German Opera, Nationalism, Impressionism & 20th Century Music
German Opera
The origin of German opera lies in the development of Mozart’s Singspiel, which gave it a distinctly German character. Beethoven’s traits, though not inherently romantic, influenced Weber, who established the national characteristics. Wagner’s characteristics include striving for total art, operas in German, themes of myths and Germanic legends, and masterful orchestration with leitmotifs. His use of dramatic works is evident in his operas. His first opera, Rienzi, was based on the life
Read MoreLatin Dance Sport: Samba, Cha-Cha-Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive
Latin Dances: Origins and Evolution
Latin dances have been practiced in Europe since the early twentieth century, although their origins can be traced back to the late nineteenth century, when musical styles from Spain, Portugal, Africa, and Indigenous America began to blend and mix.
Of all the existing Latin dances, only five have been included in DanceSport. They are: Samba, Cha-Cha-Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive. Below, we introduce each dance:
Samba
Originally discovered in Africa but developed
Read MoreThe Evolution of Jazz Music: From Work Songs to Be-Bop
The Origins of Jazz Music
Origin of Jazz: Jazz originated from the songs of enslaved people who worked on plantations in the southeastern United States. There are three primary genres: Work Song, Blues, and Gospel song.
Work Songs
Work Song: Work songs helped slaves coordinate their efforts on plantations. The pace of work provided the basis for the chants, accompanied by the sound of the tools. These songs had a sad and melancholy character, but were rhythmic. One worker would start singing, and the
Read MoreClassical Music: History, Features, and Key Composers
Classical Music: A Historical Overview
Some news: Classical music emerged between the 17th and 19th centuries. This era saw the rise of public concerts, accessible through paid musical tickets, and the advent of music journalism. Numerous books and studies were written to facilitate learning musical instruments.
Key Features of Classical Music
Features classical music: The basso continuo largely disappeared, replaced by accompaniments featuring repeated chords and arpeggios. The rhythmic accompaniment
Read MoreMedieval Music: Texture, Gregorian Chants, and Troubadours
Medieval Music
Texture is the way in which different voices (melodies) in a musical piece are arranged. There are four main types of textures:
- Monophonic (Monophony): A single voice (melody) without any accompaniment. It is the oldest type of texture. Example: Gregorian chant.
- Homophonic Texture (Homophony): Several voices (melodies) that sound simultaneously with the same rhythm, even the same notes. It is the simplest type of polyphony. Example: Protestant Chorale.
- Polyphonic Textures (Polyphony):
Classical and Baroque Music: Forms and History
Classical Music
Born in 1750, Classical music is lighter and more graceful than Baroque music. It refers to music written between approximately 1750 and 1820.
Classical Orchestral Music
In the 18th century, orchestras had developed, but they were much smaller. Composers used keyboard instruments to play chords and make the music sound fuller.
The Symphony
A symphony is a large-scale work for orchestra. It appeared in the Classical period. The first symphonies were usually in three movements, but later,
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