince
・ Meeting the energy of queen Confetti candy
is received. The prince speaks the person to whom one owes one's life Clara.
Clara is welcomed.
The duet of the celesta, the harp, the
clarinet, and the bassoon is alternately performed. When music becomes an
allegro, the combat with the rat is reproduced. It is expressed that Clara is
welcomed by the fanfare.
12: Divertissement
・ It is welcomed by dancing the dance of the
dance of the dance of the dance of the dance of Spain and Arabia and China and
Russia and the reedy pipes and harlequins.
The dance of Spain is a bolero. The trumpet
performs the melody. The violin performs a main melody to the dance of Arabia.
Dances of China are 4/4 rhythms. The flute performs a main melody. Dances of
Russia are 2/4 rhythms. The violin performs a main melody. Dances of the reedy
pipe are 2/4 rhythms. The flute performs the melody. Dances of the harlequin
are 2/4 rhythms. The violin performs a main melody.
13: Waltz of the Flowers
・The energy of Confetti candy dance in
magnificence.
This music is famous. The horn performs the
subject. The clarinet succeeds the subject.
14: Pas de Deux
・ The energy of Confetti candy dances with
the prince of The Nutcracker.
This is composed of four. It is a
composition of adagio, tarantella, tarantella 2, and the coda.
15: Waltz Finale and Apotheosis
・All members dance lively. Clara who wore
the crown is blest by people in the country of the cake.
This music is a waltz of 3/4 rhythms. Ten
subjects appear at the end, it becomes apotheosis, and the finale is received.
I will introduce "Nocturne op.9-2"
and "Piano sonata K.331" from the piano piece. It is both tunes that
everyone has heard somewhere.
Nocturne op.9-2
This music was composed by Frederic Francois Chopin. This music was
made in 1832, when Chopin was 22 years old.
Chopin
made 21 nocturnes. Only 20 in that were specified for “Nocturne” by him.
However, only the C sharp minor of existing music in 1830 was allowed the title
as “Nocturne” at the time of making in 1875 public.
Nocturne
op.9-2 is the most famous music in his nocturne. This music undertook other
composer’s influences with Nocturne op.9-1.
The
composition of this music is a rondo style form. This music is 12/8 rhythms in Andante[1]
in E flat major.
A-B-A-B-A-C-C
There are two themes of A and B, and it is repeated alternately.
There finishes is different theme C at the end. The right hand chants from
beginning to end the coloratura style[2] to attaching of the
grace note, and the accompaniment of the same rhythm is repeated as for the
left hand.
Piano Sonata K.331
This
tune was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The made time is not understood
well. There is a theory of composition in Paris at 1778, when Mozart was 22
years old or a theory of composition in Vienna at 1783, when he was 28 years
old. The powerful one is a theory composed in 1783. This music is the second of
three sonatas assumed to have been made in the age. This music consists of
three movements. The rough composition is as follows.
The
first movement consists of the subject and the variations of andante grazioso.
The second movement is a minuet of the trio luck. It is recorded though the
third movement is an allegretto, "Rondo alla turca". The style of the
east style at that time is remarkable.
The
first movements are 6/8 rhythms in A major. It consists of the subject and the
variation. The subject of andante grazioso is two composition in the first half
and the latter half. It was graceful though was simple. The style at this time
is reflected. In the first variation, the movement of the sixteenth note[3]
is a center. As for the second variation, the accompaniment of three group
notes[4] feature. The third variation is transposed to the in A
minor. The fourth variation returns to the in A major. The accompaniment is
played by the right hand, and the high pitched sound part and the basso are
played by the left hand. As for the fifth variation, it not only accompanies
but also the tempo begins to change into the Adagio[1], and
to move in the right hand three minims. The sixth variation becomes 4/4 rhythms
Allegro[1]. It becomes a light, bright variation.
The
second movements are 3/4 rhythms in A minor in the minuet. The large-scale triois lucky. The subject of the minuet starts by the unison of solo. The
trio transposes in D major. The left hand intersects with the right hand, and
has inserted the unison.
The
third movements are 2/4 rhythms in A minor in the Allegretto[1]
(rondo alla turca). This is said, "Turkish march". The form of this
movement is assumed to be a France style rondo. The famous subject appears the in
A minor. The episode of the in A major starts after this part is repeated.
Next, Passage of the sixteenth note continues. It is ended that the episode of
the in A minor reproduces it after that. Next, it returns to in A minor again,
and the main subject is repeated. In addition, it transposes to the in A major
key. It is a colorful and outlandishness movement.
[1] It is a music term that shows the
speed. Adagio means "It is gradual". Andante means "Speed where
it walks". Allegretto means "It is a little fast". Allegro means
"It is fast".
[2] Syllable that gives decoration to fast
phrase, and makes colorfully.
[3] Length of 1/16 of whole note.
[4] Generic name of note with length in
which a certain note is divided into three.
Form of Music
It can enjoy the musical expression by understanding the music form
of music. As for the music that seems to be made freely, the music form that is
basic is used for foundation. There are a lot of forms in the music. I will
introduce the rondo form and the sonata form in music form.
Rondo Form
It is what became popular in France in about the 18th century. The
rondo form is approved on the assumption of the alternation though it paired.
The basic format is A-B-A-C-A-D. This is
called a chain rondo. The type of the rondo form of the music in the classical
period is A-B-A-C-A-B-A. As for the rondo form as the music form, the change
has been often added. It has the key role in compare in addition to a different
structure setting the boundary between musical parts. To conclude the entire
music, a musical each part is often enlarged.
Moreover, the conclusion of music is independent as a so called
coda, becomes a musical part that reaches comparatively widely to greater or
lesser degrees, and is gotten.
Sonata Form
The comparison of two subjects that are the tension of the subject,
and contrasted structures and the character are an impellent of the music
passage. The array of a time element in a double subject and the array of the
material have brought the composer the possibility of music in the classical
period expression. The sonata form is a form chiefly used for the first movement
of the sonata form. This form might be called "Sonata allegro form"
because it is performed at a fast tempo.
The sonata form is used for all of a
piano sonata in the classicism age, the string quartet, the symphony, and the
concerto. Two subjects of contrasted character are used in the form of a
sonata. It is thought that the sonata form has developed from the church sonata
in the baroque age. It is originally assumed that it developed from two forms
though it is three forms in the appearance.
The sonata form consists of three parts.
Presentation part － Presentation of
subject
Development part － Laborious work
based on motive and subject materials
Reproduction part － Return of subject
The presentation part starts by presenting the first subject. The passage
part where the second subject is prepared comes out when the first subject is
presented. The second subject has the character in contrast to the first
subject. As for the passage part, the transposition to the dominant key is
included. The conclusion part follows the passage part, and the presentation
part ends. This might be repeated.
The motive and the component of the presentation part are being
freely processed to the middle paragraph by the composer. The comparison
between the first subject and the second subject is lost though the
reproduction part is a repetition of the presentation part. To often do a
connection taking musical, a harmony detour is done to a temporary
transposition. To shut the entire music, the place in the presentation part where
it is a conclusion part is enhanced.
