Zarzuela: The Spanish Musical Theater Excellence
The Zarzuela: Spanish Musical Theater
The zarzuela is a unique form of Spanish musical theater. It was revived and refined by Barbieri in the 19th century but originated in the early 17th century as a court entertainment. It evolved into mass entertainment by the mid-19th century.
From 1850, with the premiere of Barbieri’s work, Playing with Fire, it became a major genre of the 19th century. In 1856, the Teatro de la Zarzuela was inaugurated, becoming the temple of this new genre to this day.
Throughout
Read MorePolyphony, Renaissance, and Baroque Music
Evolution of Polyphony
700-900, 900-1100, 1100, 1200
- Organum – Medieval music consisting of Gregorian chant and at least one additional line.
- Organal – Chant moves slowly, and the added line moves quickly above it.
- Discant – A chant is moving quickly in a similar fashion to the added line.
- Proper – Changes everyday.
- Ordinary – Stays the same.
The Renaissance (1450-1600)
Patrons: Church, Royalty, Governments
Professions: Singer, Choirmaster, Instrument builder, Organist, Copyist, Printer, Publisher, Teacher,
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Black Folk Music Characteristics
Key Features:
- Very pronounced musical pulse
- Syncopated melodies
- Pentatonic scale
- Call-and-answer pattern typical from Africa
White Folk Music
They sang dances and ballads from their birthplaces.
Key Features:
- Dances: Happy melodies, played with violin and guitar.
- Ballads: Narrative character; topics include travels, love stories, and magical characters.
The Primitive Blues
A mixture of Black and White folk music. Also called Delta Blues.
Songs of wail and irony about hard work,
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The Golden Age of Spanish Literature
The Novels
Jennifer Lopez’s “Get Right”: A Deep Dive into the Hit Song
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“Get Right” is a song by American singer Jennifer Lopez, recorded for her fourth studio album, Rebirth (2005). It was written by Rich Harrison, Usher Raymond, and James Brown, and produced by Harrison and Cory Rooney. An upbeat dance and R&B song with jazz, hip hop, and funk influences, “Get Right” marks a departure in Lopez’s musical style and has been called one of her most “memorable” songs by The New York Times. It is built around a sample of “Soul
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