Music History
When we understand the history behind a composition, including information about the composer,
we can understand what technique, styles, and phrasing are needed to play it well.
we can understand what technique, styles, and phrasing are needed to play it well.
Most of the music studied and performed by violinists and violists comes from four of the great musical periods: Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern, which is also commonly called 20th Century or Contemporary. The dates on the above graphic are not hard lines separating the periods, just approximations because music has been constantly evolving and the styles of one period often mesh into the next as they change. Knowing when a composer or performer lived helps us understand social, political, cultural, and even economic influences on their music. We can also find similarities between different composers' music and use that information to play it even better. The are so many possibilities for applying our historical knowledge to the music we study!
After studying a composer, answer the following questions:
- What did you find interesting about this composer?
- What do you like best about this composer or their music?
- From what you learned about this composer, what will you do differently or consider as you play their piece?
- How would you describe this composer's style or overall sound?
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