Free Essay

Controversy and Twentieth Century Music

In: Film and Music

Submitted By keltons
Words 585
Pages 3
Controversy and Twentieth Century Music

Controversy and Twentieth Century Music
The music has presented ever-changing throughout history. A variety of musicians has passed through each century leaving a lasting impression on the world. Each musician gave you a piece of him or her and how he or she saw the world of music and life through his or her eyes (Kamien, 2011). The write will elaborate on two well-known musicians of the 20th century, and then contrast and compare a 20th century musician song and a modern day song which both had aspects of controversial issues within each work.
Ravels lacked emotion within his music. His music had extended harmonies. In his time, Ravels music was seen as very controversy. It seems as if his music had no feeling. The music seemed just to play. There was no intimacy or remembrance by it. When Ravels wrote this piece, it was as if he separated himself from everything around him. Although his music was bland, Ravels stayed true to his form of music. His music put a person in the mind of elevator music that has vague melodies. One can forget that the music is playing in the background after a while.
Stravinsky music was unpredictable. It was as if he created a box around him and said, "This is what I am going to play, and you can either like or dislike, because I do not care and will play it." Stravinsky broke away from the romantic period and any other period. He created his own period. The Romantic period had a wide range of emotions of love, war, sadness, hurt, pain, sorrow, vengeances, scorn, betrayal, and a variety of other feelings and expressions. Stravinsky and Ravels music was totally different from all of the romantic period expressions and fell into the categories of his own.
Comparing Stravinsky's music "La Sacre du Printemps" to Beyonce Knowles song "Drunken Love" can get a little tricky. Stravinsky music was reported as controversial to the public for the weird tones and textures that erupted from his melodies. However, if a person takes the time to listen to Beyoncé Knowles song "Drunken Love", the very beginning of the song gives off a wicked chanting or uncomfortable vibe, which was considered controversial, as well. Meanwhile, the chanting continues to play underneath the music throughout the song. When the writer looks back at the time of each musical selection, she realizes that both songs where composed differently. Stravinsky's music "La Sacre du Printemps" is played and harmonized with real instruments, and Beyoncé Knowles song "Drunken Love" was played with computer technology enhancements. When Beyoncé Knowles song came out, technology enhancements presented the best way to compose a song in the current century of music (WTOP, 2007).
In conclusion, the writer wonders if the variety of technology enhancements where around during Stravinsky's music "La Sacre du Printemps", would he have used it in his music, and if so, what would his music sound like enhanced with the modern technology details of today. People will always experience listening to a new piece of music throughout the course of her live, and music will never disappear (WTOP, 2007). In addition, the writer also wonders if Stravinsky's would have the money that Beyoncé Knowles and a variety of other musicians and artist make.

References
Kamien, R. (2011). Music: An appreciation (10th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
WTOP. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.wtop.com/25/1022717/Will-Classical-Music-Disappear-in-DC

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Economic and Social Change in the Late 20th Century

...Chapter 30: Economic and Social Change in the Late 20th Century Economic, cultural, and social changes have affected America greatly in the late twentieth century. The population since 1980 has become increasingly older, urban, diverse, southern, and western. Declining birth rates and rising life expectancy combined to produce an aging population. Between 1970 and 1990 most American financial and industrial growth occurred in the South and West, the Sunbelt. The Sunbelt also proved attractive to large numbers of new immigrants from Latin America and Asia. Lyndon Johnson's 1965 Immigration Act laid the basis for an increased volume and diversity of immigrants. Modern legislation has attempted to limit immigration to political refugees, and also to curb illegal immigration, while raising the number of immigrants with specific skills. Continued flight of businesses and individuals to the suburbs brought transformation and crisis in the nation's urban areas, but the 1990s witnessed a revival and renewal in some major cities. Technological change has ushered in amazing economic transformations. The most noteworthy new technologies are those in biotechnology, high-performance computing, and communications systems. Innovations in credit, electronic banking, franchising, and globalization, especially through the widespread use of computers, have affected business. Employment in traditional manufacturing areas declined while unions saw their membership and political power...

Words: 1011 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

The Influence Of Jazz Music On Today's Society

...this day and age, many people listen to Jazz music for the mere purpose of enjoying the music. However, Jazz hasn’t always had this leisure role we know of in this modern time. Since its first appearance in New Orleans, Jazz has played several different roles in New York City’s society throughout the years. Since its debut in the late nineteenth century, the cultural aspect of Jazz music and its role in society has changed over time. Throughout history, several people have offered their definitions of “Jazz”, though not all of them have been exactly the same. For example, Joachim-Ernst Berendt characterizes Jazz as a "form of art music which originated in the United States through the confrontation of the Negro with European music" (Berendt)....

Words: 1603 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Tango Arentina Ibus330

...under tango music, but tango is originated from a lower class in society. In twentieth century, many immigrants came to Argentina from Europe, Africa, and flocked to Buenos Aires suburb, Argentina brothel. From there, a mixture of cultures creates a new kind of music and dance - it was the Tango. Although researchers’ musical history has pretty much controversy about the authenticity of its origin, it is acknowledged that tango was combined from several different countries. For instance, tone was knocked on drums by African slave; milonga was music of South America moors combined between Indian and Spanish, and also the other influences which include Latin. In Latin, tango is “tangere” which means two people are adjacent to each other. Therefore, people believe tango was from Latin. The massive migration of Europeans come to the Argentina affect to both tango music and dance. During 1980, the population of immigrants came to Buenos Aires was increased from 850,000 to 1.7 million (Gannon, 2013, 5th ed., pp. 568). Unskilled worker, women and children had to work in unhealthy environment. Lives of immigrants at that time were a difficult and completely different from elite and middle classes, but at that time they have grown up a dance presented a shadow of their lower class. Most of immigrants were poor men and their lives were miserable. They had to work hard to have enough money to bring their families to Argentina or went back to Europe. Therefore, they used music and dance to...

Words: 814 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Music History from Primary Sources an Introductory Essay

...Moldenhauer Archives at the Library of Congress | Table of Contents Music History from Primary Sources An Introductory Essay Alfred Mann A vellum leaf, 22 by 17 cm., from a prayer book. The letter forms of early Gothic script suggest the twelfth century, or a period even earlier. Neumes (marked in red) are placed above the first four lines of the Latin text. The entire page is richly illuminated in black, red, and blue, with a heavy gold layer decorating the initial A for the phrase beginning "Adoro te." The leaf was obtained for the Moldenhauer Archives from the music dealer and publishing firm Schneider, Tutzing. The Art of Musical Notation In its primary sources, music merges with the representational arts. Oral tradition has played a fundamental role in all ages, but in its formal sense, history--and the history of music--begins with the visual record. Musical notation, having emerged on a wide scale in all civilizations, produced in itself a highly individual record of artistic endeavor. The medieval monks who compiled the missals and other liturgical books for the service of worship rose from their function as scribes to artists in their own right; among the greatest documents of Baroque art are the holographs by Bach; and an entirely novel phase in artistic musical score design was initiated in the twentieth century. The primary sources of music reproduced in this volume rely on various aspects of the graphic arts, but foremost among them stands the representation...

Words: 19702 - Pages: 79

Free Essay

Philippine Folk Tale

...dance' (a ball-room being a large room specially designed for such dances). In times past, ballroom dancing was social dancing for the privileged, leaving folk dancing for the lower classes. These boundaries have since become blurred, and it should be noted even in times long gone, many ballroom dances were really elevated folk dances. The definition of ballroom dance also depends on the era: balls have featured popular dances of the day such as the Minuet, Quadrille, Polonaise, Polka, Mazurka, and others, which are now considered to behistorical dances. Early Modern Age The first authoritative knowledge of the earliest ballroom dances was recorded toward the end of the 16th century, when Jehan Tabourot, under the pen name "Thoinot-Arbeau", published in 1588 his Orchésographie, a study of late 16th-century French renaissance social dance. Among the dances...

Words: 1896 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

The Expansion of Asia

...gave no rights whatsoever. However, the tables seem to turn these past few years as the United States is collapsing little by little, and East Asia got more and more acknowledged as an international power The United States of America, which was always known as the principal source of power has known its downfall since the 9/11 bombings, which proved that the country wasn’t indestructible. Indeed, that event was a breach to the political force that was America, making it more vulnerable and breakable. Also, the country’s government has been involved by issues such as the Syrian issue, and much more which lowers its trust in the eyes of the citizens. Things don’t seem to get better even with the change of presidents in 2008. Another controversy about the United States is the economic crisis hitting the country. Walter Adams explained that “reports on the state of the American Economy are filled with anxiety and unease” (1). Job growth has been minimal with unemployment rate being at 6%. The difference between the social classes is enormous as the United States holds some of the poorest people and also richest people in the world. After the crisis, a lot of companies are operating at loss, not making any benefit at all. Newcomer companies struggle to find a...

Words: 968 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Geisha

...Geisha “Gei” means arts or performances, and “sha” means people of Japanese. When we think of geisha’s what comes to mind are women dressed in bright clothing culture clothing, white painted faces and a dainty walk. What we don’t consider is the lack of emotion, strict code of silence and secrecy. Geisha, just like prostitutes are trained to have a strict code of silence and protectiveness toward their clients. Elderly geisha could be considered Madams, who provided training to new recruits. Over the centuries, elderly geisha have also developed a deeply routed tradition of secrecy. Elderly women behind the mask have fulfilled a destiny rooted in Japanese history. Although associated with prostitution, many modern day women continue to seek this tradition. My research however, revealed contradictory information on whether or not geisha were actually prostitutes. The majority of my research material stated geisha actually started as men jesters and musicians who entertained in brothels. This continued until 1751 when the first document record of female geisha appeared. Most documented material on geisha treated them as images of lovely passive girls whose purpose was solely in male entertainment and pleasure or as prostitutes or courtesans. During the time period of 1751 it was not uncommon for actors to double as prostitutes. It was also not uncommon for Meiji government officials to select geisha for their wives. It is still said that geisha inhabit a separate...

Words: 3108 - Pages: 13

Free Essay

Alexander Mcqueen

...Introduction Alexander McQueen (1969 – 2010) is well known as the Britain’s baddest bad-boy designer. “Nicey-nicey just doesn’t do for me”, Lee said. (Wilson and Horyn, 2010) He has been countering controversy as headlines hailed him since 1992, the year when he first burst into the fashion world. Even though Alexander McQueen was often misunderstood, he was successful in establishing his own fashion label that is now internationally acclaimed and desirable without compromising his approach towards fashion. From the start of his career Lee made his viewers with the feeling of awe or wonder or fear or terror with raw presentation of depicting bleak of history and anarchic politics. ”I want people to be afraid of the women I dress”, Lee said. (Bowles, 2010) “Many designers who reference history display a form of historical seamlessness in which the past is perfectly and nostalgically recreated in the present. With McQueen, however, the reference is not as comfortable; the suture lines of his much-discussed “surgical” tailoring techniques are still visible as uneasy grafts of history onto contemporary garments” stated Dr Jonathan Faiers who is the reader in fashion theory at Winchester School of Art. (Faiers , 2011) Background Information Le alexander McQueen was born in 1969 and was the youngest of six children; his father was a taxi driver and his mother a social history teacher. He spent his formative years drawing and reading books in fashion as he knew he would be a...

Words: 1333 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Globalization and Poverty

...Globalization and Poverty Introduction Globalization is the process of international cooperation ranging from world views, products, ideas, and national unique cultures, driven by technological innovation in the process of industrialization. Contemporarily, as the technologies of information, transportations, and telecommunications developed, the distance among nations has been getting closer and closer, fading out the existence of countries boundaries. We can travel to the other side of the world overnight, can easily access to other countries culture such as food, songs, dramas, and news, and can contact to those who live in other country though email or telephone whenever we want to. We are able to know affairs happened in other countries immediately and see and talk to diverse countries people by video chatting on online like a neighbor. As consequence of this development, the speed of globalization is being accelerated more and more. Several decades ago, just a few persons would travel to other countries unlike these days, but now, the number of people, who abroad travel to, have dramatically increased. That is, that happening to go abroad is no more special event and it provides a condition that the relation of nations in the world are approaching together and by extension, combined the world as one village. In addition, as Mohr (2013) claimed, “Economic globalization gives governments of developing nations access to foreign lending. When these funds are used on infrastructure...

Words: 1880 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Female Body

...many different names and new meanings. Some may look at boobs as nothing more than just the anatomy of a female, while others love them, and some think that they are evil and a mark of death. In every era, from early and middle ages, through the renaissance, and then 19th and twentieth century, breasts have fascinated human beings. Breasts are more than a body part that we need for reproduction, they play a major role in the development of society and our social norms. The controversy of importance is argued by doctors as well as piers. Today most people affiliate breasts with vanity. People have always loved the beauty in breasts, but society has lost the value in them and why they are beautiful. What is so great to look at, when everyone’s got them, and if they don’t, they can buy some at your local doctor’s office. So why do people buy them? And is bigger the better? There really isn’t an answer to that question because they are both very broad topics and constantly changing. We can try and interpret these answers with social norms which vary in different cultures, or we can look at research and biology and try and answer the questions scientifically. Either approach will lead you to controversy because over time there purpose in life has changed significantly. And there are debates all over the world today about how and when should breasts be exposed. Boobs in the big picture are an attraction for men and feature for women. Sociology: Humans are obsessed with...

Words: 2668 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Opposing Casinos in Penang

...amount differs”. During a gambling session, cash is commonly wagered and won or lost or each of two directly through cash transactions, or discursively through tokens, credits and chips which have capital value. All other forms of entertainment joints are drawn in provisions of revenue through the gambling industry. Based on Mizerski’s (2012) gambling theory, industries correlated with gambling are now operational in most of the countries in Asia as well as in Western countries. The gambling industry’s activities are wide and international in scope. The author also stated that the biggest area of user entertainment revenue is represented by legal gambling world-wide and it even dwarfs other modes of entertainment such as the theme parks, music and movies. Ndubisi et al (2012) contend that gambling is a form of culture for most Asians particularly the Chinese. The authors have also stated that over the recent years, the gambling industry has grown rapidly and has become profitable business opportunities for a number of entrepreneurs in Asia alone. Gambling offers an alluring leisure choice for recreational gamblers and gambling also contributes essentially to the economy in Malaysia (Chew...

Words: 2240 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Postmodernism in Steinbeck's Novel

...production. During the war, as Germany acquired new territories (either by direct annexation or by installing puppet governments in defeated countries), these new territories were forced to sell raw materials and agricultural products to German buyers at extremely low prices. Fiction as Reconstruction of History: Narratives of the Civil War in American Literature by Reinhard Isensee Even after more than 140 years the American Civil War continues to serve as a major source of inspiration for a plethora of literature in various genres. While only amounting to a brief period in American history in terms of years, this war has proved to be one of the central moments for defining the American nation since the second half of the nineteenth century. The facets of the Civil War, its protagonists, places, events, and political, social and cultural underpinnings seem to hold an ongoing fascination for both academic studies and fictional representations. Thus, it has been considered by many the most written-about war in the United States. The War That Never Goes Away: The Significance of the Civil War for the Cultural Imagination in the United States Despite the overwhelming body of academic work on the Civil War produced in the United States (and beyond) most of the American public (as well as the international audience) has been exposed to it through cultural texts such as novels, poems, songs, motion pictures, TV series, and documentaries. Hence the Civil War has been regarded...

Words: 3495 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Mexican American Historiography

...Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States Review: The Third Generation: Reflections on Recent Chicano Historiography Author(s): David G. Gutiérrez Source: Mexican Studies / Estudios Mexicanos, Vol. 5, No. 2 (Summer, 1989), pp. 281-296 Published by: University of California Press on behalf of the University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States and the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1052091 . Accessed: 01/05/2011 16:00 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at . http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=ucal. . Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive....

Words: 6812 - Pages: 28

Free Essay

Bring Back the Sun

...“Bring Back the Sun”: The Historical Significance of the Castrati Chuck Harris Music 425 Dr. HM Lewis December 15, 2009 The Castrato has long been a subject shrouded in controversy and mystery. Castration has been used in many cultures and religions since the dawn of time (Eunuchs). We don’t know exactly when castration started to be used specifically for the voice but we have records dating back to the 16th century. These documents hint towards it being done because of Christianity. This paper will look at one Castrato in particular, Carlo Broschi more commonly known as, Farinelli. I will use the film Farinelli and other historical and educational articles and books to help discuss this paper. One of the final scenes of Farinelli, Il Castrato, dir. Gerard Corbiau (Sony Pictures Classics, 1994), shows a solar eclipse witnessed, eighteenth-century style, by members of the court of Philip V of Spain around 1740. Restless spectators squint through pieces of tinted glass prepared in the smoke of a small fire. It is a precious visual detail, a jolt of history in this sumptuously though often inaccurately detailed film that offsets the melodrama to follow. Without warning, a wind, helped along by corny, time-lapse photography, ushers in a sea of Goya-like clouds. A murmur passes through the entourage; eerie blackness falls on the court. The King is shrouded in another kind of darkness: his famous, chronic melancholy (we would call it 'clinical depression'). He pronounces...

Words: 8560 - Pages: 35

Premium Essay

Fast and Free

...The Harlem Renaissance From 1920 until about 1930 an unprecedented outburst of activity among African-Americans occurred in all field of art. Beginning as a series of literary discussions in the lower Manhattan (Greenwich Village) and upper Manhattan (Harlem) sections of New York City, this African-American cultural movement became known as “The New Negro Movement’’ and later as the Harlem Renaissance. More than a literary movement and more than a social revolt against racism, the Harlem Renaissance exalted the unique culture of African- Americans and redefined African-Americans were encouraged to celebrate their heritage and to become “The New Negro,” a term coined in 1925 by sociologist and critic Alain LeRoy Locke. One of the factors contributing to the rise of the Harlem Renaissance was the great migration of African-Americans to northern cities (such as New York City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.) between 1919 and 1926. In his influential book The New Negro (1925), Locke described the northward migration of blacks as "something like a spiritual emancipation." One of the factors contributing to the rise of the Harlem Renaissance was the great migration of African-Americans to northern cities (such as New York City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.) between 1919 and 1926. In his influential book The New Negro (1925), Locke described the northward migration of blacks as "something like a spiritual emancipation." In the 1920's African-Americans seemed to have passed...

Words: 2049 - Pages: 9