In your piece of music that you will write about, choose to discuss either Rhythm OR Harmony in this last blog post.  You can describe the changes in the beat, or the changes in the harmony that you notice in your piece.  In some pieces of music, these subjects can be a strong vehicle for the composer to convey feelings and meanings to their music. 

The rhythm of Legends never die starts out quietly, giving the sense of the beginning. As we sta

What is your reaction to this musician and his abilities?  Do you think this kind of talent is common?  Can you measure talent?  How is Joey’s abilities different, even though he seems like a regular kid?  Have you ever met someone like this in your lifetime yet?

I think its astonishing how a young kid like him was able to coordinate his fingers fast and accurately enough to perform that type of music. While I believe his talent is common, its common in the sense of there are certainly gifted children in this world who are able to string a line of notes perfectly at young ages. However, Joey is different in the sense he is able to play what most may consider a challenging genre of music at a young age. While they didn’t play music, I met someone who was able to draw very difficult pieces of art at a young age, similar to that of abstract art or even that of Davinci

Do you like either or both of these examples? (why or why not?)  Have you noticed the quality of vibrato in any of the music you listen to?  If you have noticed, what makes you aware of it? If you haven’t noticed the vibrato, why do you think you have not been aware of it?  You may want to take note of the use of vibrato as expression in your own chosen piece of music as well.

While I did enjoy listening to the two examples, I just dont prefer this kind of music honestly. So do I like them? Yes and no. The Vibrato in the first one was very obvious to hear. Operas, in my opinion, are easier to distinguish musical terms from since they make it so obvious. However, in the second one, I wasnt able to hear any vibrato. I simply just couldnt hear or feel any kind of “shaking” in their voices like with the opera.

listen to your chosen piece of music and notice any changes in dynamics.  Describe what happens when your piece gets louder or softer and where in the piece that occurs.  Does it make the music more interesting to you? (why or why not?) Now, pay attention to the different timbres that are presented in your music:  this may or may not relate to the dynamic changes, but describe what happens when you notice any timbre changes and how it affects the listener. (is it a dramatic difference, or more of a subtle difference?

When my choice of music goes quitet then louder, it definitely peaks my interest due to it giving the sense some story is about to take place. When listening to the timbre of the music, its a dramatic difference

 Listen to your chosen piece of music to discover any examples of how the music “paints” the meaning of the words. Describe what you hear or what happens in one or more parts of your recording.  If you cannot hear any text painting in your musical example, try finding another piece of music that does and write about what you discovered.

When listening to my chosen music, It had painted a picture of a world with a hero, or maybe heroes. It felt as if this was the start of their story, and they were working up to become a greatness that they would be known for in future days. As the song progresses you begin to hear the song reaching a climax, giving the feeling that they have reached a milestone in their progress to greatness. When the song reaches the second part of the song, you feel as though they intensify their training, reflecting on why they are training, and what for. After the song climaxes for the second part we reach the final section of the song, which gives you a sense that the hero is about to be defeated by someone or something, giving you a sense of worry. But then, just as all seems lost, the song starts slowly rising, the instrumentals getting louder and more powerful. When the song climaxes for the third time, you dont just think of it as a normal climax this time. You think of this as the end of the road, the final stretch, the last push. As the song reaches its final words, the music quiets down. It gives the feeling of victory, accomplishment, and reassurance. A great way to finish a powerful song like this.

Do you enjoy listening to these 2 Renaissance examples?  Why or why not?  Does the word painting help you better understand the humor in the music?  Is the language a barrier? Were you able to better enjoy the music by watching the singers perform as opposed to just listening to the music? Why or why not?

I did find some enjoyment when listening to these two examples. While I was unable to grasp the amusement or the “meaning” of the song, I did enjoy the vocals of it. They are very pleasing to the ears. The language is not a huge barrier, but then again there was someone explaining the objective of the song at the beginning. Without his explanation I feel there would have most certainly been one. Overall I was able to enjoy these two examples by watching and listening.

The musical piece I chose, Legends Never Die, starts off with a slow quiet melody. This gives the song a sense of peace, or a beginning of a story. As the song progresses, it starts reaching for a powerful climax-type of buildup. When the song reaches the main climax it sounds as though a battle has started, giving the listener a feel as though they are charging head first into a war to fight for what they believe in. The texture of Legends Never Die is a thick texture, with lots of powerful instrumentals, and the singing in the background to give you the idea of triumph and achievement.

Did you like the Eagle Dance example?  Why or why not?  What did you notice about the vocal quality?  Is this the kind of vocal sound we expect when we listen to any recorded piece of music for pleasure?  Does it help to view the dancers to experience this music as opposed to listening to the music by itself?  Why or why not?

When watching the Eagle Dance, It was both interesting and confusing. Obviously this has major symbiology, but I couldn’t wrap my head at all around what that symbiology was. When listening to their chants, it definitely did NOT resemble any kind of music we listen to today for recreational purposes. It absolutely does help to observe the dancers during the music. Its hard to explain why, but the best answer I can think of is that this way you get an idea about what it is the dancers and musicians are wanting to say or show.

When listening to the differences between Gottschalk and The South City Voices in their versions of the Star-Spangled Banner, I much preferred South City Voices’ version. While my opinion may sound biased, my reasoning is simply that I believe it’s more respectful to sing the Star Spangled Banner, standing in pride, than to sit down on a chair and play it in a way that was hardly understandable as the Star Spangled Banner. As for a change of tone in the melody, I truthfully didn’t notice it, and I went back and listened to it a couple times over to make sure.

Between Stravinsky’s version and Hendrix’s version of the Star-Spangled Banner, I believe Hendrix’s was a bit inappropriate but certainly not offensive. Some people however may have seen it as such simply because they didn’t sound like they were taking the anthem very seriously, while Stravinsky’s sounded very patriotic and respectful. Maybe I have these thoughts because of the instruments used. If Hendrix didn’t use an electric guitar and obnoxious drumming maybe I would’ve thought differently in my opinion. Overall however, I believe neither to be offensive.

Growing up, the Star Spangled Banner was something I heard so often it was naturally ingrained into my mind. I’ve sang it at multiple places like church, school, sporting events, and some 4-H events. Listening to the Star Spangled Banner makes me feel a sense of triumph and victory for our country, reminding me of the freedom thousands of Americans fought for the right to have. Also, I feel it can bring a sense of unity among American citizens regardless of political views.