...Music…. Life Within “Music is life”, what does the quoted line state? You may have heard this phrase from mostly many of the youth in your society especially now that the rate of change and ‘rebelliousness’ is exceeding so prominently. But, just because they say this, does it really mean that music really means the life to them? Do they really understand what the idea behind this phrase is? As Jason M. Kemper says, ‘music is a reflection of the deepest emotions of its composers.’ Therefore, in order to understand any type of music it is essential not only to examine its musical content but also its historical context. Where does ‘music’ fit in a society? And, how the society treats music and everything connected to it? A question to be asked don’t you think, but then again does it have a definite answer? One may argue that this article has so many questions well isn’t life, or the place of music in a society a question itself? As we know, music is generally accepted in all the societies, not exactly. Music has countless genres out of which only a few are accepted by our society. The media says that rap should be blamed for the gang violence, drugs, devaluing women and male control; rock and metal is blamed for satanic rituals, suicides as an “alternative” or “solution,” sadism, and masochism. Do you think this is true? I believe not. You see, music can become a culture and a culture that has, is and will only develop or rather change but never end. Gustave E. Von Grunebaum...
Words: 1003 - Pages: 5
...Movements in Music 6Famous Composers of the Post-Romantic Period IMPRESSIONISM * 1890-1940 * The Impressionist music style was found during the ninetieth century to the beginning of the twentieth century in France * The Impressionist style was a reaction to the romanticism style * It wants to make an impression, not clearly describe the tone of the music Characteristics * It uses whole tone scales as opposed to major and minor scales as the romantic style used in the past * It involves a lot of dissonance- chords weren’t used to relieve tension as they had in the past * It includes short melodies that have different moods throughout each piece Claude Debussy * August 22, 1862 – March 25, 1918 * French composer * Music was not centered around one tone or pitch, he used symbolism * Used many parallel chords and unprepared modulations * Music was usually about events that occurred in his life * Clair de Lune was one of his most famous works * Considered the Father of Impressionist movement in music * Formulated the 12-tone scale and changed how instruments were used for orchestration * Entered the Paris Conservatory at the age of 10, he won the 1884 Prix de Roma at the age of 12 * He sought a style of composition that was free from conventional musical forms and often used descriptive title. * His music was usually about events that occurred in his life * Musical works * Image * Jeux * Madame Bovary Maurice Ravel...
Words: 990 - Pages: 4
...The chills you get when listening to music are caused by the release of dopamine in your body. Scientists recruited people who reliably get shivers when listening to an affective score. The chills are a consistent, in the moment measure of pleasure than asking how test subjects felt. Scientists used brain-imaging techniques that revealed that the music caused dopamine peaks coupled with emotional arousal. The release of dopamine during music explains why such a high value is put on it and why music can manipulate our emotions. The effect that music has on us is quite comparable to other pleasures. Some examples are the joy of eating food, sex, and other tangible rewards. Music can quite literally move us or the chemicals in our brains. The fact that music can really give us a rush like sex does is incredible. Well, the sensation is released from the same part of the brain at least. Your heartbeat changes with the music you listen to! Music can be so powerful it can affect your mood, brainwaves, and even your heartbeat! It turns out that when we listen to music our body reacts to the sounds we hear. If a person listens to rock or techno, their heartbeat will involuntarily speed up. The opposite is true if someone listens to more calming or instrumental music. Music is so influential it can alter your heartbeat, pulse rate, blood pressure, decrease your muscle tension, and even affect your body movement and coordination! Many young children are encouraged to play...
Words: 394 - Pages: 2
...Silva Music is incredibly important to this story. In fact, the story has been called "the best verbal description of transcendent musical experience" by a noted musician and ethnomusicologist. In what ways does music figure in the story? Why is it important that Sonny wants to be a musician? How good a musician is he? Discuss the importance of the fact that both Sonny and his dead uncle are/were musicians. Finally, look very closely at the last two pages of the story and discuss what happens when the narrator really listens to his brother play. What understanding does the narrator come to--and how is that understanding related to the story as a whole? Title In the field of psychology there has been an idea that claims that music has a healing power on individuals. In correlation with this belief there is also proof at the biologically level t that music can reduce heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels, as well to provided emotional healing (Friedman 1). In the story “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin, is a story shows the importance music plays in the life of people (Bausch 37). “Sonny's Blues” is a story about a young Jazz musician in the city of Harlem, NY. The story shows a character named Sonny and the healing power music has on him as it helps him deal with his suffering such as: drug addiction, growing up in poverty, and limited opportunities in life. Music was Sonny’s source of healing. In this paper we will examine the reasons why music meant so much...
Words: 324 - Pages: 2
...a piece of music is made”. Alan Copland stated this in his book, What to Listen for in Music, and I couldn’t agree more. So to better understand his teachings, I listened to two different musical pieces and shared my thought of how they were art rather than entertainment. “It must be nice” by Lyfe Jennings is the first song I listened to and the instrumental really caught eye. “Why a good melody should have the power to move us has thus far defied all analysis”. Before distinguishing the musical elements of the piece, I let the music move my emotions around. The beginning tempo was slow starting which made me relax but the song gets close to the ending it becomes faster and more powerful. The element that I thought had a hidden meaning was the beat, unified clapping of the hands. The song is about having a person to trust and love and the clapping of the hands at the same pace signifies togetherness in a relationship. Besides the words stating the meaning of these songs, the rhythm and melody behind it exposed it as well. The next type of music I listened to is abstract and feels like a bunch of different random people came together and started playing. This type is called Gamelan referring to many different kinds of Indonesian musical groups. The melody is basic and fixed with a repeating beat of instruments. “The reader probably realizes by now that, along with composers, he must broaden his ideas as to what a melody may be”. I opened my mind to Gamelan music and learned...
Words: 338 - Pages: 2
...Noche Cultural - ucr In this ethnographic research project, I will explain my recent visit to a Hispanic concert located at The University of Riverside located in their Theater. In this paper I will discuss the type of music that was played, the performers, and instruments that the performers used to play in this concert. In addition I will also incorporate and give a brief history of these performers and the influences these musicians had. By concentrating on these aspects I will be able to understand the Music’s culture and also have the opportunity to listen to something new. I will also analyze the audience and the venue where this concert was held at. So I’m able to understand more of the audience and the community they live in. On a Friday 13 around 7:00 p.m. my friend Christy and I decided to attend to the concert called, “21st Annual Noche cultural”. We initially picked this concert because we read an online advertisement and it was in Spanish so we thought it would be a good idea to attend to this concert since it was the type of music we were both able to understand. When we arrived at the concert I honestly thought it was going to be empty and no one was going to attend but surprisingly a lot of people were present .There was even a stand by line because all the tickets were already sold out. Since this was more of Hispanic, Latino concert the majority of the audience who attended to this concert was Hispanic. Also because this concert is located at Riverside...
Words: 1637 - Pages: 7
...What is music exactly? A way of sound to express feelings,emotions,ideas,thoughts and etc. We have different types of music.Between those types,we ought to like different ones.Even if it's classical,pop,rock,blues,jazz or rap and more.Some use music to soothe themselves,to relax,for fun,or to entertain.We sing,we dance or we play an instrument with it. As a musician I can say that it is my life,I let myself to enjoy what i sing especially,what I play.Some instruments are difficult to play or learn. You have to a lot a time master or give big time for it.People try to achieve but some give up because they don't want to sacrifice their time. But have you experienced studying real hard then got a perfect or if not a very high score?It is the same as trying hard to practice an instrument or your own voice,the feeling that you achieved a lot so far,the feeling that makes your heart flutter especially if you hate music and then start to like it and the people who was born to have an interest in music from the start. When you see or hear someone who had a higher level than you,you envy him or her but instead he or she should become an inspiration or target his or her level.If you become a great musician you have to aim another goal.Leaving a legacy.Without one all your efforts are'nt worth it.A student that is.To pass your knowledge and learnings in your trusted disciple. Music is life.It shares the emotion of the listener...
Words: 295 - Pages: 2
... Music is my friend, my doctor and love of my life. There are countless amount of people with headphones listening to music and simultaneously blocking out the outside world around them. Today stress is taking a huge toll on a person’s everyday life. We need some kind of escape and here is the music. It helps me to relax, to enjoy the life and make every moment better. I think that music has some biological connection with our body when we listening it. It has a great power. “Whithout music life would be a mistake.”- sad Friedrich Nietzsche. I tottaly agree. I can’t even imagine how the world would look like if there was no music. You can see many genres and artists in my playlist. Some of them gives me the strength, some gives me hope, some of them makes me to accept life as it is. Music is important part of life. It is a form of expression. It has no boundaries and it follows no guidelines. Essentially, to me, music is like air. It has no true shape or definiton, yet we need it to live. Imagine a world without music. All you’re left with is dust. Music is life istelf. As I mentioned, Music is one of the few things, that can help you escape your reality. No mater how bad things are, music has the potential to make you forget all about it. Music can spark any emotion. It can hold memories. It can tell stories. It will always be there. It will never vanish. You can’t touch music, but music can touch you. There are various type of music in the world. For instance...
Words: 578 - Pages: 3
...Music ever since the first note was played has always been beloved in some way by mankind; though different tastes come into play music still has that power that allows any individual to just get away from the stresses of the world. Music allows you to express yourself when you hide the rest of who you are to try to fit in or impress society. But most importantly music can help with certain types of depression because of how it affects each individual. Music helps with our society bond which in my opinion is one of the only few things I see our society bond on. Ever since I was a kid I always loved music or playing it, it was weird, I was able to pickup basically any instrument and play it like a natural, but that’s not why I kept playing music, I did it for the feeling of release it gave me. The release of stress from school, chores, homework, whatever stressed me out I put into my music and I started getting really good at playing music. See it’s not so much playing the music or listening to it which relieves the stress, it’s actually letting yourself hear the emotion in the song or the notes you play and allow yourself to just let go and allow that euphoria to take over to where it’s just you listening or playing and no one else in this world can interrupt you. Express yourself, a small quote I guess you could say everyone is afraid to do. Yet those who do are frowned upon in today’s society; everyone is afraid to show their true colors because they’re afraid of how other...
Words: 616 - Pages: 3
...Course: Tutor: Date: Music of Tin Pan Alley Popularity of Tin Pan Alley music The popularity of the music of these artists (Tin Pan Alley) can be said to have maintained popularity for such a long time due to its structure building, the laying of lyrics is awesome and the form makes the music flow well. The performance is totally in its own compared to the latest versions of music. There is creative which follows along and make it enjoyable. The dance rhythm of the music “kills” other versions since the natural balance of the accents remains to be superior all over. These writers began from amateur stage and their writing was perfect, coon songs which were rough and risqué made the unusual popularity to the music. Performances of Tin Pan Alley music I do like the way in which the performance was done by the Tin Pan Alley artists. This is because of their assimilation of the rhythm which remained to be ragtime. Once listening to the flow of the music, you will notice repeat choruses which maintain the theme in the song. You will find happiness once listening and watching the performance and you cannot avoid having different mood on the music. Even the latest version of the music is very cool. Response According to the discussion which was held on Friday January 24th 2014 at 5:43 pm, the students were seen to have made a very good approach in analyzing the music of Tin Pan Alley. This is because it’s evident that they really know the music genre and might have made...
Words: 300 - Pages: 2
...Alan Miller Instruction Alex Powell Music Appreciation 29 April 2012 Duke Ellington (1899-1974) Edwin Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington D.C. He was a son of a butler who had occasionally worked at the White House. He was a major figure in our history of jazz music, his career spanned more than half a century. He started playing the piano in the jazz band, during that time he composed thousands of songs for the stage, screen and contemporary songbooks. He created the most distinctive sounds in Western music and he continued playing what is called today as American Music until shortly before his death. When he turned 7 years old he was called "Duke" because of his gentlemanly ways. He held fast to his own standards of innovation and stylishness. He wrote his first composition," Soda Fountain Rag," at the age of 15. He was considered among the world's greatest composers and musicians. The French goverment gave him their highest award, the Legion of Honor, while the government of the United States bestowed upon him with the highest civil honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He had played over 20,000 performances worldwide over the span of his 50-year career. He took his first piano lesson around age seven or eight and he didn't retain the lessons that long. He was more favored to play baseball as a youngster . Duke went on a vacation in Asbury Park and he heard a pianist named Harvey Brooks playing. Duke sought Harvey out in Philadelphia...
Words: 970 - Pages: 4
...Shuang Cen Nichole Poss Music 226 01-28-2012 Backyard Ethnomusicology If we observe meticulously what are happening in such small towns like Ashland, then lots of things are spring-like spewing out, of which, the creativity always goes along with cultural diversity. And it makes this small town forgotten by God more and more dynamistic and attractive. Among these new things happened in Ashland, different kinds of cultural music show an important position since there are more and more foreigners studying and working here, whose cultures are totally different from the traditional cultural in local. Without a doubt, music is one of significant aspect in their cultural life, which may includes holiday celebrations, religious beliefs and gathering activities, etc. The first experience is from my own country, China. As our student planer noticed, January22 is Chinese New Year; we call it the Spring Festival generally, since this is the beginning of spring. In recent twenty to thirty years, most Chinese families always get together for a family reunion dinner, and then watch the Spring Festival Gala held by China Central Television. In this year’s gala we watched last Saturday morning which was broadcast live, there was a very creative show performed by two young musicians, Leehom Wong and Yundi Li. The instruments they used were two pianos; they played a very famous Chinese folk music, Widely Dancing by Golden Snake. This piece of music usually was performed y Chinese traditional...
Words: 1067 - Pages: 5
...yourself because literacy and music are related, and you decide what music means to you and what kind of music you will listen to. Regardless, whether it is listening or creating music, it inspires people to express and reflect on their emotions. The person I interviewed is a college freshman and creates electronic beats on Soundcloud during his free time. He describes himself as an introvert and a loner (Interviewee 2018). During our interview, we discussed how literacy defined as the ability to learn and understand was related to his creation of music and how it relates to his daily life. Every genre of music ignites a different emotion from the listener. Music is liberating, it is a place where you can find solace in times of need. This is certainly true for...
Words: 846 - Pages: 4
...animals respond to music that's who they say. Music is for every occasion- from partying to Rock 'n' Rolla disco, from everyday life to a wedding anniversary and even to a somber funeral, everything has music embedded in it. Its magic alright- though we never reap every beat has our vocal cords vibrating, it causes adrenal to pump throughout the body and every muscle aching jump on the dance floor. So what is music? Well in a sense every sound produced from clapping two hands to slapping a person is music; The more recognized pundits define it as an arrangement of sounds in a pleasing sequence or combination to be sung; or played on instruments. Well who cares about music in a prolonged sense- music are something universal, something unique, and something which is soothing to our heart, our senses, which makes our nerves calm down- the effect is simply astonishing. Its like a web you have been caught in, a web of music, a web in which where ever you go you find music, music to touch your heart, to take you, in a sense, under its control. And why not- music tames the wildest beasts- even the critics have no answer to that Music is of many types- rock, jazz, classical raga, pop, flat, country, chamber, folk- yes folk is there too. Every community has some sort of traditional music to suit their rhythm. Then there is classical music that portrays the life's culture and tradition, rock music that tends to shake you up, and several other types of music that are all a pure...
Words: 724 - Pages: 3
...Assignment (25 points) Objective: To better understand how music reflects personal and social identities of an individual or group. Requirements: Write a 700–1000 word essay (roughly three pages) discussing a particular song or composition that you feel best expresses your personal and social identity. Include a tape or CD (label it with your name) of the example along with your essay. DUE DATE: To be announced _______________________________________________________________________ Music is a manifestation of the personal and social identities of an individual or group. The function of the music, the structure of it, the context in which it is performed, etc., all reflect the cultural environment that surrounds a musical performance and indicate significant values of the people who create it. Recognizing and understanding how music reflects the identity of a community is an important means of “getting to know” other people and how music expresses “who they are.” I want to “get to know you” and discover what music says about “who you are.” As music majors, I assume that you consider music an important element of your life. Undoubtedly, most of you listen to many kinds of music, i.e., classical, rock, rap, gamelan(?). Your task is to choose ONE example of music that you feel best expresses the many facets of YOU, i.e., your identity. This will prove more difficult than you think if you put some thought into it. Don't tell me what music means to you, explain how the example you have chosen...
Words: 516 - Pages: 3
