Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from “West Side Story”, Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” and Nielson’s “Symphony No. 5” all utilize different symphonic techniques to create 3 beautiful pieces.…
Composers use a number of elements to convey their particular point of view. Those elements can be anecdotes, visual imagery and language techniques. The understanding of humanity and our capacity to destroy is represented through the distinctly visual. In the Shoehorn Sonata and Dulce Et Decorum Est the writers have invited the audience to examine societies role in acknowledging humane treatment and the importance of reflecting on suffering experienced.…
From the second Alex arrived at the academy he thought something was weird or different, but couldn't place it. He notices that some kids have already started acting like scholars instead of juvenile delinquents. He did however notice one person different than all the other boys, James Sprintz. James seemed to be the only boy not "brain-washed" that Alex met. Alex and James became close friends at their time at Point Blanc, skipping classes and doing stuff that was expetc…
As we age and grow older we like to think we gain or learn something; In “Breaking Through”, Francisco Jimenez’s book, Francisco gains power in the household along with his brother, Roberto. We really start to see the loss of power from the father because he is unable to support his family. His father soon becomes depressed and starts to hide. Francisco gets some of his direction and influence when it comes to fighting his father’s authority and power in the household from the American culture. We see Roberto as a much more quiet obeying son where Francisco was just young enough he was able to absorb the American ways and let go of his traditional cultural ways of obeying one’s parents. As we see Francisco ultimately break through in finding his identity, we begin to see him question his father’s position and beliefs.…
The 90s were a time where a new era was ushered in. The world was introduced to a new style, where African-American entertainment and culture were prospering and seen as the cool way to live. Americans were crazy for new groups such as the Backstreet Boys and N Sync, presenting a new style of music. However, the 90s pictured in Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go is much different. The story is narrated by Kathy H., a “carer” who is at the end of her career. She is currently looking after her longtime friend Ruth, who just finished giving her “donations”. We don’t know what these donations are, but they do not seem to be very positive. Growing up, the two of the lived in Hailsham, where they learned and studied to be creative, educated individuals, with the hopes of being noticed by Madame, the head of Hailsham. Kathy and Ruth look back on their time at Hailsham, discussing some of the best- and worst- times they had along with their other friend Tommy,…
Problems between composers and the general public have been mounting for over one hundred years. As advanced music rapidly changes, the public seemingly fails to posses the musical knowledge necessary to appreciate modern works of contemporary music. In 1958, Milton Babbitt examined this relationship in a piece entitled “Who Cares if You Listen?” In the article, Babbitt asses the public’s feelings on “advanced” music and concludes that it should not concern composers if their work doesn’t get an audience beyond a few colleagues. Musical masterpieces including Babbitt’s Semi Simple Variations and Stockhausen’s Gesang der Jünglinge exemplify why this is the case. Despite efforts to reach out to the public by composers such as Krzysztof Penderecki, the divide that separates these entities is even greater today.…
The in class concert with three performances that I attended on 15th of February was an very interesting experience for me as I have not been to a classical music concerts that often. The first piece, Oxycotton, was performed by Tim Sanchez using the marimba. The second one, Acht Stucke, was performed by Samantha Post using the flute. Nicholas Gledhill using the horn performed the third piece, Blues and Variations for Monk. The last piece, Misty, was performed by CSU Graduate Brass Quintet. In this paper, I am going to write about the performances that I heard and about the different music elements that they used in each performance.…
The thesis of this essay is in “the Road from Rio”, David Suzuki argues that there is too much organizing and talking about how to save the planet, but not enough action is being taken and he is successful in achieving his aim.…
The plays of David Ives are certainly clever and comic. There is no doubt that Ives gives us inventive scenarios that smartly use language and test our knowledge before we chuckle. But what does it all mean, anyway? What do we gain from the techniques he uses in the one-act plays of All in the Timing? Are they meaningful works, or simply highfalutin vignettes? To answer these questions, let’s consider three of his plays: “Words, Words, Words,” “Variations on the Death of Trotsky,” and “The Philadelphia.” By examining these works, it will be clear that the devices Ives uses do little more than facilitate the telling of humorous sketches, and that they don’t generate any substance or lasting meaning.…
Alex Ross’s The Rest is Noise was a nonfiction book that was impacted by the author’s bias and opinions. Ross omitted the names and information of many composers whom were considered innovative of their time. On the other hand, the controversies of the composers the author did mention were overshadowed by other details which meant they were inconsequential to the book. This argument can be refuted through the use of facts and research.…
In this paper we will compare two compositions by composer, conductor, pianist, Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990). Bernstein was born in Massachusetts to a Russian Jewish family and began playing and taking music lessons at a young age. He went on to study music at Harvard and Curtis Institute of Music (Seldes Web).…
A long time ago the difference between perception and reality was defined as the act of understanding in contrast to the act of being real. Reality could be tricky; most of us including myself depending on scenarios of our lives tend to give in to ideas which are not applicable to reality as a whole. The best example of this is written in the short story “All Over” by Guy de Maupassant. In which his main character Lormerin is very self conscious and narcissistic also Lise de Vance, a former old love plays a big role in hurting Lormerin ego and opening his eyes by showing him, his real self. Many would say that when reality knocks it could be harsh and confusing. In the next couple of paragraphs I want to show how my understanding of reality can be applied to the short story previously mentioned. Every day life brings so many unexpected moments of which we dream of but never really happen, this is where we draw the line for reality and perception of a perfect to be situation. Reality is in the eyes of the beholder and no one can really change that, all of us are born dreamers. When things get out of hand and reality hits, this is where people suffer. Why do we suffer? We suffer because we give too much or expect too much and not everyone has the same ideals when returning the favor. Also, some events might be trifling to some but extremely important to others.…
The concert that I attended at Yale University on November eighteenth was called Symphonie Fantastique. During the concert, the band played Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4, William Tell Overture, and Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique. The music was excellent and played with much expertise. Each piece was performed well. I enjoyed listening to the extravagant music with very few mistakes.…
The evaluation essay “Working at McDonald’s” by Amitai Etzioni, was originally published in the Miami Herald. In the essay, author observed carefully the situation of young people, especially who is on the education process working at McDonald’s the symbol of fast food chain restaurant. He has evaluated it by using his ideas and values for the essential pursuit of young people.…
We can find moments of pure magic within this revolutionary aesthetic, regardless if the mood is uproariously breathtaking through well-controlled chaos dominated by transcendental saxophone catharses, or conspicuously intimate, and consequently smoother and…