A couple of thoughts on different aspects of music.
- Songs/albums I would choose if stranded on an island
50 Cent - Get Rich or Die Tryin’ I am a big fan of rap music and this album of 50 Cent completely changed the meaning of rap to me. Every song in this album has a fresh beat and incredibly catchy lyrics and I never tire of listening to songs from this album. Get Rich or Die Tryin’ has sixteen tracks, each of which I love listening and rapping along to. I am sure I would be content listening to just these songs for all my time on the island.
Catch & Release (Deepend Remix) - Matt Simons Probably one of my favourite songs, Catch & Release has the ability to instantly bring a smile to my face. It is a very calm song with profound lyrics and I ensure I listen to it at least once every day. Listening to it transports me to another world and makes me forget all my troubles. Even if I heard it a million times, I would enjoy it each and every single time.
Caravan - John Wasson A piece I was first introduced to in the movie Caravan, there is a raw power associated with this track. Even though Caravan is an old jazz piece which has been performed before my many jazz legends, I would take the recording which is in the movie because of the incredible drum solo following the piece. Whenever I need strength on the island, this is the track I would listen to because every second of the track is absolutely flawless. The drummer in me also absolutely loves the beat throughout and I would take this track just so that I can be reminded of the joy which comes from playing the drums.
Music is something I was introduced to at a very early age since my entire family practices Carnatic music, which is a South Indian system of music. While I learned the basics of this art form, I was more keen on learning a musical instrument and chose the drums. For me, the drums represent raw power and I feel like I can be innovative every time I sit down to play. No two practice sessions are alike because I constantly push myself to figure out a new beat pattern to practice. I feel that learning the drums enables you to have some degree of skill in almost any percussion instrument and so I also picked up the Cajon and the mridangam (a South Indian instrument) as well.
I wish to learn more about the jazz and blues styles of music through this class. I have always enjoyed listening to jazz music and the wind instruments which are usually an integral part of jazz bring about a sense of happiness within me. Through this class, I want to know more about the origins, styles and influential artists of jazz music and learn how to better appreciate and listen to this style. I took a course on black music in my spring semester and was briefly introduced to the blues as well and hope to learn more about it. Overall, I want to learn enhanced ways of listening to all styles of music (but specifically jazz and the blues) so I can better appreciate the many intricacies of any song.
I have chosen the song “The Thrill Is Gone” by B.B. King. This song falls under the Urban Blues/ R&B genre and is a 12-bar blues song, which is the most common musical structure for blues music. I noticed that the song is in 4/4 time and follows the traditional blues poetry style of a three-line stanza with the first line (The thrill is gone) repeated twice. Like most blues songs, this line and the rest of the poetry expresses a sense of injustice; he has been abandoned by his lover. The characteristic tone bending of blues music is ever present here perfomed on King’s signature guitar, Lucille. King masterfully brings out the “feel” of this song, an integral part of blues music, by adjusting the pitch up/down slightly. The bassline and beat are both simple but impactful and perfectly complement the guitar and vocals. The strings in the background distinguish King’s version of the song from the original and they are very successful in bringing out the sadness he feels. There are few degrees of loudness, with King getting slightly louder when delivering lines which express his sadness (e.g. You know you done me wrong baby). The end of the song ends on a positive note as King feels he is finally free and wishes his lover well; it goes well with the original intent of blues music as this uplifting ending lifts the spirits of people who were “feeling blue.” The artist, B.B. King was a pioneer of blues music and is one of the all-time greats of the genre. His style of soloing and string bending influenced many other blues musicians and his legacy and is known as “The King of the Blues”. I also discovered that his rendition of this song was what made it a blues standard and his version is a part of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”, published by Rolling Stones Magazine.
I think the song “Daddy Lessons” by Beyoncé can be considered as modern American folk music. It is a lyric song, more specifically about the way her father has brought her up and everything he has taught her; from approaching life as a soldier to standing up for herself no matter what and taking care of her family. According to the text, folk music is close to the heart for many Americans. Further, it is aesthetically and musically unsophisticated and usually simple. This Beyoncé song ticks all of these boxes as it has a basic but fun rhythm and has a theme which a lot of people can associate with (the relationship between a father and child). The text also mentions that American folk music derives from common musical pracrics of millions of Americans. Since Beyoncé was raised in Texas, a southern state where country music is very popular. Hence, the song has a country feeling with a “Yee-haw” right in the beginning and the acoustic guitar forming the majority of the rhythm and a swing-like beat. The style she adopts can be considered a cross between country and folk music in my opinion. This song is a part of her 2016 album Lemonade, which was highly successful since it was a departure from the music she had sang and produced until that point. This particular song, along with the rest of the album, will be remembered and “Daddy Lessons” is a great example of modern American folk music.
I think that the song “Cantaloupe Island” by pianist Herbie Hancock can be classified as a bebop single. Like a typical bebop song, it has one solo lead instrument and a rhythm section of the piano, bass and drums. After doing some research, I discovered that the lead instrument is a cornet although it sounds like a trumpet. The swinging piano and drums are constant in the background and the cornet takes the lead by providing another dimension to a simple beat and piano/bass line. “Cantaloupe Island” is a fast-paced song with the tempo gradually increasing throughout the piece. The speed and complexity of the cornet in the first half of the song and the piano in the second half make this song consistent with the bebop style. The song is in 4/4 time and the beat involves just the ride cymbal, snare drum and bass drum, with some of the notes on the snare syncopated and elongated (drum roll). These subtle nuances in the drumming technique add to the “jazzy”, swing style of the song. The a a b a structure is also evident here as the first eight-bar phrase has all the four instruments in unison with the cornet taking the lead and the bridge is a piano solo performed by Hancock.
Herbie Hancock is a pianist and composer. He was a member of the Miles Davis Quintet and made key contributions to the post-bop genre. His compositions are often jazz standards (as is “Cantaloupe Island”) and he is one of the only two recipients of the Grammy for Album of the Year for a jazz album. He has won many awards during his long and illustrious career and produces music even today.
I think that rap/hip-hop is the most popular and influential musical style of the 21st century. While the origins of both of these genres predate the year 2000, I feel that their influence on modern society and culture is undeniable. Young audiences gravitate towards hip hop and rap music because of the inherent appeal these genres possess and their growth in the past 19 years has been exponential. Historically, a lot of protest songs have been rap or hip hop records and these genres are a way of expressing the disappointment with the current establishment. The rhymes and meaning songs in this genre possess make them a powerful weapon against injustice and the many problems society faces. The lyrics resonate with a lot of people and the issues addressed by popular hip hop artists really hit home. While there have been innumerable influential artists in these genres post-2000, I feel that Eminem and 50 Cent really changed the genre with their unique style and voice.
Eminem completely changed the rap scene with his aggressive lyrics and incredible rhymes. His first few albums, from The Marshall Mathers LP to Recovery were massively popular and many of his songs are considered classics. Even his most recent album, Kamikaze, was a runaway success and is testament to his unwavering popularity for the past two decades. While he has evolved as a rapper and artist, his style is inimitable and he will be remembered as one of the all-time greats.
50 Cent redefined the hip-hop genre with his debut album “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.” In what is usually a sample-heavy genre, almost all of his tracks have a fresh/original, beat and sound distinctly different from the other. Added to this, his music features memorable rhymes and humorous situations; he has produced music which can be enjoyed thoroughly. While he is not active as he once was, his impact on both hip-hop and rap is enormous. Personally, he is one of my favourite artists and I believe that his music will be timeless, and that future generations will appreciate his music equally.
I have chosen “Lasya”, an Indian classical (Hindustani) piece and “Desafinado”, which is a bossa nova song. There are a number of differences between these two; the first being the instrumentation. “Lasya” involves a sitar, a North Indian stringed instrument, and a clear percussion section with a ghatam/garha and an instrument which makes a sound similar to the tabla. “Desafinado” on the other hand involves just an acoustic guitar and no percussion. Secondly, “Lasya” is an instrumental piece with no vocals while “Desafinado” has vocals. “Desafinado” is an example of bossa nova music in its purest form, as “bossa nova is in its purest form could be considered an unaccompanied guitar with vocals, as created, pioneered, and exemplified by João Gilberto” (Wikipedia), the singer/guitarist of “Desafinado”. It is a simple song with a constant rhythm on the guitar accompanied throughout with vocals; there is no section (in this performance) with just the guitar. In another version of the song (with Stan Getz), the song has considerably more instrumentation, with the piano, maracas, piano and saxophone, which makes it a fusion between bossa nova and jazz. In the original version however, it stays true to its roots and is a very simple and calm song. “Lasya” on the other hand is more upbeat and there is a greater degree of complexity present on the main instrument, which in this case is the sitar. There is a clear intro, chorus and conclusion present in it. Both songs are quite different from one another, but they are both great examples of their respective genres.
Carnatic music was one of the first musical styles I was introduced to. My late grandmother taught Carnatic music for over 35 years and it is an integral part of the music my family listens to. I learned the basics of the genre at a young age but lost interest between the ages of 11 and 17. A close friend of mine rekindled the passion for this genre in me in my final year of school and now, I love listening to Carnatic music and learning more about it. I chose this piece because it is one of my all-time favourites and thought this paper would give me a great opportunity to learn more about it and express my views on this composition.
I have read about Monteverdi’s many books of madrigals and was hence interested in analysing a piece by him. “Sì ch’io vorrei morire”, is a composition from his fifth book of madrigals and is an interesting piece to listen to. The melody is constant throughout the piece and provided only by voice; there are no musical instruments present. There is no rhythm in this piece as it is primarily a choral performance and the beauty of the track is in its importance given to just voice. The different sections present (Canto, Alto, Quinto, Tenore, Basso) provide a harmony which is soothing to listen to. The texture is undoubtedly polyphonic with many voices being heard throughout; this is observed between 2:02 and 2:21 when the tenors and altos are singing different parts, with the distinction being very clear. There are many changes in dynamics throughout the piece as some of the sections have rests while others have notes constantly. This makes for a unique sound which keeps the listener on his/her toes.
I believe that the harmony and dynamics are the most important parts of this piece because these two elements bring out the variations observed in the different sections of the song. Each singer has an important role in adding to the meaning of the piece and this is most prominently expressed through changes in dynamics (e.g. when some sections are quiet for a few seconds and suddenly come in) and harmonic progressions.
I think “Come Down” by The Come Down Gospel and Anderson Paak is a modern example of polyphonic choral music. It was performed for the 59th Grammy Awards and this performance is a gospel version of the original song. There are clearly many different voices which add to the song. This performance is very high in energy and involves a large number of people, like a lot of gospel music. It is accompanied by the organ and the drums, which do not overpower the choral section of the song and are just perfect as accompaniments to the song; they do not take anything away from the singers rather enhance the song with their performances.
“String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 33, No. 2 (Joke), IV” was composed by Franz Joseph Haydn, an extremely influential Austrian Classical composer. He is nicknamed the “Father of the String Quartet” and was one of “the most celebrated composers in Europe for much of his career” (Wikipedia). He was born on 31st March 1732 and passed away on 31st May 1809 and hence was alive for most of the Classical period. He composed over 80 string quartets, 18 overtures, 9 concertos, 30 dances and 100 symphonies. He wrote the melody for “Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser”, which was adopted as the national anthem by Austrian emperor Francis II.
“Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315,”Summer" (Four Seasons)“, more commonly referred to as just “Summer” is a composition by Italian composer and violinist Antonio Lucio Vivaldi. He lived from 4th March 1678 until 28th July 1741 and was a Baroque era musician. Considered one of the finest and most influential composers of that era, he revolutionized the genre completely and his “Le quattro Stagioni (Four Seasons)” is his most popular composition. He wrote over 500 concertos and 46 operas and left an unforgettable mark on European classical music.
“String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 33, No. 2 (Joke), IV” is a Classical era string quartet while “Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315,”Summer" (Four Seasons)" is a violin concerto from the Baroque era.
“String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 33, No. 2 (Joke), IV” has just two violins, a viola and a cello (hence is a string quartet) and is a simple piece with the main melody carried forward by the violins. It is fairly upbeat and can be characterized as Allegro. It is primarily homophonic (something characteristic of the Classical period) and the harmonic aspect is provided by the cello. It is in Rondo (ABACA) form and the song is polymetric as it switches between 4/4, ¾ and 6/8 time signatures. It has a bright timbre and is very pleasant to listen to.
“Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315,”Summer" (Four Seasons)" has an instrumental ensemble with solo violin. The presence of the harpsichord is typical of the Baroque period and is subtly played in the background while the violin and other stringed instruments play the melody. Summer is a fast track and is definitely Presto. In my opinion, Summer is the best movement of the Four Seasons because of its pace and power. The power is observed from 18:01 as the violin takes the lead and the tempo increases; it is a lot of fun to listen to and is truly incredible, even today. The crescendos and decrescendos give more meaning to this piece and the timbre can be described as rich and each instrument can be heard clearly.
I prefer listening to the Baroque musical style of all the musical eras and enjoy the music from this period most. Many of the classical music pieces I was drawn to as a child were Baroque pieces. The concertos and compositions from this era are what got me interested in Western classical music. I enjoy the diversity in this era, from Monteverdi’s madrigals to Bach’s cello suites. I also really like listening to the style of this era, with its homophony and sudden change in dynamics. The violin pieces composed by Antonio Vivaldi are also Baroque compositions and I will never tire of listening to his concertos. In Dubai, the city I grew up, I never had the opportunity to go to many classical music concerts but was able to do so when I came to Champaign. In the six concerts I have attended here, I have always noticed that Baroque music is a part of the performance. From giving a powerful start to the concert with Andrea Zani’s concertos to concluding with Johann Sebastian Bach’s Air, the presence of music from this era gives any concert more meaning. Another feature of Baroque music which I do not observe in later eras is the presence of the harpsichord, which has a distinctive sound. Though it is subtle, its presence does make an impact and helps in establishing the era’s individuality. Baroque era music will always be a favourite of mine and I hope to keep listening to compositions from this era in all the concerts I attend in the future.
“Reflets dans l’eau” is a composition by French composer Claude Debussy. The piece was written in 1905 and is the first piece from his volume Images. It is Impressionistic program music and features just the piano. This music features complexity in its melody as many of the sections have many notes continuously with difficult techniques on the left and right hand. Further, there are many changes in dynamics with crescendos and decrescendos galore. The piece goes from pianissimo to mezzo forte in the same bar at times. The piece is polymetric and shifts between time signatures frequently. The melody is both tuneful and motivic. The timbre is rich and delicate.
I have chosen Oscar-Claude Monet’s “Water Lilies”, which was completed in 1907. “Reflets dans l’eau” means “Reflections in the water” in French and this work of art by Monet captures that perfectly. Monet was the father of the Impressionism and this painting is an example of one that falls into the Impressionist genre of art. Since Debussy’s piece is also considered influenced by Impressionist paintings, I thought this was the most apt painting to describe this piece of music. There is chaos as well as serenity in the painting and I believe it is the artistic embodiment of the music.