Spanish Renaissance & Baroque Poetry: Key Figures & Styles
Renaissance Lyric: Garcilaso de la Vega
In Renaissance lyric poetry, there is a separation between the natural and the supernatural; poets clearly distinguished the human from the divine. Most metrical forms used by Renaissance poets originated in Italy.
Garcilaso de la Vega (1501-1536) belonged to a noble family. He was both a knight and a poet. He masterfully expressed his feelings of love for his muse (Isabel Freyre). He traveled often to Italy and introduced the most common Italian metric forms
Read MoreBaroque Music Forms and Genres
Secular Vocal Music
Accompanied monody is a texture in which the voices are not presented on top of each other with the same importance. The superior voice is highlighted over the rest of the voices, which are subject to the accompaniment of the main voice.
The Birth of Opera
Characteristics:
- Compound vocal form with a narrative nature.
- Stage performance.
- Written for orchestra, choirs, and soloists.
Fundamental Parts:
- Overture: Instrumental introduction.
- Sung parts: For soloists and choirs.
- Two types of singing:
Galician Avant-garde Poetry Movements
European Avant-garde Poetry
The avant-gardes were currents of artistic and literary renewal that developed in the West over the first decades of the twentieth century. Among them were Dadaism, Surrealism, Cubism, Futurism, Expressionism, and Creationism. They had in common a desire to break with the prevailing aesthetic conventions through dehumanization and anti-sentimentalism, a renewal of poetic language, and radical freedom for the creator. These currents disseminated their artistic ideas through
Read MoreBaroque Music: Characteristics, Style, and Evolution
Qualities That Define Baroque Music
Around 1600, a change of technique and aesthetics in vocal and instrumental music emerged, involving both religious and secular themes. The accompanied melody, with one voice predominating over the others, became a key feature. This contrasted with the equal, contrapuntal polyphony of the preceding era. Composers focused on expressing emotion through a single musical melody.
Basso Continuo
The basso continuo, a low voice, served as the harmonic foundation of the
Read MoreUnderstanding Musical Expression, Tempo, Vocal Groups, and Jazz
Item 5
What is Musical Expression?
Musical expression occurs when the interpreter conveys the emotion beyond the written notes to the listener. The elements that contribute to this are: dynamics (the use of different shades), tempo, character, and accentuation and articulation.
Tempo and Movement in Music
Tempo refers to the speed at which a musical work is executed. The tempo can convey different sensations. Tempo markings are placed at the beginning of the piece, above the staff.
Metronome: A device
Read MoreEd Sheeran’s ‘Happier’: Musical Elements and Cultural Impact
Introduction
By analyzing Ed Sheeran’s “Happier,” I learned a lot about Urban Popular Music, especially regarding its musical elements and cultural context. This song, released in 2017, is a great example of how modern pop music uses simple musical structures to convey deep emotions while also reflecting cultural trends of its time.
Musical Elements
In terms of musical elements, “Happier” shows many characteristics of Urban Popular Music. The song follows a typical verse-chorus-verse-bridge-chorus
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