Musical SavantsHow is Form and Structure used in the arts?

Human Ingenuity

Let’s start at the very beginning ...

What do YOU already know about Western Music?

Brainstorm your ideas.

Compare your brainstorm with a neighbour. How does your knowledge differ?

What do YOU think?

List five adjectives to describe Western Art Music.

Who do you think Western Art Music appeals to and why?

How has Western Art Music influenced musicians in the past and today?

Do you agree that Western Art Music has a place in our community now and in the future? Why/why not.

Timeline

1250450

1050

2050850

650 1450

1650

1850

Middle Ages Baroque

Renaissance Classical

Romantic

Where would you put the following words on the timeline?RENAISSANCE ROMANTIC BAROQUE MIDDLE AGES CLASSICAL

Why?What do you already know about these

eras?

The Middle Ages

Context

“Life in the Middle Ages”

Church was central to Medieval life

division between social classes : nobles/peasants/clergy

one Hundred years war and the plague (mid 1300’s)

Monastry monopolised education

Musical characteristicsListen to the following musical extracts:

“O Successors” - Hildegard of BingenDescribe what you hear in the following musical elements:

1. MELODY2.TEXTURE3.STRUCTURE

ElementsVocal music (church frowned upon instruments - seen as pagan).

GREGORIAN CHANT

flexible rhythm

melody moves by step

church modes used

SECULAR MUSIC

music outside the church

instrumental - pipes, fiddles, drums.

love songs and dances

Monophonic - later homophonic

Your TurnCompose a single melody line for the words “Alleluia”. Use a church mode of your choice.

Think about the characteristics of Gregorian Chant.

Renaissance

Context

A rebirth of human creativity

Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Shakespeare.

Catholic church was far less powerful - church didn’t monopolise learning and education became a status symbol.

Invention of printing

Characteristics

Listen to the following musical extracts:

“Pope Marcellus” Mass - PalestrinaDescribe what you hear in the following musical elements:

1. MELODY2.TEXTURE3.STRUCTURE

CharacteristicsListen to the following musical extracts:

“Now is the month of Maying” - Thomas MorleyDescribe what you hear in the following musical elements:

1. MELODY2.TEXTURE3.STRUCTURE

ElementsVocal music still important - close relationship between words and music

mainly polyphonic with imitation common between parts

bass register used

gentle flowing rhythm

melodies easy to sing with a few leaps

SECULAR MUSIC

vocal music became popular

solo voices or voice with accompaniment

Madrigal: combination of homophonic and polyphonic texture

Baroque

ContextBaroque = action, movement, bizarre, flamboyant, elaborate

European rulers surrounded themselves in luxury while the rest of the population struggled to survive.

Religious institutions shaped the Baroque style, using theatrical and emotional qualities of art to make worship attractive.

Scientific advances and inventions.

Music in Society

Music written to meet specific demands that came from the church and courts.

The size of the musical staff depended on a courts’ wealth. Music directors supervised

Church music was grand (organ, choir

Characteristics

Listen to the following musical extracts:

“La Primavera” from the Four Seasons - VivaldiDescribe what you hear in the following musical elements:

1. MELODY2.TEXTURE3.STRUCTURE

ELEMENTSExpresses one basic mood

Continuous rhythms. Repetition. Provides drive and energy

Melodic ideas repeated at different pitches. EXPANSION

Terraced dynamics or a constant volume.

Mainly polyphonic as 2 or more melodic lines compete for the listeners attention.

Emphasis on chords and Basso Continuo

Music depicted the meaning of certain words

Classical Era

ContextNew style of architecture, literature, art.

Newton’s philosophies in science = clarity in structure (reflected throughout society)

Changes in social structure meant that nobility was the main supporter of music.

The availability and quality of musicians altered - simple parts / limited rehearsal time.

Characteristics

Listen to the following musical extracts:

Haydn, Symphony No. 4 in G Major (1791)

Beethoven, Piano Sonata in C Minor, Op. 13 (1798)

Describe what you hear in the following musical elements:

1. MELODY2.TEXTURE3.STRUCTURE

Elements

contrasting mood and variety were emphasised in music.

Greater emotional range.

flexible rhythm: pauses, syncopations, and changes from long to short notes.

usually homophonic

tuneful melodies that are easy to remember.

Balance and symmetry important in melodic phrases.

widespread use of gradual dynamic changes.

TrendsEnd of figured bass

The Classical Orchestra (standardised)

compositions consisted of four movements (symphonies, quartets, some sonatas).

The Classical symphony: extended composition (over 20 minutes). Covers a wide range of tone colour and dynamics in 4 movements

Chamber music: imitate the setting of a room. 2 to 9 musicians (string quartet important)

Concerto: three movement work for an instrumental soloist and orchestra.

Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart.

Mix ‘n’ Match

Place each musical form in a suitable muscial era.

Choose from: Medieval Renaissance Baroque Classical

Great Classical Composers

What words can you think of to associate with the following people:

Joseph Haydn

Wolfgang Amedeus Mozart

Ludwig Van Beethoven

Read through the fact sheets and decide on 5 important ideas, facts, or works that best represent each person. Put them into your DW’s.

Romantic Era

ContextThe romantic movement stressed emotion, individuality and imagination.

Writers were drawn towards fantasy and rebelled against time-honored conventions of their elders.

Romanticism coincided with the industrial revolution which caused many social and economic changes.

Nationalism was an important political movement that influenced music.

Composers became ‘free artists’.

Characteristics

Listen to the following musical extracts:

Chopin, Nocturne in Eb Major, Op. 9, No. 2 (1830-1831)

Describe what you hear in the following musical elements:

1. MELODY2.TEXTURE3.STRUCTURE

Elementsindividuality of style - music that reflected the composers personalities.

Subjects of nature popular.

Melancholy, rapture, longing, intimacy, romantic love, and fantasy are some of the many emotions covered in romantic music.

Program music.

Expressive tone colour (advances in technology)

colourful new harmonies - chromatic chords and dissonance.

rapid modulation and a wide variety of keys.

Expanded range of dynamic, pitch and tempo

tiny and HUGE musical works.

Trends

Art song - strophic form (repeated musical material for each verse) OR through composed (different musical material)

Program music

Lots of composers!

The Russian five