Music Appreciation: Chapter 12

Summary

This script explores the diverse relationships between music and culture globally. It highlights the integration of music in society beyond professional musicians, the distinction between sacred and secular music, and the importance of genre and form. The discussion covers musical aesthetics, oral transmission, and the study of music by ethnomusicologists. It emphasizes the focus on Western art music, the concept of style, and the characteristics of different historical periods, including a guide to understanding music through nine elements.

Takeaways

• 🌏 Different cultures have unique relationships with music, with some integrating music into daily life to the extent that everyone participates in music making.
• 🎼 Despite the diversity of musical genres globally, there are commonalities, such as the distinction between sacred and secular music, which transcends cultural boundaries.
• 🎵 The concepts of genre and form are important in music; a genre indicates the character and function of a work, while form refers to the structure within a genre.
• 📚 Musical works can be identified by titles that may indicate genre, key, or cataloging systems like opus numbers, which help in classifying compositions.
• 🎶 Aesthetic judgments in music vary by culture; for instance, Chinese opera favors a thin, tense vocal tone, while Italian opera prefers a full-throated, robust sound.
• 🎵 Not all music is written down; many cultures, including some Western styles, rely on oral transmission, performing music from memory.
• 🔍 Ethnomusicologists study music in its historical context and work to capture music that has never been written down through field recordings.
• 🎻 The focus of the class is primarily on Western art music, which is notated and cultivated from European and Euro-American societies, often labeled as classical or serious music.
• 🎷 Vernacular music, such as rock and jazz, is considered by many to be new art forms, but they are not the main focus of this class.
• 🎼 Musical style is characterized by the way an artwork is presented, allowing us to recognize composers by their unique musical fingerprint.
• 🎶 Western musical canon is melody-oriented and based on a particular system from which underlying harmonies are built, differing from other cultures that may not emphasize harmony.
• 📈 Complex rhythmic procedures and textures distinguish some world music from Western styles, but basic formal considerations like repetition and variation bring them closer to our own.
• 📚 Historical styles in music are indicative of the period's total language as artists react to various societal forces, and understanding these styles helps place a work within its context.

Q & A

What is the relationship between music and culture as described in the script?

The script describes that in the Western world, music is often the domain of professional musicians, but in many other cultures, music is integrated into society with everyone participating in music making. This integration leads to a variety of genres that are not the same globally, yet can have similarities.

How does the script differentiate between sacred and secular music?

The script differentiates sacred music as being for the purpose of religion, while secular music is for the purpose of entertainment. This distinction crosses cultural boundaries.

What is the difference between genre and form in music, according to the script?

Genre is a more general term that suggests the overall character and function of a musical work, such as 'song' or 'symphony'. Form, on the other hand, refers to the specific structure of each movement within a work, like the four movements of a symphony.

How are musical pieces often identified in the script?

Musical pieces can be identified by titles that may indicate the genre and key, like 'Symphony No. 94 in G Major' by Joseph Haydn. They can also be identified through cataloging systems, often described by opus numbers, such as 'Nocturne in C Minor, Opus 48, No. 1' by Frédéric Chopin.

What is oral transmission in the context of music?

Oral transmission refers to the preservation of music without the aid of written notation, where music is transmitted by example or imitation and performed from memory.

What role do ethnomusicologists play in modern times as described in the script?

Ethnomusicologists study music in its historical context and attempt to capture music that has never been previously written down through field recordings made in the context of natural music making.

What is the focus of the listening guides in the script?

The listening guides focus primarily on Western art music, which is notated music cultivated from European and Euro-American societies, often labeled as classical or serious music.

How does the script define 'style' in music?

Style in music is defined as the characteristic way an artwork is presented, making one musical work sound similar to or different from another. It can be recognized by pitch, time, timbre, and expression, creating a sound that each culture recognizes as its own.

What are the nine relevant elements of music that the script mentions?

The nine relevant elements of music mentioned in the script are melody, rhythm and meter, harmony, texture, form, expression with tempo and dynamics, text, timbre, and the performing forces.

How can the timeline on page 59 of the book help in understanding music?

The timeline on page 59 provides historical periods and their dates, along with descriptions of the basic styles represented in each era, and a list of featured composers, which helps place a musical work within the context in which it was created.

What is the importance of the 'what to listen for' sections in the listening guides according to the script?

The 'what to listen for' sections are imperative for understanding the musical concepts in the course, as they focus the listener's attention on the most prominent and relevant features of a particular work, and guide them to listen for different elements during multiple listenings.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 Global Perspectives on Music and Its Cultural Significance

This paragraph explores the varying relationships different cultures have with music. It contrasts the Western concept of professional musicians with societies where music is a collective, participatory activity. The paragraph also discusses the global diversity of music genres and their potential similarities despite cultural differences. It introduces the distinction between sacred and secular music, and explains the concepts of genre and form in music. The importance of medium and performance group is highlighted, with examples of how musical works are titled and identified. The influence of cultural context on aesthetic judgments is noted, with examples from Chinese and Italian opera. The paragraph concludes with a discussion on oral transmission of music and the role of ethnomusicologists in preserving and studying music from various traditions.

05:01

📚 Understanding Musical Styles and Historical Contexts

The second paragraph delves into the concept of musical style, which encompasses pitch, time, timbre, and expression to create a unique sound recognized by each culture. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical context of music, including the influence of political, economic, religious, and philosophical forces on the style of a period. The paragraph provides an overview of the timeline of historical periods and their musical styles, as well as notable composers. It also introduces the concept of 'what to listen for' in music, highlighting nine key elements of music that contribute to a piece's style and expression. The paragraph encourages readers to engage with listening guides and musical examples to deepen their understanding of these concepts.

Keywords

💡Cultural Integration

Cultural integration refers to the way in which music is deeply embedded within a society, influencing how it is created and experienced. In the context of the video, it highlights the difference between Western cultures where music is often a specialized activity, and other cultures where music is a participatory aspect of daily life, with everyone involved in the music-making process.

💡Musical Genres

Musical genres are categories that classify music based on style, function, and cultural origin. The script discusses the diversity of genres globally and how they can have similarities despite cultural differences. For instance, Japanese theater and Western opera are mentioned as distinct genres that share the commonality of being theatrical performances.

💡Sacred vs. Secular Music

The script distinguishes between sacred music, which is used for religious purposes, and secular music, which is for entertainment. This differentiation is a universal concept that transcends cultural boundaries, illustrating the dual role of music in both spiritual and secular contexts.

💡Genre and Form

Genre is a broad term that indicates the overall character and function of a musical work, such as a song or symphony. Form, on the other hand, refers to the specific structure of each movement within a piece, like the four movements of a symphony. The script uses these terms to explain the organization and categorization of musical works.

💡Opus Number

Opus number is a cataloging system used to identify musical works, derived from the Latin word 'opus' meaning 'work'. The script mentions opus numbers as a way to classify and organize compositions, such as 'Nocturne in C minor Opus 48 number one' by Chopin, providing a systematic approach to music identification.

💡Ethnomusicology

Ethnomusicology is the study of music in its cultural and historical context. The script describes ethnomusicologists as scholars who document and study music, especially those forms that have not been previously written down, using field recordings to capture the essence of such music in its natural setting.

💡Western Art Music

Western art music is a category of music that is notated and has been cultivated from European and Euro-American societies. The script emphasizes that this type of music is the primary focus of the class, often labeled as 'classical' or 'serious' music, and distinguishes it from other forms of music such as vernacular or popular music.

💡Musical Style

Musical style refers to the characteristic way an artwork is presented, which can make one piece of music sound similar to or different from another. The script explains that style is recognizable in the works of composers like Mozart, whose style is distinct from that of Handel or Bach, and is a key aspect of understanding and appreciating music.

💡Oral Transmission

Oral transmission is the preservation of music without the aid of written notation, transmitted by example or imitation and performed from memory. The script notes that this method is common in most cultures of the world, including some styles of Western music, emphasizing the importance of aural tradition in music history.

💡Historical Styles

Historical styles represent the collective language of artists during a specific period, influenced by political, economic, religious, and philosophical forces. The script mentions that understanding these styles can help place a musical work within its creation context, and it provides a timeline in the book to illustrate the historical periods and their musical characteristics.

💡Listening Guides

Listening guides are tools designed to focus attention on the prominent features of a musical work. The script instructs viewers to use these guides to deepen their understanding of musical concepts by actively listening for specific elements such as melody, rhythm, and form, and to follow along with the notated markings within the guides.

Highlights

Different cultures have unique relationships with music, with some integrating music into society to the extent that everyone participates in music making.

Music genres vary globally but can still share similarities despite cultural differences.

In Japan, no theater is similar to Western opera, illustrating the cross-cultural differences in music.

Sacred and secular music serve different purposes and are universally recognized as distinct categories.

The distinction between genre and form is important, with genre indicating the overall character and function of a musical work.

Symphony is an example of a genre that also implies the medium and structure of the work, such as a four-movement orchestral piece.

Musical works are often identified by titles that may indicate genre, key, or cataloging systems like opus numbers.

Ethnomusicologists study music in its historical context, capturing previously unwritten music through field recordings.

Aesthetic judgments of music vary from culture to culture, with examples given of Chinese and Italian opera preferences.

Not all music is written down; many cultures, including some Western styles, rely on oral transmission.

The class focuses on Western art music, which is notated and cultivated from European and Euro-American societies.

Vernacular music, such as popular and traditional music, is essential and can be considered new art forms like rock and jazz.

The term 'style' in music refers to the characteristic presentation of an artwork, making it recognizable.

Composers can be identified by their unique musical style, as seen in the distinct sounds of Mozart, Handel, and Bach.

Western musical canon is melody-oriented and based on a system that builds underlying harmonies.

Music from other cultures may sound foreign due to different musical systems, often lacking harmony.

Complex rhythmic procedures and textures distinguish world music from Western styles.

A musical style is composed of pitch, time, timbre, and expression, creating a sound recognized by each culture.

Historical periods have their own stylistic characteristics, influenced by political, economic, religious, and philosophical forces.

A useful timeline in the book provides historical periods, dates, and descriptions of basic styles for each era.

Listening guides in the book focus on prominent and relevant features of a work to aid understanding of musical concepts.

The nine relevant elements of music to listen for include melody, rhythm, meter, harmony, texture, form, expression, tempo, dynamics, text, timbre, and performing forces.

Transcripts

different cultures around the world have

different relationships to music

in our western world we have dedicated

people who

are professional musicians but this

isn't the case in every culture

and many other places around the world

music is integrated into society

so much so that everybody participates

in music making

for this reason many genres are not the

same globally

although there are many different genres

from around the world they can still

have similarities

for example in japan no theater is

similar to western opera

one thing that does cross cultural

boundaries however is the

differentiation between

sacred music or music for the purpose of

religion

versus secular music or music for the

purpose of entertainment

there's also a difference between genre

and form

a genre is a more general term that

suggests something of the overall

character of the work

as well as its function for example song

is a genre so is symphony usually

designating a four movement orchestral

work

as we'll see later each movement of a

symphony has a specific form for each

movement

or a specific structure the word

symphony also implies the medium

or the specific group that performs that

piece in this case

an orchestra titles for musical pieces

occasionally indicate the genre and the

key

such as symphony number 94 and g major

by joseph haydn another way works are

identified is through a cataloging

system

often described by opus number opus is

latin for work

we frequently see this in music such as

in nocturne in c minor opus 48 number

one

a piano work by frederic chopin

other titles can be more descriptive

such as the nutcracker

a ballet by the russian composer

tchaikovsky

or the trout a song by franz schubert an

austrian composer

as the context for music the when why

and by whom a piece is performed

varies from culture to culture so do

aesthetic judgments

for example the chinese consider a thin

tense vocal tone desirable in their

operas

[Music]

while the italians prefer a

full-throated robust sound in their

[Music]

opera

different cultures prioritize and value

different aesthetics in their musical

genres

not all music is written down music of

most cultures of the world including

some styles of western music

is transmitted by example or by

imitation

and is performed from memory the

preservation of music without aid of

written notation

is referred to as oral transmission or

transmitted by mouth

in modern times music scholars known as

ethnomusicologists

study music in its historical context

they've attempted to capture music that

has never been previously written down

through field recordings or recordings

that are made

in real life in the context of natural

music making

while this book and this class considers

how music operates in several different

traditions

the listening guides focus primarily on

western art music

meaning notated music that's cultivated

from european and euro-american

societies

we often label art music as classical or

serious music for lack of better terms

however the lines that distinguish art

music from other kinds of music

can be blurred vernacular music

is often called popular music or

traditional music

these types of music are essential

traditions in their own right

and both rock and especially jazz are

believed by many to be new art forms

having already withstood the test of

time however they won't be our focus in

this particular class

the term style refers to the

characteristic way

that an artwork is presented it's what

makes one musical work

sound similar to or different from

another

we can recognize composers of certain

works by their musical style that they

create

for example the works of mozart will

sound different than the works of handel

or bach as you'll see as we progress in

this course

the western musical canon is largely a

melody oriented art based on a

particular musical system from which

underlying harmonies are also built

musics of other cultures may sound

foreign to our ears because they're

based on entirely different systems

and many do not involve harmony to any

great extent

complex rhythmic procedures and textures

set some of the world music

apart from western styles as well while

basic formal considerations like

repetition

contrast and variation bring musics of

other cultures

closer to our own short a style is made

up of pitch

time timbre and expression creating a

sound that each culture recognizes as

its own

even within the comparably small

category of western art music

each historical period has its own

stylistic characteristics

although the artists writers and

composers of a particular era may vary

in outlook

they all share certain qualities besides

this we can tell at once that a work of

art

whether music poetry painting sculpture

or architecture

dates from the middle ages or from the

18th century

the style of a period is the total

language of all its artists as they

react to political

economic religious and philosophical

forces that shape

their environment a knowledge of

historical styles will help you place a

musical work within the context in which

it was created

an important part of understanding music

especially of a

classical tradition there's a really

useful timeline on page 59 of your book

that shows the historical periods and

their dates

as well as gives a description about the

basic styles

represented in each of the eras

there's also a list in the right hand

column of featured composers many of

which we'll study as we continue forward

in this course

throughout the book there are several

listening guides which are meant to

focus your attention

and ear on the most prominent and

relevant features of a particular work

it's imperative to your understanding of

the musical concepts in this course

that you take the time to read through

the what to listen for

sections and follow along with any

notated

markings within the listening guides

while you're listening to the musical

examples

the nine relevant elements of music that

you'll be listening for

are melody rhythm and meter

harmony texture form

expression with tempo and dynamics text

timbre and the performing forces

these will be different for nearly every

example that we listen to

at this time please read page 57 and 58

of your textbook

follow the instructions there and listen

to the musical piece about which it's

speaking

you'll notice that it's asking you to

listen several times each time

listening for something different this

is an important step to take in an

important process to undergo in order to

synthesize information

in this course