Assignment for Sat, Feb 23rd

As discussed in class:

(1) Please finish up your short preludes, if you haven't done so already. I've seen preludes from most of you, and good work!

(2) Write a melody. We will discuss more about melody next class, so don't worry about the melody . . . just try to write one!  Remember to consider melodic contour (the shape of the melody), and rhythmic interest (try adding syncopations and a variety of note lengths).

(3) If you have time, take your melody and compose a short passage that sets the melody in one of the textures discussed in the pdf (see the previous post for the download link). You may choose any texture you like, but I recommend one of the following three: (i) chordal texture, (ii) homophonic texture (think melody and accompaniment), or (iii) monophonic texture with decorations and embellishments.

Orchestration Textures

Here's a link to a much larger PDF that includes the "Orchestration Textures" images a few posts down. Download the PDF from here to view!

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19603359/Orchestration%20Textures.pdf

My favorite piece is..

My favorite piece is A Fifth of Beethoven because it's a classical piece with jazz in it, and those combined together make a great song to listen to. I listened to it a couple years ago, and it's still one of my favorites. It was written by Walter Murphy.
(I had to post the other version of the video because I wasn't sure which one to use)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=681NvqpO2eU

Jacqueline Du Pre, Elgar Concerto, 1967

Shostakovich's 8th Quartet

The first part of the Shostakovich 8th Quartet (mov 1, 2 and 3). Later I will post the remaining movements.

Initial Orchestration Texture images

A scan from an orchestration texture regarding the use of musical textures in composition:

Shostakovich Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor

We listened to some of the fourth movement to this fantastic piano trio. Here's a video of the *only* the 4th movement:

And because it's wonderful to hear the entire piece, all four movements, here's the video of the trio in its entirety:

Jenna's favorite - Mozart - Serenade in G major, K. 525 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik' - I. Allegro .

I like this piece because it is very bouncy and joyful. It has a repitition of a theme in different parts of the piece. This is a very famous piece, and I still enjoy it . I hope you do too!   - Jenna

Bach Cello Suite #1 in G: Prelude

This is one of my favorite pieces. I've performed many times on viola and it is (in my mind) a great example of an idea moved forward by harmonization. I think Yo-Yo Ma does a great job of showing the progression in harmonies as the piece moves to its climax and eventually calms to a well rounded end.

Beethoven Violin Concerto

One of my favorite pieces is the Beethoven Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61. I really enjoy how the melody develops throughout the concerto, and how the intervals in certain passages are nice the listen to. Also I like the textures of the orchestra, and the melody represented in their part.
Itzhak Perlman - Beethoven Concerto in D Major

Favorite Piece

One of my favorite pieces is the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major because it has a very beautiful melody that  keeps coming back but is approached through different ways. The whole piece is very emotional, and the orchestra fits very well with the violin part to make the piece exciting and keep the listener interested through the whole piece.
 Tchaikovsky violin concerto in D major-Joshua Bell

Giant Steps - John Coltrane

My favorite piece is one by John Coltrane, the famous jazz saxophonist. The piece is called Giant Steps and shows Coltrane's mastery of the instrument and the mastery of his quartet as a group. The reason I like it so much is the quick chord changes and the amazing solos throughout bring keeps ones interest during the whole four and a half minutes.

John Coltrane - Giant Steps