2. Introduction
Who are the inspirational figures that we know?
How have they influenced the future musicians?
How have they influenced the public? Were they active in
other fields? (arts, politics)
3. Renaissance
Renaissance was cultural movement that spanned the
period roughly from the 14th to the 17th century,
beginning in Italy in the late Middle Ages.
- recovery of literary and artistic heritage of ancient
Greece and Rome.
Music in Renaissance: Entertainment
Some of the famous figures in music: Palestrina,
Lassus, William Byrd, Machaut.
4. Giovanni Palestrina
Italian Renaissance composer of sacred music.
Organist of the principal church (St. Agapito), then
became the maestro di cappella at Cappella Giulia, the
papal choir at St. Peter’s.
He has lasting influence on the development of the
church music.
5. Baroque
This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn
by the Classical era.
Forms a major portion of the classical music canon. It is
widely studied, performed and listened to.
Composers include Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric
Handel, Antonio Vivaldi and so on.
6. Johann Sebastian Bach
German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violinist.
Enriched many established German styles through
counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organisation, and the
adaptation of rhythms, forms and textures from abroad,
particularly from Italy and France.
7. Classical
Compared to the Baroque period, one of the characteristic of
Classical music was that it is moving away from the layered
polyphony, towards a style where a melody over a
subordinate harmony – homophony was preferred.
The best known composers from this period are Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Carl Philipp Emanuel
Bach.
8. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Prolific and influential composer of the Classical era.
Showed prodigious ability from his earliest childhood.
Age 5, performed before European royalty; age 17, engaged
as a court musician in Salzburg.
9. Romantic Period
The term ‘Romanticism’, when applied to music, can be
viewed as an artistic response to social, cultural, political
influences in the beginning of 19th century and lasted
through 20th century.
Freedom in form and design, a more intense personal
expression of emotion.
Famous composers: Frederick Chopin, Ludwig Van
Beethoven, Camillie Saint-Saens.
10. Camille Saint-Saens
French Composer, organist, conductor and pianist of
Romantic Era.
Famous works: The Carnival of the Animals, Danse
macabre, Samson and Delilah, Symphony No.3(Organ
Symphony) and so on.
11. 20th Century Music
Brought new freedom and wide experimentation with new
musical styles and forms that challenged the accepted rules
of music of earlier periods.
Famous composers: Rachmaninoff, Richard Strauss,
Giacomo Puccini, Igor Stravinsky, Claude Debussy.
12. Claude Debussy
French composer.
Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most
prominent figures associated with impressionist music.
Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1903.
Often his work reflected the activities or turbulence in his
own life. In French literary circle, this
style of the period was known as
symbolism.
13. Mini Project
Theme: Singer/Songwriter, leading composer of his era,
performer/conductor/composer, favorite singer/musician and
etc.
Contents: musical background, mini biography, musical
influences, similarities/differences, fun fact, some examples of the
music works.
Some suggestions: Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Janis Joplin, Etta
James, Adele, Imogen Heap, Guillaume de Machaut, Frederick
Chopin, Handel, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, Joe Hisaishi, John
Williams and etc.
Be as creative as possible! There’s bonus!
Editor's Notes
From the beginning of mankind until this day and age, there has been a huge development in many perspectives, including arts and music. We have already talked about famous musicians from the medieval ages, renaissance, baroque and even in the 20th centuries, such as some of the giants in jazz, folk music and so on. Ask for examples.
It then spread to the rest of the Europe.
(2): the music in Renaissance was significantly influenced by the developments which define the Early Modern period: the rise of the humanistic thought; the recovery of literary and artistic heritage of ancient Greece and Rome. Demand for music as entertainment and as an activity for educated amateurs increased with the emergence of bourgeois class.
Virgine Bella by Giovanni Palestrina
His work has often been seen as the culmination of Renaissance polyphony.
Piece: Concerto in the Italian style in F major by Johann Sebastian Bach
(1) The meant that the playing of chords, even if they interrupted the melodic smoothness of a single part, became a much more prevalent feature of music. This in turn, made the tonal structure of works more audible.
Mozart was offended when Colloredo (his employer, Archbishop of Salzburg) treated him as a mere servant and particularly when the archbishop forbade him to perform before the Emperor at Countess Thun’s for a fee equal to half of his yearly Salzburg salary.
Mozart attempted to resign and was refused. A month later, permission was granted but in an insulting way: he was dismissed literally “with a kick in the arse”. Mozart then decided to settle in Vienna as a freelance performer and composer.
Piece: Carnival of the Animals: Kangaroo
Bugs and Daffy’s Carnival of Animals - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzdr0UsJj4U
Piece; Preludes Les collins d’Anacapri
In France, he was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1903.
(3) A crucial figure in the transition to the modern era in western music.
Now, do not let the project throw you off. It’s nothing major. But it is informational and helpful and you are going to present it to your class when you have completed this project.
Divide the students into small groups or pairs. Have them talk about their own favorite musician or inspirational figures (in music).
