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,

Read More

Romanticism in Spain: Music and Theater (1830s)

Romanticism in Spain in the 1830s

Unstable Political Situation: With Maria Cristina (1833-44), exiles returned to Spain, bringing with them the Romanticism with which they had been formed in Italy and France. The musical setting was decadent, and so a strong Romanticism was born from this:

  • Absence of formal musical studies and structures (the study of music at the University was abandoned). (In 1830, the Conservatory of Music and Declamation, M. Cristina, Madrid, opened.)
  • No glorification of the composer
Read More

Classicism: Orchestras, Symphonies, and Sonata Forms

Classicism

The Classical Orchestra and the Symphony

The period between 1750 and 1800 witnessed the consolidation of the symphony orchestra. The foundation of the classical symphony orchestra was the string section, comprising first and second violins, violas, cellos, and contrabasses.

Initially, horns had limitations, leading to the development of the bassoon to produce more notes. The bassoon was regularly used during the Classical era and later gained autonomy. The clarinet also saw significant development.

Read More

A Concise Look at Historical Music Movements

Historical Music Movements

Musique Concrète

Musique Concrète uses sounds and noises recorded on tapes for further manipulation. Its inventor was Schaeffer, who considered this music to be based on sounds produced in the world by any object.

Electronic Music

Electronic music uses sounds produced by a synthesizer or other electronic devices. Composers include Berio and Stockhausen.

Serialism

Serialism applies the series of twelve tones typical of twelve-tone technique to all elements of the music, such

Read More

Literary Periods and Forms: From Mythology to Baroque

Comparative Analysis of Literary Elements

Comparative analysis: title, structure, genre, period, style, characters, conflicts, themes, references, symbols, resources, style, location, space, and time.

Nyx: Goddess of the Night

Nyx: In Greek mythology, Nyx was the primordial goddess of the night, also called Nicte. In Roman texts, the Greek name translates as Nox.

Greek Mythology

Greek mythology is the set of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks who sought to understand their gods and heroes,

Read More

Understanding the Human Voice: Types and Techniques

The Human Voice

The voice is the sound that occurs when air returning from the lungs passes through the larynx. Following the brain’s instructions, this air causes the vocal cords to vibrate.

The Vocal Cords

These are two folds of muscle within the larynx that define the glottis. They contract and vibrate when air passes from the lungs, producing sound.

Natural Voice

A natural voice is untrained and does not use vibrato.

Impostata Voice

An impostata voice is crafted to achieve a homogeneous, full, and

Read More