Essay on Music Appreciation

Music plays an important role in our life. Nowadays it is impossible to imagine our life without music. It reflects our feelings and emotions. It has a greatest strength. It teaches us to be kind and fair. Music develops our personality and carries beauty to our life. It helps us to understand the main meaning of life. That is why we should learn  music appreciation. My goal in this essay is to discuss the style features of Late Baroque Music and Classical Era Music. Moreover, I am going to discuss the representatives of the above mentioned styles and some of their musical works, namely the composer Antonio Vivaldi and his Violin Concerto in G,Op.4,No.12, and the composer Franz Joseph Haydn and his Symphony No.95 in C Minor.

Late Baroque Music and its Main Style Features

Baroque era is considered to be the beginning of expansion of the Western European civilization. The term baroque came from Portuguese and stands for pearl of irregular shape. It is translated from Italian as strange, freakish. Baroque era rejects naturalness regarding it as ignorance and wildness. At this period a woman should be unnaturally pale, having a tight corset on and wearing a fanciful hair-dress while a man should be without beard and have a wig on his head. He should be powered and perfumed. (Bukofzer, 24)

Baroque Era is famous for the appearance of new styles and technologies in music. The further weakening of the political control of the Catholic Church in Europe which began in the period of Renaissance allowed irreligious music to flourish.

Vocal music is changed into instrumental music.

Realizing that the musical instruments should be got together, the first bands appeared. One of the most important style features was a concert. Late Baroque Music is famous for its  outstanding composer Antonio Vivaldi. He was the one who used concert to show musical skills and experience of the principal. (Bukofzer, 46))

The Composer Antonio Vivaldi and his Violin Concerto in G, Op.4, No.12

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi is an Italian composer whose nick name was Red Priest. He was born in Venice in 1678. According to some historical data he was a priest and virtuoso violinist. His musical works were known all over Europe. His main fame was in composing instrumental concerts for the violin. His music works also include forty operas and numerous sacred choral works.  It is known that most of his musical compositions were written especially for the female music ensemble of the Ospedale della Pieta where Antonio Vivaldi worked. The composer also staged his operas in  Venice and some other cities of Italy.

Although the music of Vivaldi was appreciated during the lifetime of the composer, it lost its popularity after the death of the composer and only at the beginning of the 20-th century it was revived and received recognition throughout the world. (Heller, 56)

Antonio Vivaldi’s musical works. One of the most popular musical works of the composer is Le Quattro Stagioni or The Four Seasons  which was written in 1723. This musical composition is considered to be the part of The Contest between Harmony and Invention and represents the moods from each of the four seasons of the year. Besides this prominent composition Vivaldi wrote a great deal of other musical works such as about 500 concertos, numerous symphonies and sonatas, chamber music and choral music. His concertos include 350 for solo instruments and strings, 40 for two instruments and strings, 30 for three and more instruments and strings. The musical instruments were violin, bassoon, cello, oboe, flute, lute, mandolin, and others.(Heller, 67)

Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto in G, Op.4, No.12. This musical work impressed me greatly. This Concerto where the violin speech touched the sole and the heart really has a great strength. At the beginning of this musical composition you feel as if you were taken away from the present day problems. The violin speech is very tender and you feel some lightness in your body. You fly away but soon the music brings you back  to your real life. You know that you have already returned from this wonderful journey but at the same time you feel some changes in your mood, body and thoughts. I think that this Antonio Vivaldi’s musical composition is worth listening.

Classical Era Music and its Main Style Features

Classical Era Music covers the period of 1750-1820. Although this period lasted only seventy years there was a great change in the music which was composed at that times. Melodic expression and so-called instrumental color are the differential features of this period. Classical music is notable for orchestras which took more musical instruments such as clarinets, flutes, oboes. They became the constant parts of the orchestra. (Blender, 12)

The Classical music style is ruled by homophony. Homophony includes not only the single melodic line but also the accompaniment. It is also known that some new forms of composition were invented for this particular style. Sonata is one of the most significant forms of this composition. As this form was constantly changed during the period it could not be compared with sonatas of the Baroque period. (Blume, 48)

Rococo is a special musical style which was developed in 1700s. This style was a so called transition from the period of Baroque to the Classical era. This style was developed in France and is considered to be a new art style, a style galant. With the development of Classical music we can see some changes in phrase structure which some short phrases and cadences were a common feature. It is also known that Alberty bass was a favorite accompaniment at this time. It is necessary to mention that melodies of the Classical era were rather compact and more diatonic. Harmony included not only tonic but also dominant and sub-dominant chords. The composers of that period used chords in triadic forms. They also could use seventh chords in their musical works. (Blender, 68)

One of the famous representatives of the Classical Era Music is Franz Joseph Haydn.

The Composer Franz Joseph Haydn and his Symphony No.95 in C Minor

Franz Joseph Haydn is a famous Austrian composer and one of the outstanding representatives of the Classical era music. Sometimes he is called the Father of Symphony and the Father of the String Quartet. His greatest contributions were made in the development of piano trio and sonata form changes. He composed a melody which later formed the basis of the hymn of Germany. The composer was born in Austria in 1732. (London, Jones, 19)

It is known that Franz Joseph Haydn was a Beethoven’s pupil in 1792. The main peculiarity of his musical works is in using short musical motives. His music is different. Some experts state that Haydn was fond of “monothematic exposition” where the music which represents the dominant key is practically the same as the beginning of the composition. Haydn’s compositions are known for their humor. The example of this fact is Surprise Symphony where suddenly we hear load chord in the slow movement. Some other Haydn’s popular jokes are represented by false endings and various rhythmic illusions which attract attention and make you listen it one more time. Most of his music is cheerful and delightful. Of course, some features of Haydn’s character can be easily found in his music. His minor-key works are serious in character and can be the exception to the rule. His fast movements are rhythmical and can show great energy at the end. The example is London Symphony No.104. (Clark, 29)

There was an evolution in the style of the composer which was represented by several styles. Each of these styles corresponds to his this or that period of life.

Haydn’s early works were represented by a period of uncertainty.

In 1760-th Haydn entered into the period of Starm and Drang or Storm and Stress. The musical language of the composer is more expressive. The most famous musical works of that period are the following ones: Farewell Symphony No.45. And six string quarters of Op.20. (London, Jones, 63)

The next period is a light entertaining style of Haydn. You will not find there any quarters and the symphonies are a little bit new with trumpets and timpani. The main reason of such changes in the style of the composer are his professional  duties which are connected with the production of comic operas.

In 1779 Haydn published his six string quarters of Opus 33 which were written in a new way. This was a pure Classical style. (Clark, 40)

In 1790 Haydn traveled a lot and developed his “popular”  style where he used a great deal of folk materials. He used this folk material in the endings of his sonatas and in the opening themes. The examples of his musical works are the Twelve London’s Symphonies, piano trios, some late quarters and two oratorios. (London, Jones, 81)

In 1795 the composer came back to his city Vienna and there was a change in his career. His style did not changed too much but his ideas concerning the  composition were different. He was a rich man and could avoid to compose music for  his  prosperity. His musical works The Creation and The Seasons appeared at the time. These works touched upon the theme of meaning of life and humanity. (Clark, 77)

Franz Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No.95 in C Minor. This wonderful symphony is one of the twelve London Symphonies which was written in 1791. Sometimes these London Symphonies are called Solomon symphonies after the man called Solomon who showed London to Haydn.  We know that Symphony No.95 was composed by Haydn during his first visit to London. In fact the composer expressed all his first impressions when he came to London. It is clear that he liked the city. His festal music at the beginning of the composition is changed suddenly into calm and  tender melodies. The symphony is represented by four movements. Movement 1: Allegro Moderato We can see changes in melody, loud music changes calm music, gallant music changes playful  music as if the composer getting acquainted with the capital city of Britain. The music is growing and then falling. Movement 2:Andante Cantabile represents a royal music which gives us an impression of our presence in the Royal Palace. Movement 3: Menuetto Trio represents a so-called ceremonial  music with smooth transition to soft music. It  stands for the conversation with his Majesty. Movement 4: Finale Vivace represents closing part which resembles us the parting meeting in the Royal Palace.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I should say that it is worth studying music appreciation because music helps us to understand life better. The language of music can say a lot and can even give you a good advice.