Aaron Copland`s story of "How We Listen" and Mike Hamad`s "Song Schematics."
Introduction
Music is a philosophical issue, and a reader must understand various factors to understand and feel the music. Copland and Hamad express their understanding of music which involves the manipulation of notes and presents a more intellectual approach to enhancing the appreciation of music. In spite the fact that Hamad is creative and makes music magical, I believe that Copland presents more regarding the listener in a way that can improve the understanding of music general music listening process.
Aaron Copland`s story of "How We Listen
In this essay, both objective attitude and subjective attitude occurs in the separate planes described. In the objective
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The two music lovers also agree on the importance of the study of music structure to form a solid foundation in all musical aspects as well as understand the entire diagnosis. Copland`s more scientific and technical plane matches Hamad`s understanding of vocal patterns, and it also contradicts the philosophical sensuous plane. It is, therefore, an impressive technique for Copland to write one right after the other and reflect Hamad`s thoughts in a way that covers the music listening process. Nonetheless, Copland diverts from Hamad`s methods by using a theoretical play analogy to express his point. It is another good technique applied by Copland and should be emulated by Hamad: allowing him to demonstrate the interrelating points of the three …show more content…
Besides, Copland suggests that music can be understood regarding notes, which Hamad illustrates through shapes and diagrams. Still, Copland argues that professional musicians become too conscious of musical notes that they become so engrossed with their staccatos and arpeggios that they ignore the profound aspects of music (1077). But, Hamad believes that the notes and technicality of music is also a deep part of it and should be observed. I think that Copland is right and if this factor continues, there is a fear of losing the musical expressive plane. Also, similar to what Hamad advocates for. I believe that listeners tend to neglect the technicalities of music and a good listener should understand the musical structure for him or her to enjoy the music
Lester William Polsfuss(a.k.a Les Paul): Early Life This research paper will not be a traditional paper, due to Lester William Polsfuss being such a profound musician and innovator. The format of this paper will represent a timeline, due to Polsfuss having so many achievements throughout his entire life. We will begin with the birth of Lester William Polsfuss and then up to him being awarded with two grammies in 2006. Although I have a personal attachment to Polsfuss, I will cover the history he changed and made.
In “How we listen to Music,” Aaron Copland begins his essay by examining the three ways of listening to music or as he calls them “Planes” (Page 442) the three planes he examines are Sensuous, Expressive and sheerly Musical Planes (Page 442). Copland organizes his essays around explaining these three different ways of listening to music, he analyzes how most listeners actually hear music, and how they might enrich their listening experience. Copland thesis appears at the end of the essay where he argues for a complex and complete way of listening to music, one that includes these three different ways The first plane of listening to music as per Copland is the sensuous plane, Copland suggest that most people listen to music only in the most
From my experience, this form of listening is especially prominent if music is a major part in the person’s life. For example, I am in choir, and I have noticed that because singing is a big part of my everyday routine, I can easily notice the details in music, and sometimes even mistakes. Like Copland mentions in “How We Listen”, intelligent and educated listeners are constantly aware of harmonies, rhythms, melodies, tone colors, key changes, and notes, just to name a few musical devices. This type of listening simply depends on a person’s musical education and
In Aaron Copland’s “How We Listen” Copland addresses the “three planes of listening,” sensory, expressive, and musical. Copland digresses onto the topic of the sensuous plane and described it as, “the simplest way of listening to music.” So then, wouldn’t every initial earful of any song be filed under the plane of “sensory”? Mindlessly tuning in, but consciously checking to see if the pros outweigh the cons, so that one can determine whether or not it’s worth another listen. He then projects onto the “expressive plane” and explains that individuals attempt to tie the known, to music.
Before the release of his latest album, Yeezus, Kanye West switched the first track from “Blood on the Leaves” to “On Sight”. West admitted this decision made his album less popular, but felt that it was necessary to properly convey the themes of frustration he hoped to represent in his album. After listening to these two pieces, I agreed with his assessment. While I enjoyed “Blood on the Leaves” more, “On Sight” was better at inciting emotions of frustration within the listener. I found “Blood on the Leaves” to be more aurally pleasing, but “On Sight” to possess the greater emotional impact. The two pieces are distinguished by elements of melody and texture that made “Blood on the Leaves” a more enjoyable piece than “On Sight”.
Meet my Jazz band. This is a picture of us in New Orleans my junior year during spring break to play Jazz. I decided upon this picture because this band has had such a profound impact on how I frame my future. My connection with music through the piano has been fostered ever since I could reach those shiny black and white collection of keys. Starting at the age of four, playing the classical music of Mozart and Bach was what my musical background was founded upon, with tangible medals and accomplishments as achievements.
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Outline “I don’t need words – it’s all in the phrasing” – Louis Armstrong. In this quote, we can see that Louis speaks through his music, he has no need for words because the “phrasing” (Musical term regarding composition) speaks for him. He expresses his emotions through his music and can radically blow minds with the simple blow of a trumpet. Louis Armstrong spoke through his music and his ideas could only be developed by his music. By this quote, it is apparent for us to see that he developed and redefined music through his actions.
A comparison of the Beijing Opera and the Italian Opera reveals a significant contrast in almost all fundamental areas of music between the two examples. Because of cultural influences, the two performances share little commonalities, as the timbre, medium, elements of pitch, rhythm, dynamics, form and phonic structure are definitely not similar. For instance, the musical and physical performance dynamics of the Beijing opera music are forceful, the timbre is loud, tinny and harsh, the rhythm is lively and vigorous, while the Italian Opera music has a gentle dynamic, steady and rolling rhythm and an emotionally deep timbre. One commonality that is noted for both examples, is the powerful delivery of the entertainment.
Music can bring the brightest of joys that keeps us moving through our dull and boring lives. An example of this joy is Ishmael Beah’s life as a boy soldier in his book A Long Way Gone. As he tells you his story, he tells of his dance group with his friends, the times he heard music in the middle of war, and how music saved him from the madness that brewed within him. Music has the unique ability to create peace in a person’s life despite the difficulties surrounding them, and to bring a constant reminder of who they are as a person.
Among the many successful things Aaron Copland has done for music, he has also written an eloquent description for the three separate musical planes. He begins by explaining that the simplest way to listen to music is “for the sheer pleasure of the musical sound itself” (Copland, 7). This feeling of listening to music for pleasure is it’s own plane. It is known as the sensuous plane, and Copland believes that this form of listening is “an important one in music, a very important one, but it does not constitute the whole story” (Copland, 8). It seems that Copland believed the reader could understand this concept on a personal level, so he chose not to elaborate on this plane.
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The 20th Century saw a lot of change for music. This wasn’t just for genres such as classical, minimalism etc. but for popular music such as; pop, rock, hip-hop etc. For this essay, I have decided to study the three genres of music; Musicals, Hip-Hop and Aleatoric Music. I have chosen to research Hip-Hop because I like the genre as a whole
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