Compiling folk music for my friends' wedding from 8notes.com
Thank gosh for this site! All I have with me this summer is Bach, Walton and Hindemith!!!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Theory Review
So in reviewing my theory book, I thought I'd start at the beginning, with "structural phenomena".
I really wanted to get to review form - things like binary form, rondo form, etc, but refreshing the prerequisite knowledge seemed like a good idea.
My book, "A Practical Approach to the Study of Form in Music" by Spencer & Temko, informs me that structural phenomena are the things you need to identify in order to break down a piece into small chunk (presumably to figure out what's going on muscially).
These structural phenomena include such things as:
Register changes
Dynamic changes
Cadences
Rhythmic changes
Motive activity (a motive is kind of a little melody fragment that keeps popping up)
Tempo changes
Texture changes
You get the idea. The exercise at the back of the chapter involves doing a little analysis of a movement from Schumann's Kinderszenen, the sixth movement, "An Important Event".
I spent two hours staring at the B section, trying to figure out if there is a cadence happening in the middle. I also found out that most people on youtube can't play this piece with any sense of phrasing or direction. They also seem to think that playing forte on the piano involves holding the pedal down the entire time...
Fortunately, I found the Horowitz recording, and this particular movement starts at 5:00 exactly.
I consulted my wife on what kind of cadence she thought was there (I think it's a half cadence (AKA imperfect cadence) that tonicizes G) but she didn't think there was any cadence at all.
The markings in my text seem to agree with her and not me, but hey it's subjective and I think I could make a good argument for it. The important thing was that she agreed with my analysis of the chords. The interpretation part I like, the analysis, well, that was never my strong point.
I'd probably make a good music theorist if I could analyze chords faster and more decisively.
On to the next chapter!
Check out Kinderszenen here!
I really wanted to get to review form - things like binary form, rondo form, etc, but refreshing the prerequisite knowledge seemed like a good idea.
My book, "A Practical Approach to the Study of Form in Music" by Spencer & Temko, informs me that structural phenomena are the things you need to identify in order to break down a piece into small chunk (presumably to figure out what's going on muscially).
These structural phenomena include such things as:
Register changes
Dynamic changes
Cadences
Rhythmic changes
Motive activity (a motive is kind of a little melody fragment that keeps popping up)
Tempo changes
Texture changes
You get the idea. The exercise at the back of the chapter involves doing a little analysis of a movement from Schumann's Kinderszenen, the sixth movement, "An Important Event".
I spent two hours staring at the B section, trying to figure out if there is a cadence happening in the middle. I also found out that most people on youtube can't play this piece with any sense of phrasing or direction. They also seem to think that playing forte on the piano involves holding the pedal down the entire time...
Fortunately, I found the Horowitz recording, and this particular movement starts at 5:00 exactly.
I consulted my wife on what kind of cadence she thought was there (I think it's a half cadence (AKA imperfect cadence) that tonicizes G) but she didn't think there was any cadence at all.
The markings in my text seem to agree with her and not me, but hey it's subjective and I think I could make a good argument for it. The important thing was that she agreed with my analysis of the chords. The interpretation part I like, the analysis, well, that was never my strong point.
I'd probably make a good music theorist if I could analyze chords faster and more decisively.
On to the next chapter!
Check out Kinderszenen here!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Preparation for a Master's in Music Performance
Before registering for courses, I am required to write a two hour placement exam.
All I know about the exam is this:
Four sections:
1) Musical Terms
2) Score Identification & essay
3) Analysis 1
4) Analysis 2
I have no idea what to expect for the score identification section, or what kind of stuff they'll want for the essay... the analysis sections I can only assume will involve analysis of the form and chords. Hopefully they won't ask any part-writing; I haven't done that in seven years.
It would be nice to have a list of possible scores that could be featured for the essay - ie classical era, or perhaps from the opera repertoire, but oh no, it's totally unknown! maybe it will be a graphical score like what you'd see in Penderecki's Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima. (If you want to listen to a piece of symphonic music that is both truly terrifying and ground-breaking, click here).
You will only ever need to listen to this once in your lifetime. I suggest avoiding mind-altering drugs before embarking upon this listening experience.
In the meantime, as I review musical terms with the aid of the internet, I am reminded that wikipedia is not all that bad as sources go, when random websites make offerings such as this for a musical term definition:
Deceptive cadence - A chord progression that seems to lead to resolving itself on the final chord; but does not.
Let me punctuate this definition with the statement that one would generally expect a vi (six) chord to follow the cadential chords in question, and that a stronger cadence will usually follow, eventually.
Legato - Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played smoothly.
I would agree with the smooth part... the rest is entirely dependent on what's happening musically... just because a legato marking is present does not necessarily mean it encompasses an entire movement.
I like this one as well:
Neoclassical - Movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct.
last time I checked, neoclassical referred to a composition being written in the style from the classical era.
All I know about the exam is this:
Four sections:
1) Musical Terms
2) Score Identification & essay
3) Analysis 1
4) Analysis 2
I have no idea what to expect for the score identification section, or what kind of stuff they'll want for the essay... the analysis sections I can only assume will involve analysis of the form and chords. Hopefully they won't ask any part-writing; I haven't done that in seven years.
It would be nice to have a list of possible scores that could be featured for the essay - ie classical era, or perhaps from the opera repertoire, but oh no, it's totally unknown! maybe it will be a graphical score like what you'd see in Penderecki's Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima. (If you want to listen to a piece of symphonic music that is both truly terrifying and ground-breaking, click here).
You will only ever need to listen to this once in your lifetime. I suggest avoiding mind-altering drugs before embarking upon this listening experience.
In the meantime, as I review musical terms with the aid of the internet, I am reminded that wikipedia is not all that bad as sources go, when random websites make offerings such as this for a musical term definition:
Deceptive cadence - A chord progression that seems to lead to resolving itself on the final chord; but does not.
Let me punctuate this definition with the statement that one would generally expect a vi (six) chord to follow the cadential chords in question, and that a stronger cadence will usually follow, eventually.
Legato - Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played smoothly.
I would agree with the smooth part... the rest is entirely dependent on what's happening musically... just because a legato marking is present does not necessarily mean it encompasses an entire movement.
I like this one as well:
Neoclassical - Movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct.
last time I checked, neoclassical referred to a composition being written in the style from the classical era.
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