J. S. Bach Ricercar Essay
Special Topic #4: J. S. Bach Ricercar
This piece of music, The Musical Offering, is a set of pieces composed by J. S. Bach in 1747. King Frederick II of Prussia challenged J. S. Bach to improvise a six-voice fugue on the theme of “Regis Iussu Cantio Et Reliqua Canonica Arte Resoluta", and so he did. The first letters of each word of the theme spell out the word “Ricercar”, which was a well-known genre of that time. Throughout this piece, J.S. Bach uses many of the basic elements of music to all work together to create the shape, along with the dramatic flow of this piece.
The first element is instrumentation. The instrumentation of this piece is produced by the harpsichord. Much like the piano, the harpsichord is a keyboard, expect the keys are plucked instead of hammered. The plucking produces the timbre of a sharp,
…show more content…
Also, the volume remains mostly constant throughout this piece. Another element presented is the rhythm. The rhythm of “Ricercar” consists of a moderate tempo which also is rubato in many areas. There are many rhythmic activities occurring, the amount of activities variate throughout this piece. A third element is the melody. The melody plays a major part in the dramatic flow. It displays a lighthearted, yet mysterious mood. Also, the melody is conjunct. The high-pitched element of the melody creates the rise in tension in the dramatic flow. Also, when the melody scales down, it presents the release. Another element of music used in the harmony. Just opposite of the melody, the harmony is low pitched and dissonant. This creates the rise in tension as well. The harmony is a major key, with modulation to a minor key. Again, the change in keys also is responsible for recognizing the tension and release throughout this piece. The element of texture also plays a big role in creating the dramatic flow. The texture of this piece is a very thick texture with areas that present a thin texture. The
Clarence Cameron White Biography
575 Words | 3 PagesAmong his many great compositions, his piece “Chant, Op 12, No. 1 "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" is one that has influenced many individuals. The form of the song starts softly with the low pitches of the piano and then the violin accompanies it. Around two minutes into the song, the pitches of the violin changes to very high pitched for about forty seconds, and then the song goes back to its normal texture until the song ends. The texture of the song is polyphonic. As the violin is the instrument that is the main instrument in this piece, the piano accompanies it with its harmony of low and high pitches.
Annotated Bibliography: The Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice
885 Words | 4 PagesTed Zhang Ms Hughes English II Nov 1st 2015 ““The Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, was a Roman Catholic missionary educator. Edmund is the founder of the Institute of Religion religious brothers: Christian Brothers and Presentation Brothers congregation. His parents, Robert and Margaret meters, is bustling tenant. Edmund has six brothers and two sisters, Edmund 's mother had been married before.
Cradle Song Edward Randall Analysis
1362 Words | 6 PagesUpon investigation he found a little child sleeping in a hammock which was being gently swayed by the breeze. The sound made by the rusty hook appealed to him and he immediately jotted it down, and then and there composed the “Cradle Song.” It will be readily noticed by those who have again the pleasure of hearing the “Cradle Song” that the opening bars closely resemble the sound made by a rusty hook swinging in the ring. The other strain pervading the composition is one which the composer has always had in his
Hector Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique
750 Words | 3 PagesThis music is highly programmatic with each movement showing a different story. The first movement is a comparison between how Berlioz felt before he met the women he fell madly in love with, and the way he feels after knowing her. The fixed idea, based on his beloved, is introduced here. The second movement is a dance movement where he sees his beloved once again at a ball. The idée fixe shows up, but instead this time as a waltz as he sees her.
Into The Woods Analysis
1386 Words | 6 PagesThe music of that scene is a high pitch and rapid rhythm that brings audiences horrified and worried feelings. Also, when the Prince found his real love, Cinderella, the music is peaceful and harmonious. Audiences can feel the happiness that shared from the lovely couple. I believe there are various elements to form an excellent musical, such as story, music, actors, and so
Production Of 'The Light In The Piazza'
1367 Words | 6 PagesThe painted set pieces flowed off and on stage very smoothly during transitions. Things were very well painting, like the Rome scene. The pillars of the roman buildings and the colors all blended very well together. However, the ruins looked very cartoony and not as real as the rest of the set. The moving set pieces that were used up on the fly also moved very well with each scene.
Analysis Of Bizet And Symphony No. 2 By Tchaikovsky
758 Words | 4 PagesEspecially in the middle of the century, with the domination of the German influences, their own-country-styled-music was started to discover by composers of the other country from Germany. The investigation evaluates how this nationalistic movements was influenced musical elements of this period. I have chosen to investigate two Romantic pieces, L’Arlesienne by Bizet and Symphony No.2 by Tchaikovsky. The both music I chose is the music that I have played in orchestra by violin before. Symphony No.2 is the one that I played as concertmistress that I have emotional attachment to the song itself too.
Well Tuned Piano
646 Words | 3 PagesIn the beginning of the song, the low toned notes are played powerfully. The notes continue naturally and the flow is uniformity. According to the professor, Just Intonation is a musical tuning in which all frequencies are tuned as ratios of small whole number ratios to a single unified fundamental. At 3:20, the second part begins after
Song Composition: 12-Tone Composition
395 Words | 2 PagesThe use of word painting in this 12-tone composition is certainly different from the one in a tonal work, because assigning a melismatic melody over a certain syllable or word is almost impossible. In this song, the word painting uses the entire vocal melody of a certain line of the poem to emanate the implied meaning of the line, while either the canonical passage or the palindrome supports the word painting accomplished by the melody. For example, part of the melody in the vocal line for the fourth line of the poem that tells unter deiner Hand zur Ruh (“gain rest beneath your hand”) gradually descends from E5 to D4 (mm.8-10). The harp passage, the arpeggiated pitches in the piano at m. 8, symbolizes a restful moment thus reiterates the interpretation of this fourth line of the poem. However, the
Roy Harris: A Well-Known American Composer
682 Words | 3 PagesFurthermore, in general, Roy Harris was delved into him and his works by American scholars. Unlike foreign composers, it was easy to search information in English since he is an American composer. In this process of research, the primary sources of bibliographies are several scholar’s books, journal articles, and dissertations. In addition, it was categorized with several keywords: biography, symphonies, band music, keyboard music, vocal music, chamber music, choral music, and theory. First of all, his biographies are the most searched section of this project, included fifty-two bibliographies regarding subject.
Comparing Bach And Handel's Music
575 Words | 3 PagesBoth J.S. Bach and G.F. Handel use different aspects of music to compose important pieces of music. The baroque period is often known as the time when artists exaggerated their motion and produced drama through interpreted detail. Both of these composers used this baroque style to convey messages through their music. The similarity in their music was that it is in a spiritual manner. J.S. Bach’s style was a harmonic and motivation manner, which Handel’s is more of a narrative.
Night On Bald Mountain
590 Words | 3 PagesThis orchestral composition is a skillful combination of these elements that makes this classical piece one of my favorites. The instrumentation
The Musical Reflection Of The Swan Lake Suite
947 Words | 4 PagesThere were many musical elements heard throughout these pieces and it was interesting to hear how they varied in each song and suite. In Intermezzo, it began with a quieter violin solo melody creating a monophonic texture. Soon after, it became accompanied by the other violins and cellos, then the full ensemble came in creating a moderate, flowing melody at about mezzo forte and switching to a polyphonic texture. Next, there was a harp solo at forte with many crescendos and decrescendos. The full ensemble enters again raising the dynamics to forte before decrescendoing and slowing down to end with a held note and final tone.
Lohengrin: Prelude By Richard Wagner: Music Analysis
491 Words | 2 PagesThe piece comprise of many musical instrument particularly string, brass, and woodwinds. The composer also use repetition in composing as the first part is repeated at the end of the piece, but with more sophisticated dynamics and timbre. In my opinion, the piece by Richard Wagner is a very good example for the topic of Basic Musical Concept that introduce many essential parts like referential listeners and structure of
Richard Strauss Violin Sonata Analysis
782 Words | 4 PagesZhang Zhou Yaodong Professor Greg Peterson Classical styles and romantic spirits 2 November 2016 Richard Strauss Violin Sonata Richard Strauss (1864-1949), was a leading German composer and conductor. His orchestral compositions and operas have made him one of the best known composers of the late Romantic and early modern eras. While Strauss did not pay much attention to his chamber music in his later life, in earlier years he tried to compose several different types of chamber works such as a string quartet, two piano trios, a piano quartet and several instrumental sonatas. Now I will introduce his last work of chamber music, the violin sonata. At the age of 23, Strauss composed
More about J. S. Bach Ricercar Essay
Clarence Cameron White Biography
575 Words | 3 PagesAnnotated Bibliography: The Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice
885 Words | 4 PagesCradle Song Edward Randall Analysis
1362 Words | 6 PagesHector Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique
750 Words | 3 PagesInto The Woods Analysis
1386 Words | 6 PagesProduction Of 'The Light In The Piazza'
1367 Words | 6 PagesAnalysis Of Bizet And Symphony No. 2 By Tchaikovsky
758 Words | 4 PagesWell Tuned Piano
646 Words | 3 PagesSong Composition: 12-Tone Composition
395 Words | 2 PagesRoy Harris: A Well-Known American Composer
682 Words | 3 PagesComparing Bach And Handel's Music
575 Words | 3 PagesNight On Bald Mountain
590 Words | 3 PagesThe Musical Reflection Of The Swan Lake Suite
947 Words | 4 PagesLohengrin: Prelude By Richard Wagner: Music Analysis
491 Words | 2 PagesRichard Strauss Violin Sonata Analysis
782 Words | 4 Pages