Beethoven No.9 symphony
Your report should be 750-1000 words (approximately 2–3 pages, double-spaced). No late reports will be accepted, so plan ahead. If ever in doubt about the suitability of a concert—ask us!
Your paper should represent original thinking; you will draw on information presented in the online lesson material and in the assigned reading assignments, but you must rely primarily on your own ideas rather than on any external, secondary source material. There will be no need to include a bibliography, discography, or footnotes, except if you are using quotations or ideas from a specific source. Again, the basic content should mainly reflect your own reactions and ideas.
Your essay should demonstrate good writing skills—please proofread for spelling, grammar, organization, and so on. You must also submit Proof of Attendance with your Concert Report. This can be a ticket stub, a concert program, or even a photograph of you at the concert. If you have questions, please check with your instructors.
You will need to respect some obvious points: include the date and location of the performance (including the name of the venue), and, of course, the name(s) of the performer(s). If the concert comprises a number of acts—say a headliner and a supporting act or acts—your review will probably want to focus on one act in particular, in the interest of achieving greater depth of discussion. Be sure to include the titles of pieces (the names of songs or instrumental numbers, or the titles of larger-scale compositions) if you are able to do so.
In your musical criticism, draw on your knowledge of musical stylistic elements, such as we have covered in class and that you have studied in the Kamien textbook and the listening assignments. For example, include descriptive details of, say, a singing style or vocal qualities and characteristics (for example, melismatic decorations, use of call and response, and so on), instrumentation, dynamic characteristics (for example, loud or soft volume levels). Mention any featured soloists (vocalist(s) or instrumentalist(s), and so on). Discuss the tempo of a given piece (slow, moderate, up-tempo, and so on) and mood or affect. You might also describe a general quality or character of sound (for example either a thick or sparse texture). You might inform the reader if the performance spotlighted any display of vocal or instrumental virtuosity. Use any of the musical terms we have thus far discussed or that you have discovered in the glossary of your textbook.
In reviewing the concert experience, per se, you may want to take note of the audience's makeup and behavior. A report can include a word about audience reaction to both musical and visual events on the stage—responses to particular pieces, lighting effects, featured soloists or dancers, etc. You might also comment on the size, layout, and room acoustics of the venue; were you able to see and hear the performers clearly? Some contemporary musical performances depend on amplification and sound reinforcement provided by a sound or PA system; was the concert hampered or helped by the sound mix? Did you have any problems hearing any part of the program?
You may instead write a review of a television broadcast, or a DVD or video recording of a live concert. However, this option will necessarily eliminate most discussion of audience and venue; you review will have to concentrate more on issues of musical composition and performance.
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Beethoven No.9 symphony
Symphony no. 9 is an instrumental music that has relies on four movements, and integrates vocal soloists and chorus in the final movement and this is a unique feature for classical music during the time of composition. The orchestra relies on violin, cellos, violas, flutes, clarinet, horns, oboes and drums in varying lengths for the four movements. In the final movement, there is a solo vocal quartet consisting of the soprano, alto, tenor and baritone, together with a choir. Development of the symphony integrated fugal writing, a chorus and increased instrumentation in the latter stages of planning and this adds to the Symphony’s grand finale that has voices (Brown 531). This essay highlights on music elements in Beethoven’s no. 9 symphony in the four movements.
The first movement in the 9th symphony is the allegro ma non troppo un poco maestoso (UCTV). In essence the movement encompasses musical elements of the sonata form, and the theme is not immediately clear to the audiences. Affirmation of the d minor occurs at the bridge section, and the lengthy movement fluctuates over time up to the second theme. The orchestra emphasize on the first theme as they play in unison, with theme loud and repetitive, but having slight divergences over time. Recapitulation in the first movement helps to summarize thoughts of the composition, resolving the sonata accompanied with a concluding coda. The first movement primarily relies on the violin, with the melody alternating between harmonic intervals.
The second movement the scherzo- trio is the dominant arrangement, and there are only slight differences in tone with the first movement. The second movement begins with a loud open, and followed up by a louder melody as the orchestra join in playing a steady beat. As the orchestra plays in unison the build up is loud, but then the orchestra cut back going back and forth during the melody. The tonal variations in the second movement is fast in comparison to many second movements which are slow, the scherzo movement captures the variations in lyrical movement characterized by a final build up , followed by soft and loud ending. This accompanies the changes in the mood and tempo from fast to slow and then fast tempo.
The third movement is adagio, which begins with the slow soft sounds of the violins, and the movement is essentially a rondo where there are two alternating themes. The main theme returns may times alternating with the other sections. The tempo is moderately slow as the third movement begins, it then reverts...