Rationalism and Baroque Music: Evolution and Characteristics
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The Foundation of Rationalism
The rationalist thought in the seventeenth century had leading figures such as Descartes, Leibniz, and Spinoza. They rejected revealed knowledge and argued that reason is the main source of human knowledge, laying the foundations of rationalism.
Italian physicist Galileo Galilei and French mathematician René Descartes most influenced later thought. Galileo Galilei founded the experimental method. From his observations, he formulated the laws of falling bodies
Read MoreAncient Egyptian Music: History and Instruments
Ancient Egyptian Music: A Historical Overview
New Kingdom
After expelling the Hyksos, Ahmose I established Thebes as the capital of the New Kingdom, ushering in the most remarkable era of Egyptian history. The conquest of Syria significantly influenced Egyptian music, introducing Syrian and other Near Eastern musicians and their instruments to the Egyptian court orchestra. This period witnessed a transformation in music and dance, becoming more vibrant and sensual. Eventually, musical performance
Read MoreMusic Education Methods: From Dalcroze to Wuytack
Guido d’Arezzo and Musical Notes
Guido d’Arezzo named musical notes: ut (later do), re, mi, fa, sol, la. The syllable ut was changed to do for easier pronunciation. The seventh note, si, was named in the 14th century, derived from Sancte Iohannes. Guido invented the tetragrammaton (four lines) and taught students using hand signals.
Traditional Music Teaching:
- Repetitive exercises
- Rote learning
- Student’s written work
- Classic repertoire
Recommended Teaching Approaches:
- Encourage playfulness and motivation
- Reasoning
Neoclassicism and Romanticism in Art and Architecture
Neoclassicism in Architecture
Neoclassical architecture rejected Rococo ornamentation and drew inspiration from Greek, Etruscan, Roman, and even Egyptian art. Religious architecture declined, and public buildings like libraries, museums, and arcades were constructed. Napoleon’s propagandistic spirit emulated Roman architecture (e.g., the Arc de Triomphe in Paris). Neoclassicism also thrived in Germanic territories. In England, the Classical Renaissance persisted and was exported to the American colonies.
Read MoreJourney Through Music History: Ancient to Renaissance
Music in Ancient Greece
Music held immense importance in ancient Greek civilization, embodying beauty, harmony, and order. Appreciated for its intrinsic value rather than religious or social function, music was integral to all celebrations and public events, particularly classical tragedy, where it intertwined with poetry and dance. Mathematical formulas were employed to achieve the desired harmony and order.
Music in the Middle Ages (5th-14th Centuries)
With the fall of the Roman Empire and the
Read More19th Century Romanticism in Music: A Deep Dive
19th Century Romanticism in Music
Romanticism
A cultural and artistic movement extending into the 19th century, Romanticism reacted against classical formalism, championing freedom, emotion, and individualism.
Characteristics of Romanticism
- Emerged in the late 18th century, originating in Germany
- Individualism and subjectivism; expression of feelings
- Desire for freedom (political, ideological, etc.)
- Escapism through supernatural themes, distant lands, etc.
- Search for the unattainable, the infinite
- Interest