06 Mar How many instrumental melodies enter at the beginning and then continue to play throughout the work? · What is the

Discussion 1

Listen to the recording of " The little fugue " by Bach and answer the following questions:

· How many instrumental melodies enter at the beginning and then continue to play throughout the work?

· What is the texture created by the various melodies?

· Listen for places where the melody that introduced the piece is played again.

· When it is played again?

· Is it always in a high part or low part, or does it come back at different pitch levels?

In the body of the message, you will create a paragraph addressing each questions above. The paragraph should be more than four sentences and should be unique in the words used and ideas expressed.

Discussion 2

Listen to the recording of " Spring ," first movement, by Vivaldi and answer the following questions:

· What instruments are used to imitate a birdsong, a murmuring stream, and thunder and lightning?

· Do they sound anything like those sounds of nature, in your opinion?

· Do you think flutes imitating a bird's song, instead of violins, would be more believable?

· Do you hear the contrast between the solo violin and the violins of the orchestra?

· When does the solo violin stands out the most?

· In the beginning, the middle, or the end of the movement?

In the body of the message, you will create a paragraph addressing each questions above. The paragraph should be more than four sentences and should be unique in the words used and ideas expressed.

Discussion 3

Listen to the recording of " Ev'ry Valley " by Handel and answer the following questions:

· What is the aria "Ev'ry Valley" about, and how does it fit into the theme of Messiah?

· What is expressed by the music when the word "exalted" is sung?

· What about other words that are painted by the melody, such as "crooked" being made "straight," and "rough" places being made "plain"?

· How does that fit the meaning of the text?

· What do they say about the religious theme of the aria?

In the body of the message, you will create a paragraph addressing each questions above. The paragraph should be more than four sentences and should be unique in the words used and ideas expressed.

Discussion 4

Listen to two recordings of "Wachet Auf" by Bach and answer the following questions:

1. Bach: Zion Hort Die Wachter Singen (Zion Hears the Watchmen)

2. Bwv140 – Kantat – 04 – Koro – Zio hört die Wächter singe

· What is the language of this work, and what is the text about?

· Does tempo affect the perception of the music when comparing the two recordings? Explain your answer.

· Which recording did you prefer and why?

· If you were going to describe this music to a friend, what would you say?

In the body of the message, you will create a paragraph addressing each questions above. The paragraph should be more than four sentences and should be unique in the words used and ideas expressed

Discussion 5

Listen to the recording of "Thy Hand Belinda" and "When I am Laid in Earth" by Purcell and answer the following questions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf92jTgicGg

· What are these songs about, and how does each song use rhythm and tempo to best express the meaning of its text?

· How does the sound of the music and singing in "Thy hand Belinda" set the mood for the aria "When I am laid in earth" and the death that follows it?

· What does the bass line have in "When I am laid in earth," and what is it about the line that enhances the meaning of the text? If the bass violinist had not shown up for the performance, would the song have been just as effective without the part?

In the body of the message, you will create a paragraph addressing each questions above. The paragraph should be more than four sentences and should be unique in the words used and ideas expressed.