Debussy, Satie, and Ravel: French Impressionist Music
Claude Debussy’s *Prix de Rome*
Claude Debussy won the *Prix de Rome* with his cantata *L’enfant prodigue*. In Paris, he frequented gatherings with Mallarmé, the symbolist poet whose poems inspired one of his most celebrated works, *Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune*, known for its very original timbre.
Debussy was excited by Maurice Maeterlinck, the chief representative of Symbolist theater, and his drama *Pelléas et Mélisande*, to which he devotedly set music. The action, developed in the
Read MoreSound Technology and Media Evolution
Sound and Technology: Recording and Manipulation
Regarding the recording and reproduction of sounds, two main periods are distinguished:
- Analog Period: (From the early sound recordings). There are three forms of analog recording: mechanical (phonograph discs and vinyl), magnetic (tape), and optical (applied in film). This is almost obsolete.
- Digital Age: (Late twentieth century). In the digitalization of sound, there are two phases: sampling and quantization. Digitalization involves taking measurements
The Renaissance: Music, Humanism, and Cultural Rebirth
At the beginning of the 15th century, Europe experienced significant social, cultural, and religious transformations, paving the way for a new era known as the Renaissance, meaning “rebirth.” During the 15th and 16th centuries, the ideas of ancient Greece and Rome were revived. This period saw the rise of humanism, an intellectual and cultural movement centered on the belief that human beings are the center of the universe. This contrasted sharply with the theological perspectives of the medieval
Read MoreMusic History: From Ancient Greece to the Troubadours
Ancient Greece
Greece: Music was very important for society. The great philosophers spoke of music, and thought it must be part of the education of children and adults. They believed music influenced the character of the person listening. Authors such as Plato, Aristotle, Ptolemy, and Pythagoras contributed to music theory. Pythagoras linked music to mathematical principles, defining harmonic intervals based on numerical ratios:
- ½: Octave Interval
- 2/3: Perfect Fifth
- ¾: Perfect Fourth
- 4/5: Major Third
- 5/
Romanesque and Gothic Art in Europe: Architecture, Painting
Romanesque Art
From the eleventh century, a new artistic style spread throughout Western Europe. We call it Romanesque art. Religiosity is the most important feature of Romanesque art. Religious influence on architecture was notable in the types of buildings, because the most representative were churches, cathedrals, and monasteries. In religious painting and sculpture, the search for the spiritual meaning of things was present. Another feature of Romanesque art is the use of symbols. Everything
Read MoreAfrican and American Music Styles: A Concise Overview
African Music Styles
Africa
- Main Styles:
- Songs of work: Cacons
- Various activities related to daily/private life: Music interpreted in small groups, family areas, smoother sound, dominated by instruments.
- Music publishing: Music interpreted in tribal celebrations, involving a large group, often emphasizing percussion.
- Purpose: African music is conceived as an integral part of life. Social music is a collective manifestation.
- Texture: Polyphony and monodic songs. Question and response between soloist and