Response To Each Music Piece: Symphonies And Symphony Music

Your Name
Subject and Section
Professor’s Name
Date
Response to each Music Piece
Symphonies and Symphony music
Beethoven, Symphony #5
The first few seconds of the Allegro con brio already expresses a nerve-shaking intensity of emotion. I felt not just simple anger but the sustained feeling of anger as exemplified by the long fermata notes. Suddenly, after the sustained loud fermata notes, von Karajan started a feeling of suspense by using some quietly growing crescendo. As the suspense grew louder towards the end of the first theme, the notes of the exhausted feeling of anger were heard to transform into a soft rhythm of horns followed by a bright melody of slowly growing suspense of the second theme. The softer second theme is heard as a tiny moment of peace in between the strong and stormy characteristics of the first theme.
Beethoven, Symphony #9
The first movement sounded like a theme during the time of danger and oppression. It conveys some intense fear of running away from something but could not. It felt like I'm trapped in the proximity of my own home that I needed to tiptoe my way around because there is something very ominous towards the end of the first movement. At the start of the last movement, Barenboim continued the ominous sound of the cellos but mixed with fortes and crescendos that somehow showed a push and pull of peace and fear. After which, the sound of slowly growing suspense of peaceful melody after the fear of danger was intensified, then, bang, an explosion of a very powerful Goosebumps making music that exalts oneself with breathtaking energy erupted like a revolution of the self against overwhelming adversity was felt. It is such a great privilege to listen to the music.
Mozart, Symphony #40
At first, I felt that the first movement was consistent with fast motions of the violins as a feeling of slight anger build up. Then, fragments of the pace become more desperate. However; when I heard the second movement, the other part of the music as a soft and chromatic showed a comparison between the first and second movement. The first movement then felt more like an agitated person rather than an angry person that is frustrated to do something but cannot. The second movement was presented with some lovely rhythm with repeating notes like an introduction to a story before a conflict.
Brahms, Symphony #3
The Allegro begins with a fast-paced run of the rhythm with a soft start. The dynamics of accelerando and sudden diminuendo felt like an exhaustive struggle at the climax of the music. I felt like a roller coaster ride of suddenness and surprises. Brahms then build through some slows series of climaxes showing soft consistency of the sound towards the end of a broad coda. The end part gives a feeling of slow falling like that soft feeling before sleeping.
Elgar, “Nimrod”
Elgar started with soft slow and quiet rhythm gradually building into some expectation of a new bright melody. I felt like a climbing journey that there is some goal in the end. The journey is sad and lonely in the beginning. However, as I move forward, energy and passion come radiating as I got nearer and nearer towards the end. Then, the ending felt like an ending of a long journey where you know that someone or something satisfactory is waiting like the soft pianississimo whispers of Elgar.
Concertos
Vivaldi, Four Seasons, Winter
The start felt like my head was nodding up and down while shivering due to the intense cold. The violin solo is like blowing air of targeted wind at my body slowly increasing in force. I felt like walking outside with snowy weather slowly being nervous to find shelter. Then, as the second movement started, it felt like I’m in a warm and cozy house covered with a blanket beside a warm chimney while enjoying a good book or two. I felt falling into relaxation listening to the solo rhythm of the violin strings.
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto #5
The harpsichord was very flexible: a continuo and a soloist. I felt utter amazement towards the end as the harpsichord soloist hammers a virtuoso passage. I also felt the torture of that harpsichord player while I am slowly being swallowed at awe. Then, the orchestra started to play again at the last part with the sound of the harpsichord still resonating in my ears. I felt the state of belongingness even though different instruments are playing.
Opera
Mozart, Overture to Marriage of Figaro
The overture was surely fast with tempo presto. It has some parts that contain a mezzo piano that are moderately soft and then crescendos to fortissimos. It felt like the ups and downs of the dynamics are the prequel to some impending ups and downs of the whole opera. I felt a lively playful teasing at the middle part that turns into a high chase motion towards the end. I felt like I’m running away from someone that turns out all right in the end.
Wagner, Overture to The Flying Dutchman
Wagner did not waste time making suspense, the starting note of the overture was already full of climaxes. I felt a sensation of devastating weather of the stormy seas and also, the ocean of stormy emotions. The crescendos after the first devastating part slowly lead to a more devastating emotional storm heightened even more by the horns. I felt sheer emotional instability like the sea sickness of a moving ship while the horns where playing. I felt dizzy towards the end like I am one of the crew members aboard the ship while fighting my way against nausea.
Mozart, “Queen of the Night”
I felt terrified. I was completely shocked at the soprano of the highest quality while she was singing about the astonishingly high note,” ah-ah-ah-ah-aaah,” part of the song. I felt power; great power held by the queen of the night that she is not a person that you do not mess with. I felt a depleting source of courage and hope as I can no longer help myself to fight back against this terrifying opponent. My knees felt like a petrified terror-stricken person that can no longer walk.
Verdi, ”La donna e mobile.”
I felt happy. The music from ...