FACTS ABOUT MUSIC
- Vibrations are the source of all musical sound. Composers write down these sounds using notation - a code of signs and symbols that enables musicians to interpret and play musical compositions of any type. In music notation, two main elements in musical sound -- Pitch and Rhythm are featured. To indicate these musical sounds in writing, Notes are used to express duration; the Staff and the Clefs to express notes of different pitch.
- The first PRINTED MUSIC is believed to be Johannes Gerson's Collectorium super Magnificat, printed by Conrad Fyner. This book is a collection of plainsong which was issued in Esslingen, Germany in 1473. Ranulf Higden's Policronicon , printed by Caxton, which appeared in 1482, was the first printed music book in England. The musical examples had to be hand-written on each copy of this book. The earliest publishing house devoted almost entirely to music-printing was established in Venice in 1501 by Ottaviano dei Petrucci (1466-1539).
- The notation used in this site is the CONVENTIONAL STAFF NOTATION, which was developed in the beginning of 1700 A.D. and evolved to its present form since then. Prior to this, the MODAL NOTATION (around 1175-1250 A.D.) and the MENSURAL NOTATION (around 1250-1600 A.D.)were in use. The GRAPHIC NOTATION (developed during the mid 20th Century ) is also used by some modern composers to express very complex series of sound. The Conventional Staff Notation is internationally used at present.
- THE DIATONIC SCALE: – The bulk of western music is based on major and minor scales (whole-step & half-step) – traditional patterns of pitches that sound pleasing to the ear. Most of the lessons in this book are based on this element for easy reference and clear understanding of the western system of music – certainly a great help to further understand about other type of scales, modes, modern chords as well as other aspects of music.
- THE KEY in music compositions are related upon a system of tonality based upon the principles of western music which are in common use since the late 16th century. According to the tonal principles, the melody should be formed only with the notes that fall in the scale, and thus the melody makes a logical sense and sounds pleasant even to average listeners. Similarly, the chord (vertical notes that harmonize the melody) and the succession of chords progress easily along with the melody lines. However, theoretical aspects of music has progressed a lot since then – the contemporary music has established so many rules and made it possible to study and practice music in even wider perspective.
- ABSOLUTE PITCH The aural faculty known as the 'tonal memory’ - the gift to identify the pitch of any musical sound immediately by its name without the help of any instrument or any sounded note. Some have inborn gift of absolute pitch while many acquire it simply by 'hearing practice'. Precocious children have reportedly been found with this gift, but it may decline with their growing age. There is no justification of considering it as a sign of outstanding musical ability - as even some great composers and musicians are known not to have been blessed with this gift. However, it is a valuable asset to a musician - particularly to a singer or a conductor to possess the sense of absolute pitch - except in the situation that the music is transposed to another key.
- The Theory of Music deals with one or more of the following aspects - acoustics, notation, melody, rhythm, harmony, counterpoint, composition, form and musical aesthetics - according to the period in which the music has been composed or written
- Music in the Western Culture is the result of various influences, including the formalization of improvised traditions; the growth of notation; the development of tuning systems; the treatment of text; innovative approaches to form; the role of patronage; the absorption of various cultures into the style; the growth of technology; investigations of performance practice; and various other factors. - from Western Music - A Short History by James L. Zychowicz
- A MINOR SCALE is so called because its Third Degree is one semi-tone lower than that of the major scale thus making the distance from the Tonic to Mediant smaller or minor, while this distance in a major scale is bigger or major.There are three forms of a minor scale – Natural (pure) minor, Harmonic minor and Melodic minor.These 3 minor scales differ from one another only because of the difference in step-pattern in the upper tetrachord.– all have the same step-pattern in the lower tetrachord. Both the major and minor scales have the same Tonic, known respectively as Tonic Major and Tonic minor. Minor keys are normally used for the songs or instrumental music that intend to express sad or melancholic feelings – while the Major keys are used for happy and lively songs.
- Science has proven that music played in the higher register (pitch) increases tension while played in the lower register reduces tension. Similarly, music played at a tempo of 80-90 beats per minute increases tension, while played at 40-60 beats per minute decreases tension. – from The Miracle of Music Therapy by Rajender Menen
- ABSOLUTE music is the kind of music which has no association with anything outside itself. It is not associated with any pictorial or narrative scheme of emotions, nor does it attempt to reproduce sounds in nature. Hence, it is mostly instrumental, although not all instrumental music is Absolute music. Bach's Art of Fugue is an example of Absolute music. Bach and, to some extent, Mozart stand as the main representatives of Absolute Music.
- As opposed to Absolute music, PROGRAM MUSIC is the music of a narrative or descriptive kind. The term was introduced by Franz Liszt (1811-1886), who defined a program as -" a preface added to a piece of instrumental music to direct the listener's attention to the poetical idea of the whole or to a particular part of it. " Program music makes an attempt to depict pictures, objects and events as its theme. However, the concept is much older than Liszt. Kuhnau's six Bible sonatas (1700) are each preceded by a summary of what the music is meant to convey. Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' concertos are the examples of Program music.However, the distinction is unsound, since music, being a product of the human mind, can never be wholly separated from human experiences.
- The German Neo-classical composer Paul Hindemith (1895-1963) thought that “tonality in music is inevitable just as the law of gravity in the physical world – and ignoring it not only is ineffective but results in chaos. The various possible combinations of intervals within the twelve tones of the scale have a naturally ordered relationship both to each other and to fundamental central tonalities – and such natural relationships must be observed in all musical compositions.”
- The Italian opera composer Guiseppe Verdi (1813-1901) is the only eminent composer in the history of western music who was also a successful farmer. All his interest was in humanity. He was completely unsentimental towards nature. According to him, "Nature is there to be used, not worshipped."
- Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) - having earned a historical position as the founder of the classical string quartet and he has been regarded as "the father of instrumental music". He always aimed to please both the ordinary music lover and the expert with his music, and it is one of the measures of his greatness that he succeeded in both. He was occasionally criticized for writing music that was too cheerful for church. At this his answer was, "My heart leaps for joy at the thought of God, and I don't think God would disgrace me for praising Him with a cheerful heart."
- Music can be an effective tool for the mentally or emotionally ill. Autism is one disorder that has been particularly researched. Music Therapy has enabled some autistic children to relate to others by participating and socially interacting through music and eventually improved their learning skills. -- from "The Miracle of Music Therapy" by Rajender Menen
more will follow......