
Hello fellow air guitar players and dashboard drummers! Welcome back to another week of my expression and love for music!
This week is an exciting one for music history because the annual Grammys air tonight at 7:00! As far as the winners and chit-chat about performances from tonight’s show go, I will save it all for next week’s blog! I just thought I would mention it and encourage music lovers to watch the Grammys or Youtube some highlights! With the music industry the way it is today, there are sure to be some exciting moments and surprises!
For today’s musical selection I thought I might do a 180 and take it a completely different direction from that of the Grammys. In fact I would love to discuss the musical genre many call classical. Classical music has been cherished among mankind for centuries and will continue to do so for years to come. With its large and rich sound many listeners and musicians can get lost in the music itself. As instruments changed and developed so too did the sound of classical music. The different movements can be heard and identified by the prominence of different instruments. The source of a huge sound bounding from a stage is evident when watching a 200-piece orchestra play Carmina Burana, and there is nothing quite like it.
The different movements of classical music include the Early Period, the Common Practice Period and the Modern and Contemporary Period. Each of these periods is composed of sub eras and differing styles of classical music.
The Early Period is made up of the Medieval Era (476-1400) and the Renaissance Era (1400-1600). This period is recognizable for it’s roots in monophonic chant that then proceeded to blossom into polyphonic music. The development and shift in the style of music parallels the growth out of the Middle Ages and the birth into the Renaissance.
Following is the Common Practice Period, which is made up of Baroque (1600-1750), Classical (1750-1820) and Romantic (1820-1910) eras of music. Even in a Disney film, The Beauty and the Beast, a trained ear can hear an allusion to the Baroque era.
“if it’s not Baroque, don’t fix it.”
-Cogsworth, The Beauty and the Beast
Lastly in classical music’s long journey, comes the Modern and Contemporary period. This period started in 1910 with Impressionist music and has yet to come to an end. Today, we are still evolving and changing classical music through the help of new composers and innovative ideas.
Classical music is not for everyone. However, the next time you need help focusing on a task or completing some homework, I encourage you to pop in a classical CD, you might surprise yourself. Classical music is the product of some of the greatest minds to ever have lived. Maybe, just maybe, you might be inspired yourself.
References: Wikipedia.com and Imdb.com
I love classical when I'm studying! It definitely helps.
ReplyDeleteI haven't listened to it in forever, and you inspired me to turn some on!
Thanks!