Digital Storytelling and Background Music

Digital storytelling combines the art of telling stories with a mixture of digital media, such as background music. The interplay between narrative, sound effects, and music is key to people’s perception of any form of storytelling. Background music has long been a critical aspect of storytelling, presenting itself in various...

Music and Its Impact on Cognition and Emotions

Everyday activities like going to school, drinking coffee, working out, and occasionally even sleeping involve listening to music. People frequently choose music based on their feelings. When people are joyful or sad, they will listen to different types of music. People do this because music has the power to alter...

Classical Music Pioneers: Haydn, Mozart, Albrehc

Joseph Haydn was born on March 31, 1732, in Austria. Haydn’s father was a wheelwright and His mother worked as a cook before she was married. The musician’s career was primarily natured by his cousin, who took notice of his musical gifts and took him in for training (Clark et...

The ‘Hallelujah’ Song by Leonard Cohen

Music, like any other compulsive work, causes emotions and communicates powerful information to the audience. It is more than words and the instrumentals that accompany it and writers appreciate the texture and flow of phrases. On the other hand, the listeners decide on the music that goes with their personality...

K-Pop Music Genre Popularity Analysis

K-Pop, or Korean pop, is a musical genre rapidly gaining popularity. This genre is characterized by singing talents and brilliantly choreographed dances that these artists demonstrate during performances. Nowadays, K-pop has turned into a whole culture and lifestyle for artists and their adored fans around the world. The context of...

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Biography and Contributions

Johann Sebastian Bach is regarded as one of the greatest musicians in the history of humankind. He was born in Eisenach, Thuringia, Ernestine Saxon Duchies, on March 31, 1685, and died in Leipzig on July 28, 1750 (Emery and Marshall). Bach was the last child of Johann Ambrosius Bach, the...

Traditional Dance in Immigrants’ Lives

Introduction Different traditional cultures are forms of the primary self-organization of the human community. With confidence in inextricable unity with the community, a person gains a sense of security and belonging in traditional culture. As a vital part of the culture, dance promotes unity with society and the appearance of...

Songwriting Process and Its Main Phases

Writing a song does not follow a specific structure, and while some songwriters adhere to a semi-formal or formal process, others tend to work randomly. However, it must be pointed out that using the latter approach to songwriting often results in less predictable outcomes. The lack of or limited success...

Jazz Musician Comprehension: John “Dizzy” Gillespie

Jazz is a popular style of music originating from a blend of blues and ragtime. There are many outstanding musicians that shaped the history and development of music. One of them is John “Dizzy” Gillespie, who invented the contemporary trumpet playing in jazz. According to Ulven (2020), Gillespie was a...

Louis Armstrong’s Career and Innovations in Music

Several factors influenced Luis Armstrong’s music career, but the key among them was his family background. Armstrong had a difficult childhood after his father abandoned the family and his mother turned into a prostitute. This forced him to drop out of school and live with his grandmother, where he began...

The Difference in Career of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven

Viennese Classical period was the time that introduced the greatest compositors in classical music. Unified by the patronage system and its consequences, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven have different career development scenarios. Starting with Mozart, it is commonly known that his career started exceptionally early on tour throughout Europe (Tommasini, n.d.)....

Jazz Music and Civil Rights Liberation

Introduction Jazz music has progressively gained popularity as a genre for the Black ethnicity. The music has penetrated the mainstream but mainly served to unite blacks during the slavery period. However, its popular adoption fails to reconnect with its history connected to the struggles for liberation by African Americans. Jazz...

How Music Affects Juveniles

Introduction Music has remained a common source of advice and entertainment to millions of listeners across the globe. Individuals can rely on it to explore emotions, emerging ideas, and trends in their respective societies. Some young people identify music as a sign of expression and rely on it to acquire...

“Spring” by Vivaldi

Listening to the recording of “Spring”, first movement, by Vivaldi is an extreme pleasure for many individuals, and I am one of them. The chosen instruments perfectly imitate natural sounds, provoking the required emotions and causing the necessary effects. For example, violins are used to imitate a delightful birdsong and...

Case Law Analysis: Intellectual Property

The following is a presentation of a legal case most relevant to the current operations of the Wixen Music Publishing company. Though the case of White-Smith Music Publisher Co. v. Apollo Co was tried in 1908, its outcome still affects the music industry. Apollo Co, a mechanical piano manufacturer, was...

Madonna as a Controversial Artist of the 20th Century

One of the prominent controversial artworks of the 20th century related to sexual revolution and women empowerment is a song called Like a Virgin performed by Madonna in 1984. The name of the song alone led to the establishment of versatile conversations and arguments in the conservative American society of...

42nd Street Musical by Stewart and Bramble

If you want to learn about some secrets of show business, you need to watch the brilliant musical 42nd Street. This musical was written by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble in 1980. The production under consideration was performed by the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts in 2013...

Music Listening Journal Blog: Song Review

Life So Right “Life So Right” is a song written and performed by a talented young woman from Holland, Mariska Baars. She has been singing since 2002 under the pseudonym “Soccer Committee.” Almost all of her songs, including “Life So Right” belong to the genre of lowercase. This music genre...

Instrumental Suite in the Baroque Period

Introduction A suite is a musical instrumental masterpiece that consists of a series of changing movements or a series of dances of related keys or it’s a collection of pieces related to each other. In addition, instrumentals refer to a kind of music produced by the use of musical instruments...

Manha De Carnival Analysis

To begin with, it is necessary to state that the piece to be analyzed in this paper is a bright example of the Brazilian music style called Bossa Nova. The piece of music under consideration was created by Luiz Bonfa and Carl Sigman. The original version of the song has...

Riverdance: The History of the Dance, Features

Riverdance is a dance performance with steps from traditional Irish step dancing. The main feature of this performance is that there will be only quick movements in the legs of the performers but they keep their arms and bodies remain fixed. “At its most basic level, Riverdance is an exciting...

Dance Movement Therapy Review

Introduction Dance Movement therapy belongs to the category of Creative Arts therapy among alternative therapies. The term ‘dance movement therapy’ refers to the use of movement in improving the mental and physical health of a person. Dance therapy centres around the notion that the body and mind are interconnected, and...

The Birth of Jazz Fusion: Miles Davis

Introduction Jazz is not just music; it is a way of life, a way of thinking, and the way of being. Initially associated with African-American communities, providing an outlet for their thoughts, feelings, and artistic expression, Jazz became a worldwide phenomenon as one of the most fast-growing and popularized musical...

The Impact of Korean Pop on the Global Culture

Introduction Music has been an important part of culture throughout the centuries. Korean pop or K-pop is a term used to describe popular music performed by Korean bands or solo artists. It has become a global phenomenon, gaining widespread popularity outside Korea and affecting the global culture. Currently, K-pop is...

The History of Charlie Parker

Charlie Parker was one of the outstanding jazz musicians, who brought the unique rhythms and performance into the world of jazz. However, his uniqueness caused him many troubles as he was a heroin addict and mentally ill. Events that led to the addiction, his place of origin, and details of...

“Memphis” Musical Theatre Production

The musical “Memphis” is a story depicting a disc-jockey (DJ ) who preferred music that was associated with the African-Americans, and thus his vision was unpopular among other DJs or radio producers. The central theme of this plot and the idea for this story is based on the real-life story...

Eminem’s “Stan” as an Example of Browning’s Monologue Format

Poetry is one of the most popular literary forms since it allows authors to express vast ideas in a short form. Whether written with rhymes or as blank verse, poems can have a profound effect on the reader. In modern artistic ways of expression, songwriting is probably the most popular...

Mozart’s Requiem Mass: Exploring Music History

Introduction Requiem is the last uncompleted work of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the prominent composer, and a funeral mass written in the canonical Latin text. The writing was finished by the disciple of Mozart, mainly by Franz Xaver Süssmayer. Requiem is one of Mozart’s most famous works, the creation history of...

The Effect of Music on Serial Short Term Memory

Abstract To find out the effect of background music on short term memory, an experiment was carried out on two groups. This was to investigate the hypothesis that background music when played during cognitive processing would disrupt the participants’ level of concentration for the memory recall test compared to the...

Racism in the Music Video: Locked Up and Styles P

The way in which individuals shape their social identities is coded according to the texts that the media produces for the increasingly segmented audiences along the lines of race and gender (Hall 2007, p.248). In other words, the media plays a huge role in defining social realities. Issues to do...

Belly Dance in Russia

Introduction Foreign dance classes have become popular in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union (Radchenko 1). Many young women and men have started to practice foreign dances for professional reasons or just for fun. In Russia, Belly Dance, Irish Dance, Indian Dance, Flamenco, and Swing Dance have become...

Evolution in Modern Indian Music

Introduction The Republic of India is the second most populated country in the world and the seventh-largest geographical area. A multitude of ethnic groups with distinct cultural traditions, languages, and dialects comprise the South Asia subcontinent, and such a factor is reflective in the music. Rich and diverse, Indian folk...

An Analysis of “Dreaming with a Broken Heart”: A Poignant Dance of Heartbreak

Introduction “Dreaming with a Broken Heart” is an expressive and heartrending postmodern dance presented by Twitch and Kherington, two remarkable dancers with adroit technical skills and a comprehensive understanding of the choreography. This dance, created by Stacey Tookey, was performed on the well-known dance contest program “So You Think You...

The Jazz Music Movement: A Listening Journal

Charlie Parker, known as Yardbird, is one of the most significant music innovators in the 20th century because he brought bebop and influenced many musicians and the entire jazz movement. He became a famous figure in the mid-20th century because he made jazz rely on virtuosic techniques, fast tempos, and...

The Future of American Music: Music Industry

The history of music between 2025 and 2050 can be described as a shift toward more simplistic song recording and release. In 2025 the music industry was still less accessible to aspiring musicians due to the importance of recording technology and studios, which were not affordable to many. However, many...

Michael Jackson’s Influence on Pop Culture

Introduction Michael Jackson has come to be recognized as the king of pop culture due to his performing, songwriting, acting, and dancing skills. Michael, born in 1958 in Indiana, first came into the limelight after he and his brothers formed a band called the Jackson 5 (Epis 46). As a...

Ava Max’s Song “Not Your Barbie Girl”

Introduction “You can’t touch me there, you can’t touch my body” is a line sung by Ava Max on her most popular track, Not your Barbie girl, by which she supports women’s rights (Ava Max, 2018, 00:10-00:14). I support fighting for gender justice and equality, but this phrase and the...

Music as a Multifaceted Cultural Phenomenon

Art is inseparable from the history of humankind’s cultural development. It was present and accessible even at the dawn of civilization, considering the evidence such as cave paintings and others. The ability to express thoughts and feelings not only through speech and gestures contributed significantly to the evolution of society...

Musical Style and Cultural Identity

The concept of collective identity and cultural uniqueness has been core to musical style. In “People’s music comparatively: Style and stereotype, class and hegemony,” Keil (1985) argues that the existence of style signifies a stable society that has taken form over time. He defines style as a statement of submission...

“Le Galop” by Henri Duparc: Key Characteristics of the Composition

The French composer Henri Duparc, born in 1848, planned to connect his life with jurisprudence as a child. He usually destroyed his early work when dissatisfied with aspects of his style or with the work itself. In 1868 Henri Duparc’s Five Melodies for voice and piano was published, his first...

Jimmy Page and Brian May Comparison

Introduction As a kind of art, music has the power to touch us in a variety of ways. Rhythm, pitch, texture, timbre, and dynamics make up the heart of music (Gemuhay et al., 2019). It’s impossible to fully comprehend the impact of music since it’s utilized in so many different...

‘Ring Shout’: the Beginning of Many Roads

‘Ring shout’ was a common dance of Black American plantation slaves. It included moving around in a circle in a counterclockwise direction, chanting, handclapping, or praying in the process (“African American Spirituals.”). Other elements of ‘Ring shout’ were calls, cries, and rhythm. The dance is believed to be a form...

“Nunca Olvida” and “Los Dos Miedos” by Joaquin Turina

“Nunca Olvida” and “Los Dos Miedos” by Joaquin Turina are compositions from the song cycle Poema en Forma de Canciones. The songs were first published in 1923 in Madrid, although the author’s music is also well known and cherished in Seville, where he was born and spent a long time...

“Cantares” by Joaquin Turina: Composition’s Theme, Style, and Key Features

“Cantares” by Joaquin Turina is a composition with an underlying message of unfulfilled love and conflict. The smooth melody and soothing vocals from Turina’s composition resonate with a sentimental style different from the Spanish style. The composition style is typical of the traditional Spanish style reminiscent of the traditional technique...

Tejano as a Musical Genre of Texas and Mexico

Introduction “Tejano” is a musical category originating from the Texas-Mexican border region. As part of a marketing campaign in the 1990s, Tejano was created as a musical genre to promote folk-influenced and popular songs like baladas, cumbias, and polka-rancheras. With the success of musicians like Selena, El Grupo Mazz, and...

Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 Performance by Valentina Lisitsa

The Lassan, with its short but powerful entrance, is the first section of Lisitsa’s composition. Despite beginning with the C-sharp main triad, C-sharp minor quickly becomes the home key. She modulates easily from here on out, notably to the tonic and relative majors. The Friska is the second section, which...

Contemporary RnB (Rich & Beautiful) Music

Introduction The genre of RNB appeared across the Southern areas of the United States in the 1940s, featuring electric guitar, piano, and drum sounds. Numerous blues musicians were able to release their new music specifically in the South, where the level of appreciation in regard to blues and derivative genres...

A Musical Comparison of Beethoven and West

Every historical era has had its genius musicians who could exert a meaningful social influence. Such artists not only created musical works with a creative function but were also crucial historical figures of their time. However, a parallel comparison between the geniuses of past and present times may seem challenging...

Blues: Historical Origins and Modern Significance

It may be difficult to deny the significance of creativity in people’s everyday life. Any manifestation of humans’ creativeness may lead to art origin. Music does not make an exception since this kind of art may inspire, unite and influence people. Composing and performing music makes it possible to absolutely...

Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” Song Analysis

The song “Take Me to Church,” to which the singer owes his success, poignantly narrates about deep and devoted love. Its songwriter, Hozier, constructed the song by solely using metaphors and comparisons to talk about two different but parallel notions. For instance, the unambiguous meaning of the composition lies in...

The Influence of Rap Music on Moral Character

Various critics have railed against the alleged harms of rap music. It is misogynistic and promotes violence (especially toward women), crass materialism, and street crime. Virtually all of the arguments about rap focus on its alleged effects—harmful or, occasionally, beneficial. Yet such arguments are difficult to prove. While not suggesting...

Altering Traditional Sonata in Mozart’s Symphony #41

The symphony starts with the same measure length as any other Mozart’s creation, but there is a difference that can be spotted right away in the case of Symphony #41, which is the playing time that does not go in hand with measure counting. It would take a soloist 11...

Negative Effects of Drugs on Voice

Vocal maintenance presents one of the prominent aspects of the singer’s career. Maintaining the right state of the throat and vocal cords, in particular, is necessary for the signers to control their voice’s sound and quality. The main recommendations require providing additional attention to various health concerns that can affect...

Traditional Colombian Music and Instruments

Introduction It has long been recognized that many countries, ancient and modern, have their style of music, or at least try to impose a national stamp on this art. The Republic of Colombia is fortunate to have fascinating and intriguing music themes, recently featured in Emilio Murillo’s songwriting and the...

Gary Davis: “Death Don’t Have No Mercy”

Death is inevitable for everyone on the planet, and sooner or later, it will come to every home and take away all who are loved by the human heart. The song is a terrible embodiment of the variability of life, the sudden possibility of decease at any moment; this part...

Aspects of Zydeco Music

Zydeco is a musical form that evolved in the southwestern areas of Louisiana in the early 20th century among the Creole and Cajun cultures. Zydeco is a musical style created by combining French folk music, African and Caribbean rhythms, and creole songs. In the 1980s, there a revival in South...

Traditional and Contemporary Music in Africa

Traditional West African music displays intricate rhythmic and metric patterns through singing, dance, and instrumental music. Classical West African music neither separates music as a distinct art form of sound, nor rhythms as a distinct art form of time, as is common in the West and the Caribean. Conversely, the...

Program Notes on Classical Music

Introduction Classical music can never grow old-fashioned as long as it is too complex to be related to a particular epoch. For centuries, both musicians and audiences have gained inspiration from the beauty and sentimentality of instrumental melodies. The strains of classical instruments can wake a full continuum of emotions,...

The Culture of Music Consumption: The Changing Trends and Indie Label Management

Abstract The nature of music industry has created a scenario where only management savvy indie labels ends up successful in the music marketing. Management dilemmas associated with production and marketing of music are critical for any successful indie label. This report explores the link between modern sales techniques and consumption...

Two Genres of Music: Rap Music and Jazz Music

Similarities Both genres of music once became a symbol of the protest of their time (Gioia 23). They were created by African-Americans who faced daily oppression and struggled to survive in a hostile system. Both genres were born as a way of entertainment (Gioia 20). Music became a language trough...

Romantic Era: Repertoire of the 19th and 20th Century

Introduction The romantic period refers to the period between 1820 and 1900, the period during which musical compositions included “the use of large ensembles, extreme emotions, and wild orchestration” (Romantic Period – Music from 1820 to 1900, n.d). The word Ballet is of French origin. Though historical studies show that...

Pathos, Ethos, and Logos in Mean It by Lauv and LANY

Introduction The modern music industry is so vast and developed that it offers music and music videos for all tastes. The song that the author of this work has chosen to analyze is Mean It. The singers are Lauv and LANY. The author believes that the genre of this song...

Bach’s “Little” Fugue

Bach’s Fugue in G minor, commonly referred to as “Little” Fugue, is an organ piece and one of the composer’s best known fugues. Right from the beginning, the listener can distinguish four voices that enter the melody and continue to play throughout the work. The voices used in the piece...

A Musical Performance by Music From China

China is a distinctive country, and this is evident in all its spheres, including musical culture. In traditional Chinese culture, an important place is given to music that sounds like “ye” in Chinese. However, the concept “ye” means not only musical art but also art in general and everything beautiful,...

“Follow the Leader” by Eric B. & Rakim

Introduction “Follow the Leader” is a hip-hop song by an American rap duo Eric B. & Rakim, the stage names of Eric Barrier and William Griffin. Released in 1988, the song was critically acclaimed and is still considered among the most prominent and influential compositions produced by the rap duo....

The Pelageya Group’s Live Concert in the US

“Pelageya” is a Russian folk group named after its front singer’s name. In 2016, the USA witnessed a big live concert of “Pelageya” that lasted about 1,5 hours. Their music makes the audience feel part of a subculture that arose among the fans of Tolkien and other elven fantasy with...

The Britain Music of the 1960s

Introduction Music forms an integral part of any culture’s tradition and practices. In the 1960s, a new tradition in the music industry emerged in Liverpool and London that would transform Britain’s culture forever. The influence these two distinct regions provided the emergence of several bands and songs that became sensational...

The Passenger Opera Analysis

The Passenger by the composer Mieczysław Weinberg is the opera based on the autobiographical book of the same name by the Polish writer Zofia Posmysz. The libretto was written by the Russian music critic Alexander Medvedev. The opera has been praised by critics for its stunning music, and at the...

Hip-Hop Influence on American Popular Culture

The sphere of hip-hop influence on American popular culture is constantly extending, involving new forces and new interpretations. Previously hip hop was considered to be exclusively the culture of the oppressed and marginalized Afro-Americans, but at the present moment the racial and social boundaries are defied and such prominent hip...

How Music Reinforces Stereotypes?

The contemporary entertainment world is mostly covered by music from renown artists all over the world such as Michael Jackson, Ja Rule, 50 Cent, Rihanna, Shakira, Celline Dion among others. Places of entertainment such as the discotheques or clubs play the role airing music from these artists to listeners. Moreover,...

Landscape Depicted in Pastoral Symphony by Beethoven

Introduction Beethoven is one of the most successful classical artists. His symphonies such as symphony erotica have remained relevant for a long time. Nature and natural landscape were important to classical and romanticism artists. Beethoven’s love for nature and natural landscape is especially featured in his sixth symphony, Pastoral symphony....

Beethoven’s Personality and Music

Music, just as any other art is the reflection of the soul and inner feelings and emotions of the creator. It is the reflection of reality as the artist perceives it. Since a work of art is the creation of a person, it is impossible to interpret it apart from...

Elvis Presley’s Influence on Music

Elvis Aaron Presley an immensely talented American artist gained extreme popularity at a point in time as a vocalist, actor, and musician. His popularity made him frequently known just as “Elvis” amongst his huge fan base. Titles such as “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “The King” (Marsh, 176)...

“The Sound of Music” Opera Review

Introduction The world of beautiful is larger when it is accompanied with the art of music and its implementation in opera. The concerts provide a spectator with an appropriate aesthetic pleasure maintained in the manner of singing and performing events on the scene. More efforts are made to make a...

Ethnomusicology: Personal Statement

Introduction Emic and Etic are expressions widely used in the field of social sciences. Researchers continue to show disagreement when it comes to the use and definition of the two terms. The two terms were first used by Kenneth Pike in 1954. (James Lett 2008). He relates the cultural study...

Laura Pausini: Live Music Event Critique

In this paper, I will present my analysis and reaction to the live concert of Laura Pausini, which took place in Miami on July 26, 2018. The event started at 8:00 PM at James L. Knight Center and lasted for a couple of hours. It was dedicated to Laura’s new...

Swing Dance in History and Modern Trends

Introduction The history of swing dancing had its roots in the distant past when the culture of African Africans and Europeans intertwined, and society felt an irresistible desire to erase boundaries between traditional and street choreography. The philosophy of swing is simple and attractive – it is an opportunity to...

The Vietnam War and American Music

American Music in the 1960s was often associated with the combat zone and military. Songs were mirroring the current mood of the nation, reflecting common pain and disapproval. Although this music was initially written to simply express emotions, later it became a social tool for applying pressure to the US...

American Hard Rock in Relation to Society

Historical background of rock music The American hard rock can be traced from the 1940s. Its history is pegged on the development of the rock and roll and country music. The inception of the music has no clear origin, but it has grown through the fusing of different types of...

The Evolution and Characteristics of the Son Music Genre in Mexico

Mexican music includes a range of genres, and the son is one of them. The very word “son” means “sound” (Noble 82). It refers to the regional music that can be mostly heard in eastern, western, and central parts of the country. It is played using such instruments as haupanguera,...

Historical Context and Evolution of Opera and Instrumental Music

Opera Aiming at restoring the Greek drama, Peri and Caccini, the members of Bardi’s camerata, introduced the notion of opera. Still, it was during the Baroque period that opera received proper attention and became a particularly elaborate work of music, singing, dancing and design. The notions of opera seria (drama)...

Queen’s Album “A Night at the Opera”

The name of this particular band causes a wave of appreciation in any audience all over the world, and the sounds of their melodies cause a wave of excited screaming of the band’s numerous fans and admirers. Everyone knows the names of the band’s members. Their path towards fame was...

Middle Eastern Musical Culture

It is said that music is an indication of the earnest feeling of its composer. The entire composer is fraction of a chronological realism that aids to form and color his piece of music. Consequently, so as to know any kind of music, it is important not just to inspect...

Tracing the Evolution of Pop Music: The Rise of the Hip-Hop Genre

Introduction Hip-hop gained mainstream interest and popularity since the nineties when the MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice music albums topped the Billboard pop charts. The ever-expanding audience of the hip-hop culture has raised the question of the authentic rap music that is available in the market. Some believe that the...

Evolution of Griot Music: Traditional and Modern Influences in Atlanta Kaira

Introduction The traditions of griots and the peculiarities of the implementation of their music under the influence of modern trends is a complex issue. The composition Atlanta Kaira and its older and newer versions will be used for the analysis (GrrlRaisin). The two versions of this piece of music show...

Claudio Monteverdi’s Life and Work

Introduction Claudio Monteverdi has been an essential figure in the development and evolution of Renaissance music. The Italian composer is often addressed as the person who majorly contributed to the establishment of the opera genre, which, later on, dominated the Baroque art scene. Needless to say, his unorthodox approach to...

Music in Films: The Psychology in Film Music

Often, music plays the role of a mood transmitter of a cinematic picture and sets the tone. “Dexter Opening Theme” throughout the introduction, despite its ease, builds tension and suspense. Hence, quite upbeat, joyful music plays against the background of the morning routine of the main character (Ramanjiah, 2011). It...

The Definition and Genres of World Music

Introduction A broad range of traditional and folk music genres from all over the world, particularly non-western music genres, as well as their hybrids and modern interpretations of their original style, are collectively referred to as “world music.” Some folk and traditional music from Western nations are also regarded as...

Reasons Why Music Matters

Introduction Chapter 4 discusses Hesmondhalgh’s theory that music helps human communities thrive in specific locations and eras. Despite an individual’s difficulties, a link is formed that, as time passes, lifts one’s spirits (Hesmondhalgh, 2013). To illustrate this point, he presents several instances of the essence of music in human culture....

The “Hamilton” Musical and Its Significance

Introduction In 2020, a video version of the acclaimed Broadway musical Hamilton was released on Disney+. It was invented by the actor, singer and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda – and he also played the main role. The plot is based on a real biography of an American politician, reformer and finance...

The Song “With Arms Wide Open” by CREED

A piece of music is a complex structure made up of many parts. To analyze a musical composition, it is necessary to know the basic elements of music. According to Estrella (2019), the basic elements of music are Beat and Meter, Dynamics, Harmony, Melody, Pitch, Rhythm, and Tempo. To analyze...

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphonies

Introduction The performance of the Fifth Symphony was a great success; it was the moment of the victory of creative genius over physical weakness – Beethoven was almost completely deaf, and one of the orchestra’s soloists was forced to turn the composer to the audience so that he could see...

Adolescence Songs: “A Teenager in Love” by Dion DiMucci

“A Teenager in Love” by Dion DiMucci was a famous song during my adolescent years. Some of the most crucial Lyrics are “Each time we have a quarrel / It almost breaks my heart” (DiMucci, 2017, lines 1-2). Essentially, this was a powerful opening considering this was a love song....

Rhetorical Triangle Assignment: “In The End” by Linkin Park

Music is a powerful medium capable of conveying highly impactful messages. Modern rock is especially noteworthy for its combination of electronic sounds and important social meanings. Linkin Park is one of the most recognized rock bands in the world. Although it has produced a substantial number of memorable songs, In...

Haitian Compas Music and Its Crossover Crisis

Introduction The culture of Haiti is a unique mixture of old traditions and new influences, coming together to create a complex and distinct national image. Haitian music has been affected by individuals who lived on the Caribbean Island before the colonization. It is comprised of a broad scope of influences...

Culture and Evolution of Hip-Hop in South Korea

Introduction Korean hip-hop, otherwise known as K-hip hop, is a subgenre of hip-hop music from South Korea. The audience listens to hip-hop primarily as “underdog music,” the voice of the disadvantaged (Song, 2019). The hip-hop originated in South Korea and canonical themes in hip-hop glorify the established way of life...

Music Industry, Its Impact and the Future

A person cannot exist without any form of art. It helps people express their emotions, reflect the passage of time, or be a way of self-expression. Many musicians, creating music, earn their living. This work aims to examine the impact of the global music industry on the United States, the...

The History of Punk Documentary Analysis

Introduction The punk subculture represents a broad spectrum of sociopolitical and artistic ideologies and forms of expression stretching back to at least the 1950s. Primarily, it has represented itself as a youth culture, with the primary means of expression through style, popular music, and the media. It is notable that...

Ensemble Chaconne Performance of European Masters

The Background Ensemble Chaconne, who have been playing together since 1985, are flutist Peter H. Bloom, Carol Lewis on viola da gamba, Olav Chris Henriksen on lute, and English guitar. The European Masters in the 18th Century London program was a bouquet of delightful music; most composers were not Londoners...

Pink’s Music: Less Than Perfect and Raise Your Glass

Pink is an American pop singer whose real name is Alecia Beth Moore. She was born in 1979 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania (“Pink”). Apart from being a performer and a signer, Alecia is also known as a songwriter, famous for the lyrics to her songs. Initially, her career began in a...

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture by Mendelssohn

Music was not majorly affected by Romanticism until the advent of the 19th century. German composers took the forefront when it came to Romanticism in music, with Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms, and Mendelssohn making sizable contributions. Symphonic poems, which struck a connection between music and literature, were familiar to Romantic composers...

Music: The 00s and Modern Latin Alternative Rock

Introduction It can be said that music is both the heart and the language of culture. A specific cultural group’s melodies and singing manners can reveal many things about its representatives. So I dedicated my ears and mind to rock music from South and Central America. I found many new...

Mutual Influence of Culture and Music on Each Other

Introduction It is hard to disagree that many people can feel the impact of their favorite music on their mood, concentration, determination, and overall emotional and even physical state. Music may be considered magical since its early forms were used by shamans to induce trances and perform various rituals. Indeed,...

The Biography of Duke Ellington

Ellington was a multi-talented musician and bandleader in the world of jazz. American people were happy with the music from his 50-year career, which created thousands of scores. It was not just the music he created throughout his career that made him great. He provided consistent entertainment and helped pave...

Why Is Baroque Suite an International Music Genre?

A baroque suite is a musical genre or form primarily founded and developed during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. It primarily features instrumental music used for parties and dances. The structure consists of several movements performed in the same key and is separated into different pieces. The music was primarily...

Miles Davis and Steve Reich: Geniuses of Experiments and Creativity

Miles Davis and Steve Reich are two significant and influential figures in music history. The innovative approaches they used in their works defined the direction of music development and inspired many followers. Although their music belongs to different genres, they are connected in their constant search for a new sounding...

The “Moon River” Piece by Henry Mancini

The piece Moon River, written by Henry Mancini, and arranged by Billy Byersis, is performed by the ensemble of the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors. There is no leader or conductor in this ensemble, but the soloist is present – it is Sgt. Maj. Kevin Watt on flugelhorn, who performs the...

Why Is Impressionistic and Expressionistic Music So Hard to Understand?

Composers have always aspired to the new and unknown. In any era, some musicians kept up with the times and, under the influence of new art trends, revealed and invented their ways through musical means of expression. Expressionism in music is a reflection of the human soul. Expressionism rejects any...

Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor

Ludwig van Beethoven is a German composer and pianist who entered history as a musical genius. Usually, his career is divided into three periods: early, middle, and late. The first period is characterized by notable Haydn’s influence, his teacher, and the most respected composer of the time. Despite this fact,...

The Transmission of Dance Techniques

In this discussion post, I would like to provide my understanding of transmission and dance from the provided sources. First of all, the transmission of dance techniques, as discussed within the article by Anthea Kraut, can be summarized as a way of cultivating particular movement patterns through replication (Kraut). Through...

“Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” Composition by Benjamin Britten

Benjamin Britten Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra is both a study guide and a musical masterpiece. It combines the harmonious sound of many instruments and their unique tonalities. The significant components are woodwind, brass, percussion, and strings. The first category is based on flutes, oboes, bassoons, and clarinets. The...

Beethoven’s Innovations and Their Influence on Romanticism

Beethoven’s music is influential primarily based on the transitional role that his musical work played during the classical music period and the commencement of the Romantic period. According to Horton (2018), Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany, in 1770, during an era when Bach, Mozart, and Haydn dominated the music...

Singer Gloria Estefan’s Biography

Gloria Estefan is a famous American singer and songwriter who is originally from Cuba. Estefan gained worldwide fame and success as well as contributed to the popularization of Latin music. Gloria has recorded fourteen studio albums with her songs, many of which have taken the first lines in the world...

Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No.2

Franz Liszt is an Austro-Hungarian composer who started his career as a performer. At a young age, Liszt heard Gypsy music and Hungarian folk that later majorly influenced his work. Liszt is named as one of the most authentic romanticism representatives and is often highlighted for his work as a...

The Beatles Band’s Strategic Musical Evolution

Introduction The Beatles created the aura of rock music in the US through their classical masterpiece releases that revolutionized rock and roll to the enchanting genre it is today. The musical characteristics of a song are the features that captivate the target audience and ensure it maintains its competitive edge...

“Clair de Lune” Piano Piece by Debussy

Classical music always remains the gold standard of art, capable of bringing something new to people’s lives even decades after writing. Unlike most modern pop songs, classical pieces are full of meaning and have a sophisticated, refined structure. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the work of Claude...

Singin’ in the Rain as an Example of Soundtrack Dissonance

Introduction Every movie is associated with a specific piece of music in the viewers’ minds. It may play during the pivotal moment in the film, signify a character’s appearance, or warn the spectators that something nefarious is about to occur. A soundtrack is a powerful tool for setting up the...

The Idea of Robert Frost’s Poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay”

The poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost is only nine lines long, but the author discusses complex topics through it. In early spring, the golden buds appear on the trees, but soon their color fades. Then flowers bloom, but they also soon turn into fallen leaves, reminiscent of...

Music Appreciation: A “Great” Composer

  The Baroque The classical era Which historical period? The Baroque period represents Western music composed between 1600 and 1750, following the Renaissance and leading up to the classical era. The term is borrowed from the Portuguese language and means an oddly shaped pearl. The music during this period was...

The Beatles’ Masterpiece: “Let It Be”

Music surrounds people from the day they are born. It triggers feelings and emotions, influencing mood, and sometimes acting as a pacifier. The lyrics accompanied by the tune are an incredible creation. Music significantly impacts peoples’ minds and sometimes represents a melody filled with lyrics and a sacred message. Such...

Music as a Reflection of History Since the 1960s

Music is inextricably connected to the context within which it is produced, with the inter-relationships between music, culture, and society being studied extensively throughout the decades. In cultural customs, music is among the core features of social celebrations, such as weddings. In social life, music serves as a tool for...

Biography of Johann Sebastian Bach

The magnificent German composer who wrote his works during the Baroque era, Johann Sebastian Bach, has been respected for centuries for his stylistic innovations and musical complexities. He had an impressive musical pedigree and served as organist in the early 18th century, producing such famous compositions as “Toccata and Fugue...

Rap Artistry and Production Concept

Introduction My career of choice is rap artistry and production; while this may not be the traditional answer you would get when asking someone what they want to be when they grow up, this has been my dream for a few years now. Rap has been an integral part of...

Jay-Z, Biography and Influence

Shawn Corey Carter, also known by his stage name Jay-Z, is a successful American musician, producer, and businessman, renowned for his influence on the hip-hop genre. Born in Brooklyn in 1969, Carter was raised by his mother with his three older siblings (Jay-Z Biography). Having a rough childhood, the boy...

“Free to Be”: A Jazz Concert Review

The concert ‘Free to Be’ revolves around freedom, its joys, and its sorrows. The big band arrangement does the hard bop justice and sounds American to the core. The concert asks the listener to consider what freedom means to them and the people around them, and what it took to...

Green Day’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”: Review the Song

Introduction Green Day’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” is a song that mostly anyone knows because of its catchy tune and easy-to-understand lyrics. What is hard about getting that the song is about dreams being broken, right? However, what many do not understand is that the song speaks about estrangement and...

Ballroom Dance: History and Characteristics

Ballroom dances are performed in pairs in social gatherings as well as on competitive stages. Different types of dances are included in this ballroom dance and they are fox-trot, waltz, polka, tango, Charleston, jitterbug, and merengue (Ballroom dance, 2009) and their styles are also different. It was usually performed for...

What Are ‘Concept Musicals’ and Its Specifics?

Introduction Stephen Sondheim has been unique and instrumental in the development of the ‘concept musical’. It is important when analyzing Mr. Sondheim’s works to not confuse this idea with the more well-known use of the word as it relates to the ‘director’s concept’ of a play. (Banfield 4) The analysis...

The History of Hip-Hop Culture

Executive Summary Hip-Hop culture emerged in the Bronx, in New York City some 30 years ago. It is the subculture that has been involved with four elements, rap, graffiti, break dancing, and disk jockey. Most of the historical studies prove the fact that Hip-Hop was the contribution of the low...

French Popular Music, Barbara (French Singer)

Barbara becomes an icon of French culture, music, and the movie industry. In her lyrics and performance, she speaks about social and cultural problems, love and passion, etc. It is possible to say that the qualities of Barbara’s styles are not typically feminine because she speaks about social and personal...

Wynton Marsalis: Jazz in Marciac 2009

Concert and Performers This report will cover the performance by Wynton Marsalis and the ensemble at the Jazz in Marciac festival in 2009. Wynton Marsalis is an internationally acclaimed vocalist, musician, and composer from New Orleans, Louisiana, with an impressive repertoire ranging from jazz to classical music. The musician’s vision...

Music Listening: “Firestone” Song by Kygo

The composition “Firestone” is performed by Kygo, who is its composer, featuring Conrad Sewell released in December 2014 (“Kygo – Firestone ft. Conrad Sewell (Official Video)”). The song belongs to the genre of tropical house, which has been perceived as a sub-genre of deep house. The reason for listening to...

Grunge Rock History in the United States

Grunge rock is a pop culture phenomenon, an alternative rock style that combines the best of hardcore punk and heavy metal. It is characterized by loud, hoarse vocals, with personal anguish, sometimes there is slight aggression and mild propaganda of suicidal tendencies. Thanks to its eccentricity, rudeness, the richness of...

Mozart Meets Beethoven: Influences in Music

Introduction Ludwig van Beethoven was one of the greatest composers and pianists that had a significant influence on Classical music (Wooley 34). His music career started at a tender age, and his parents did everything to ensure that he achieved the level of success he desired. Scholars have argued that...

Belly Dance and Western Culture

Shay Antony and Barbara Sellers-Young. “Belly Dance: Orientalism-Exoticism-Self-Exoticism.” Dance Research Journal. Vol. 35, No. 1 (2003), pp. 13-37. The article traces the origins of belly dance and the culture spread through a “vast region extending from the Atlantic Ocean in North Africa and the Balkans in the west to the...

The Portrayal of Death in Lullabies

Lullabies and Death Lullabies constitute a significant part of such cultural phenomenon as nursery rhymes. Therefore, people rarely consider them to have any serious and substitutional sense or any sense at all. However, it should be stated that nursery rhymes, and lullabies as well, can have very disturbing underlying meanings....

Bachata in the Dominican Republic

Introduction There are a plethora of music genres based on Spanish guitar motives. Bachata is one of the most popular embranchments of traditional dancing and music styles that originated in the Dominican Republic. The following paper will cover and discuss the history of Bachata and its role in the culture...

The Meaning of Freedom for Jazz Instrumentalists

Art has always been one of the main indicators of the state of society. It appeared at the dawn of civilization and were used to reflect feelings and emotions a person had towards a certain phenomenon or process. Besides, developing along with society, art obtained new features and provided numerous...

Beethoven’s vs. Mozart’s Life and Music

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven rate among the most outstanding composers in the history of classical music. They both died over 150 years ago but their works continue to be studied, performed, and admired all over the world. Although both composers are equally popular, their music still differs...

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Biography

Johann Sebastian Bach is a name that comes up among the first when it comes to naming the most important musicians in human history. Despite this, during his lifetime Bach was mostly regarded as a famous organist, not as a composer. He has worked with some of the established musical...

Hip-Hop Evolution of Rap Movement

The Foundation Hip-hop is a global phenomenon that permeates the fabric of society. However, it had a long and arduous history before becoming mainstream. Hip-hop is based on overcoming hardship. Disco was the premonition of hip hop in the 1960s, a music genre that took everyone by the craze. The...

Jazz Music and Its Role in Society

Introduction Jazz is a music genre that is difficult to define. It is a type of music that heavily uses musical elements such as ragtime, blue notes, brass band tradition, European harmony, swung note, syncopation, polyrhythms, and improvisation (Baskerville, 2009). Jazz gets its appeal from the blend of different musical...

Early New Orleans Jazz Piano Styles

Basic Overview of New Orleans Jazz New Orleans is considered the birthplace of traditional jazz music. It dates back to the 20s of the past century, right after the end of the World War I. This popular music style is usually performed by small group of 5-8 people that is...

Concert Review: Misha Dacic’s Masterful Piano Recital

Introduction Hearing a great pianist in a recital is an excellent experience. On 10th July 2015, I had the opportunity to attend a concert. The lead musician was Misha Dacic. The experience I had was fulfilling, Misha Dacic is very intense plain and powerful pianist. The following is the report...

Popular and Serious Music

Introduction Music forms a significant part of entertainment in the modern world, and there are various ways people present their songs to their audiences. The compositions and contexts of different types of music determine their audiences, presentation, and suitability. Music has various components that enable it to play its roles...

“Men in Suits”: A Fusion of Dance Styles on Dancing With The Stars

Introduction Dance shows are manifestations of creativity and a source of inspiration and entertainment. Dancing With The Stars is a popular show that hosts dance competitions between celebrities guided by professional choreographers. The dance analyzed in this essay was shown in season 14 of this show in 2012 and presented...

The Cultural Heritage of Irish Dance: History, Costumes, and Global Influence

Introduction Irish dance is one of the most unique and multifaceted dances I have studied. This dance is a vital part of Ireland’s cultural heritage and has an ancient history that dates back several centuries. Irish dance continues to be performed worldwide, especially at competitions and dance festivals. Relevance of...

The History and Work of Merce Cunningham

Merce Cunningham was a well-known American director and performer. He began his dance career in the twentieth century as an associate of Martha Graham’s company (“Merce Cunningham”). He established the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, which rose to prominence for its avant-garde style of choreography (“Merce Cunningham”). This paper will look...

Elephants in the Music Room: The Future of Quirk Historicism

Summary Quirk Historicism’s introduction discusses the recent trend among music scholars to use objects trouvés and historical micronarratives in their interpretations as a reaction to New Historicism. Musicology may be one of the most inclusive fields in the humanities despite sharing a suffix with taxonomic endeavors like zoology or early...

Different Functions of Music: Art and Social Movements

Culture plays an important role in the conditions of the modern era because it defines society’s beliefs, values, and behaviors. Modern national cultures present a result of a continuous process in which different groups of people are united in one nation through shared beliefs and practices. Music presents an essential...