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Essays on Johann Sebastian Bach
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Johann Sebastian Bach – Italian Concerto, BWV 971
In 1735, Bach composed and published his Italian Concerto as part of his Clavier-Ubung II. Although originally written for dual-manual harpsichord, this work is also widely performed by pianists.
The Italian Concerto is reminiscent of concerti composed by Bach’s Italian contemporaries, in particular Antonio Vivaldi, many of whose violin concerti have been transcribed by him for harpsichord and organ.
Bach differentiates the hypothetical soloist and orchestra in this concerto using antiphony and contrasting dynamics (i.e. assigning forte to the soloist and piano to the accompaniment and vice versa).
Both the vivid first movement and the perpetual-motioned third movement are in F major and in ritornello (theme and episode) form. The solemn second movement,
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Franz Schubert – Impromptu in E-flat major, Op. 90 No. 2
Among Schubert’s most popular works for piano are his two sets of Impromptus: Op. 90 and Op. posth. 142, both composed in 1827, a year before his death. An impromptu is a free-form composition as if improvisational– a significant feature of the Classicism-to-Romanticism transition in Schubert’s time.
Op. 90 No. 2 begins with a lyrical E-flat major A section which dives into a murky, melodic E-flat minor subsection, before restating the initial E-flat major theme and ending in the key of E-flat minor. Following this is the B section in B minor, whose turbulence is characterised by the sudden dynamic changes and “rocky” rhythm. Listeners are then bridged back to the A section by an elongated version of a previously heard oscillating figure. The piece concludes with a fiery coda – a variant of the B section, beginning in B minor and ending strongly in E-flat
A sinfonia (Italian for symphony) broadly refers to a number of instrumental works from the Baroque period, including symphonies, sonatas, canzonas, concerti, and Italian opera overtures. Even J.S. Bach titles his “three-part” inventions for harpsichord “Sinfonia”. Torelli’s Sinfonia in D (G.8) is a four-movement “concerto” for trumpet, strings and harpsichord continuo. Unlike a concerto grosso, where a main theme is presented and then reappears in fragments, the main themes of Sinfonia in D are developed rather freely. The second movement (Adagio) is a very short, slow, interlude without trumpet that introduces the third movement (Allegro). Hence, the program shows these two movements as “adagio-allegro” joined together.
...ers and the audience. The dramatic nature of this piece alone is something to be reckoned with as it is extremely passionate. The symphony is presented in 4 movements as is common and begins with a Poco Sostenuto- Vivace, followed by a Allegretto movement, Presto movement, and finally ends on an Allegro con brio movement. the central theme of this piece is introduced in the first movement by a flute playing in tripple meter continuously ascending up the scales rising in dynamic contrast, continuing to grow into a louder and more stark contrast between it’s highs and lows. Consistently dance like, the piece is celebratory of its roots buried in historical Austrian music that has been present in the culture for years. The accomplishments of the soldiers for which the piece was composed for are easily told of simply by the energy and power present throughout the piece.
Volondat, Pierre-Alain, perf. Variations OP 20. By Clara Schumann. Rec. 15 May 2010. Saphir Productions, 2008. Florida College's Classical Music Library. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
This section represents a tranquil interval. It is a summer evening in the country and he hears two shepherds piping. The tranquil moment of the quiet summer evening alone with the pastoral duet fills his heart with an unfamiliar calm. Suddenly she appears and her appearance causes an emotional response of sorrowful loneliness. The 4th movement: March to the Scaffold.
The music begins by introducing all the fundamental/primary material which the entire movement is based on. In bar 7 the violins play the first theme (in D Major) which includes the two-note descending motive and lasts until bar 25. In the last beat of bar 25 the "famous Mahlerian" major-minor duality becomes evident. The contrasting minor key theme is introduced.
The same line is repeated ecstatically by the quartet, which soars upward to it’s peak. The orchestra and chorus re-enter at a rapid tempo to bring the movement to its conclusion.
Music is essential to any culture. Its a vital part of being human and can significantly impact our lives. No matter where one is from, music is an escape that everyone seeks because they can relate to it. This social link keeps us tied to the world, even with different cultures and languages. Afro-Latinos have helped shape the music in America, many times with help from other cultures. Many types of music Hispanics have produced have impacted the United States. One of these types of music is named Bachata. Hispanics in the US have helped shape bachata, even though it originated in the Dominican Republic. With its profound lyrics many can relate to, its catchy rhythm and simple dance, bachata is as popular in the US as it is in Central America. In the 1980s and 1990s, the growing Dominican population in the United States became an important fan base for bachata. Dominican Yorks influence of traditional bachata with the artistic and cultural diversity of life in New York, making bachata one of the fastest growing music genres of the 21st century (Pacini Hernandez.)
In Beethoven’s early quartets, he takes great inspiration from both Mozart and his tutor, Joseph Haydn. Before Beethoven wrote his first quartet he had already written several different compositions for he wanted to really establish his own style of writing first. Op. 18, No. 1 in F, was first written in 1799 but still remains close to the Haydnesque and Mozartian quartet writing style, but the young Beethoven begins to place in his own ideas. This can be seen in the very first movement (see example 1).
3. BWV in D major. Johann Sebastian Bach wrote four Orchestral Suites. This piece is the second of the five movements that compose his Orchestral suite No. 3. The date it was composed remains unsure, as there is strong evidence that the writing of the piece was done during his years at Köthen, even though the piece is said to have been composed and premiered some years later in Leipzig sometime between 1727 and 1730 by his son Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, one of his students and himself. Johann Sebastian wrote out the main violin and continuo parts, C.P.E. Bach did the same with the trumpet, oboe, and timpani parts, and Johann Ludwig Krebs, his student, finished with the second viola and violin parts. Regardless the authors of the piece, Johann Sebastian Bach ended up getting all the credit for the piece. Air stands out as one of his most famous and successful pieces of the Baroque period, as well as of his life. The beginning of the piece is one of the most recognizable melodies of the Baroque
This sonata is highly unconventional. It begins with a set of themes and variations; not one of the movements is written in a sonata-allegro form. It interchanges the middle movements; a scherzo precedes the slow movement, which happens to be a funeral march. Chopin’s two great sonatas.... ... middle of paper ...
...re was very interesting transitions between the variation, for example, string section plays the variation from low to high, when they reach the highest note, the brass family takes over and continue with the scale and make it more higher. Tremolo style was used in this piece, which is a quick ups and downs stroke mode. The music were very soothing and attracted the audience. Lastly, they end the piece with the same variations that was played at the beginning.
...chestral introduction with an imperfect cadence. A strong rhythmic ¾ allegro passage, with sequences and descending scales is played by the orchestra, with timpani and cymbals. The music modulates, and a short, quiet woodwind passage is then alternated with an orchestral passage with dotted rhythms, creating a `terraced dynamics' effect. Part B begins with a major clarinet melody accompanied by pizzicato strings. A minor flute sequence follows, and is followed by a repetition of the oboe melody. A string sequence is then played, imitated by the oboe. There is a crescendo, then the rhythmic orchestral melody returns, alternated with a short flute passage. There are suspensions, descending scales and a crescendo, followed by a strong rhythmic passage with the timpani playing on the beat. Imperfect cadences are played, before the piece finishes with a perfect cadence.
The Violin Concerto in C, Hob VIIa:1 by Haydn was composed in between 1761 to 1765. This concerto is scored for strings, harpsichord and continuo and to be composed for a well-known violinist at the time Luigi Tomasini, the concertmaster. It begins energetically and regally, as one would expect from its C major tonality, the solo part has wide melodic leaps, long strings of harmonic sequences, and frequent arpeggiation. The opening and closing sections are built on a simple rising idea in the violin part, supported by a repetitive accompaniment which giving crescendos to a climax along with the soloist.
For this year’s benchmark project, I decided I would perform a piece and challenge myself. I ended up choosing Reverie, Op. 24, by Alexander Glazunov, a highly melodic and romantic piece written in 1890. Glazunov was a well known and accomplished horn player, and tended to write small solos like this often, favoring the emotional, expressive pieces. Reverie was a beautiful example of this. Written in the romantic style, going back and forth between major and minor, the piece is a wonderfully intricate solo to play.
However, inthe B section, it appears as if the winds have picked up, and are more reminiscent of a tornado. Schubert further mirrors the text with the accompaniment and matches the wind-like triplets with harsh text that refers to cold winds, and the hat that flies away from one’s head. The A’ section begins much like the original A section, and closes the piece by returning that sense of tranquility, bringing back the idea of finding rest and