This assignment is divided into three parts; Part A, Part B, and Part C: It is not a difficult assignment but requires that the student follow instructions carefully. Students will be required to answer questions pertaining to all three parts. Please copy and paste the provided links to your favorite browser.
Always number your answer to correspond with Part A, B or C and number your answers accordingly.
Most importantly, include either the name of the composer, that wrote the music or the name of the piece. PS: composers write the music but conductors rehearse and conduct live performances.
When addressing the “Answer this” questions, number the answers correctly.
PART A.
1. (20 pt.) Did you know? Watch these two videos then comment on your relationship to classical music that you may not have known. Read some of the comments posted below the videos from people who seem to feel the need to express an opinion. Some are actually quite intelligent, others are just venting.
John Williams borrows from the “dead guys” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtRU8cMp0Nk
Film Music that copied classical music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN3vl-JnUF8
Answer this: What did you learn from Part A #1?
PART B: READ ON to the end of part B: Just What Is “Classical Music”? Some claim that it is “serious music”, some that it’s “art music”, some that it is “high-brow” other’s claim that it’s only instrumental and others claim that it’s based on phrase form, Western European harmony and structure. Some people think it is “rich people’s music”.
Some of my students, before they began to dive into the studies, claimed that classical music was written by “old white guys”, and only other “old white guys” listen to it. Opinion based on Ignorance is dangerous and can often be harmful to others!
Points of information:
Composers and social class: Most composers, including me, your teacher, I have composed over 600 works, came from poverty or very low class and never made a living from their compositions. That is also true today. The majority of composers were writing very fine works for solos instruments, ensembles and even orchestras as early as age 6, 7, or 8. Mozart began at age 4. I started writing music at age 8 shortly after beginning accordion lessons in the USA . Prior to that, my early childhood was spent in a socialist/communist prison camp locked away with my mother and sisters simply because we were Christians. During those years, survival was the only thing that mattered.
How did or do composers survive? To make ends meet composers performed for royalty or for church services, in bars or theatre houses and often taught privately, or at school. Some, conducted choirs and orchestras, repaired instruments or had an entirely different money making career. Mozart was so poor at the end that his body was tossed into a pauper’s grave with other pauper bodies. No one knows where he was buried.
Roots of classical music: Classical music roots are found in folk music, which was a form of “pop” music, folk dances and sacred music dating back at least to 800 AD. The only claim that may have some merit as to “classical music” might be the form and harmony, but not until the 17th century. Even pop music, rock and jazz, fall within the same structure as classical music.
Everything youtube link below, and much more, falls under the title of “Classical Music”. You may be required to copy and paste the links to your favorite browser.
Often, peoples’ perception of classical music is extremely narrow, stereotypical and limited. Please understand that there are hundreds of works and many different styles of classical music that I did not included in the posted examples.
Our textbook is typical of most books written for college courses. They tend to demonstrate bias based on that which has been taught at the college level for over 120 years. Far too many books are written by those with a narrow scope and wide agenda or narrative shaping and influencing the mind of the college student. I can’t change that, but can introduce students to some other classical music works that textbooks avoid and ignore.
Overlooked composers: To me, the overlooked composers are women composers, Eastern European composers, composers of color, of certain religious groups, nationalities, ethnic groups, even American composers that are not commonly included in textbooks.
1. (25 pt.)Answer this for Pat B: Write a minimum 150 word review of information and conclusion that you learned from “Read On” Section Part B.
PART C: Assignment: Continue to follow along with the video’s provided to get a somewhat better understanding and a very tiny glimpse 1,200 years in classical music. Some selections come with a timestamp (elapsed time) at the bottom of the video screen. If timestamps are provided be sure to use them carefully. If timestamps are not provided, listen to at least the first 40 seconds of a music piece. If other instructions are given, follow them.
Keep notes on the music links below where no specific question was asked to be answered. Write down what you found most fascinating about the music as this will be required when writing a review and conclusion.
Music is all about listening. Anyone can read the history; it doesn’t do much good until the brain enters into the listening arena of music.
Please open each link by copy and pasting to a browser.
(10 pt.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLX7V_eDT5U A wonderful fusion including a classical 19th century violin style. Fusion is common and has been utilized extensively from the 18th century Europe and 20th century American composer, jazz musician and top song writer of the 1930 era, George Gershwin. In other words, fusion of styles is nothing new.
Answer this: What is your assessment of the violin piece and were you aware of fusing styles almost 100 years ago?
(15 pt.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj-tBVq61as In Tabura: You must begin at Timestamp 35:37 to 38:50 This short section is from the larger work titled, Carmina Burana. The music was composed by 20th century composer, Carl Orff: Begin listening at Time Stamp (elapsed time), 35:37 to 38:50 found at the bottom of the video. The translation in English is subdivided into two areas specific to time stamps.
Answer this: Please reference the provided time stamp section In Tabura and briefly describe your reaction to this as being “classical music”.
(10 pt.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NACeUqS2D4 One of the earliest classical pieces: Beatriz de Dia circa 1140 a classical music trobairitz, female composer from One thousand years ago. English subtitle.
Answer this: Why did or didn’t the piece by Beatriz de Dia surprise you as being a very early classical music work?
Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly early to mid-20th century: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl7hlGw6gIc . Listen to at least the first 20 seconds.
Florence Price, early 20th century African American female composer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht4H_eKjb0w . Listen to at least the first 20 to 30 seconds.
Puccini’s Nessun dorma late 19th century italian: sung by Pavarotti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u0M4CMq7uI . Listen to at least the first 20 to 30 seconds.
http://tinyurl.com/juxtapose3 A movement from an orchestral work, by your music teacher, Max Simoncic, I composed it 14 years ago.
(15 pt.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRBUA5rgaLs Chevalier de Saint Georges: read statement first and be sure to listen especially from timestamp 5:00 to 6:30 :
Chevalier de Saint Georges, a brilliant, black composer during the 18th century whose life and music was cancelled by that period’s powerful cancel culture mobs of like-minded people and spearheaded by Napoleon. Napoleon sent De Saint Georges back into slavery, had De Saint Georges name removed from all of his brilliant music compositions. Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Tito, and many other dictators did the same with so many artists, authors and composers white or black, Jew or Christian. These leaders imprisoned the great artistic minds, or simply had them killed. Not only was De Saint Georges a brilliant composer but a political statesmen and one of the world’s top “fencers” sword fighters. There were others as well. We will see more of him later.
Answer this: Were you surprised by this information, not just about Chevalier de Saint Georges but also about World War II dictators and post-World War II dictators? Explain: plus, Please provide a brief summation of the music from timestamp 5:00 to 6:30:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYdDYSTEuWo American 20th century composer Aaron Copland’s orchestral work, Hoedown, from Rodeo
Yes, it is part of Latin American classical music: Listen from timestamp 4:40-5:15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enfHpKtJolI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSf7jvO6soM First real Surprise of week 1: 20th century genre of “classical music”: Pauline Oliveros, a very versatile 20th century composer. Sound Patterns: Ask this: Am I qualified and prepared to be the judge and jury and have a good defense of my music opinion especially if I only have the most current pop, rap, country western, and hip-hop as basis for my judgment? I’m not interested in whether you like or don’t like the work; leave that opinion for pop music. . Listen to at least the first 20 to 30 seconds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUM_zT3YKHs Holst’s early 20th century work: Jupiter from the Planets. Okay, so John Williams borrowed some of this for Star wars, at least you can listen to the work without visual aids. The eyes don’t hear, but many composers “see” orchestral colors with their ears. . Listen to at least the first 20 to 30 seconds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa2vzx-aNrw Purcell’s “Sound the Trumpets” 17th century Baroque period classical music. Listen to at least the first 20 to 30 seconds.
(10 pt.) Purcell: same composer as “Sound the Trumpets” but this piece is “Pox on You” for a “men’s group or club back in the 17th century. I actually conducted a live version of this with a college men’s group. I did prepare the audience so they wouldn’t be completely groused out. They laughed! But it still can’t compete with some of the foul and sometimes pornographic language coming from various “artists” of our current music. PS, I do work for a recording studio and write backup music for rappers and others. Purcell Pox on You . Listen to at least the first 20 to 30 seconds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN3wpR-l1pk
Answer this: Would you have expected the same composer, “Purcell”, late 17th century early 18th century to have written such different woks as Sound the Trumpet and Pox on You?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYvEvP2cmdk Leonard Bernstein’s Mambo from West Side story. A fusion of styles: . Listen to at least the first 20 seconds.
Stockhausen’s, Luzifers Abschied https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW_hmyEWq0M . Listen to at least the first 20 to 30 seconds.
Asturias composed by Albeniz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inBKFMB-yPg