Questions tagged [classical-music]
Questions about the music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music during a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times.
382
questions
5
votes
1
answer
226
views
What's the earliest known example of music written for an electronic instrument?
The other day I stumbled upon Joseph Schillinger's First Airphonic Suite, a 1929 orchestral suite that includes a part for theremin. Since this was written 10 years after the invention of the theremin,...
- 161
6
votes
5
answers
225
views
Notes not adding up to time signature How to play this?
Hi, any idea how to play this piece? The note on the last beats are not adding up to 6/8.
- 61
5
votes
1
answer
80
views
What does it mean when the same note with the same length is on the same stem for the same instrument? [duplicate]
In Ravel's "Bolero" the violas play a repeated pattern in pizzicato that grows more and more complex. The second form, however, beginning at m. 21, has a notation that puzzles me. The middle ...
- 151
3
votes
1
answer
98
views
Inconsistent notation of BWV 565 mm. 39–40 makes it unclear whether to play C or C# [duplicate]
In the passage shown below (from Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565, mm. 39–40), the C#s and C-natural in the right hand are all explicitly notated, but in the left hand, no indication is ...
- 243
1
vote
3
answers
166
views
what is a "rhythmic gesture"?
Per Wikipedia, taken originally from Winold, 1975, chapter 3, among the general characteristics of music from the common practice period is "rhythmic gestures of a limited number of rhythmic ...
- 127
5
votes
1
answer
378
views
Chopin Prelude Op. 28 No. 1: A mysterious mutated note in the 12th bar?
In Chopin Prelude Op. 28 No. 1 (C major) has a particularly mysterious mutated note in the 12th bar shown in the red box (this note does not repeat the voice of the previous blue box):
Question
Is ...
- 499
8
votes
3
answers
327
views
In Bach's WTK I Prelude in C major, is Glenn Gould's performance more literal reading of the score?
Bach's prelude in C major, being beginners' favorite, seemingly shouldn't be controversial as to how it should be read. This is why Glenn Gould's interpretation came to me as a shock with each ...
- 181
5
votes
1
answer
117
views
Harmony exercise, enharmonic equivalence
I'm studying from Walter Piston's book Harmony (5th Ed) so that I'm prepared before the semester starts at UNA.
Exercise 6.D asks: "For each one of the following intervals, name at least two ...
user85162
1
vote
0
answers
92
views
What makes a song not sound like classical music [closed]
For example La Califfa, it is sung by a mezzo-soprano but the melody of this song cannot be mistaken for classical music. Is there a way to explain this? What exactly makes it sound modern?
- 303
1
vote
0
answers
30
views
Indian and western classical violin [duplicate]
Can I learn both Indian classical and western classical violin at the same time?
17
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What does the 'L' line in Elgar's "The Spirit of the Lord" mean?
In the introduction to the Elgar's "The Spirit of the Lord", the prologue to The Apostles Op. 49, the score has lines which looks like octave signs, but which have the letter 'L' instead of ...
- 315
1
vote
1
answer
63
views
About the rules of inversion in BWV 1087 (14 canons)
Basically, I'm a bit confused about how to interpret the idea of "inversion" in a mirror canon.
For example, consider the sixth canon of BWV 1087.
So I simply took the inverted image of ...
- 153
4
votes
2
answers
344
views
Is there any difference between a Toccata and an Etude for speed besides time period and instrumentation?
From what I can gather, Etudes written specifically for speed and Toccatas have a lot of similarities. They are both fast with lightly fingered passages and they both emphasize dexterity. The main ...
- 6,130
2
votes
1
answer
47
views
Does the tune of hymn ‘With Harps and with Viols’ derive from Mendelssohn’s Symphony #5 scherzo?
The tune for hymn With ‘Harps and with Viols’ was written by Philip Bliss in 1874:
Mendelssohn wrote his Symphony #5, ‘Reformation’ in 1830,
including this scherzo as ...
8
votes
1
answer
434
views
Question about the abbreviation for 2 instruments in an orchestra score
I'm learning an orchestra score and I'm really new to that. I'm figuring out what instruments are included in this score, and I get most of them (correct me if there is any mistake). However, I'm ...
1
vote
1
answer
54
views
How do I start a new phrase whilst modulating? [closed]
Hi guys,
I have recently been composing and have run into an issue. I have finished a section with a perfect cadence (bar 52), and I would like to change to the subdominant key for the next phrase (...
- 681
6
votes
3
answers
958
views
Can you tonicize to a chord that's not on the original key?
I had a discussion with a few people on Chopin's Nocturne in B-flat minor. We couldn't reach an agreement and I'm curious how people would analyze it.
In the middle section of the piece (which is in ...
- 323
2
votes
3
answers
199
views
Which test or qualification in music can provide a degree which is equivalent to a Bachelor's degree?
I have heard about ABRSM levels which the level 8 is equal to music diploma.
But I want to know if there is any higher test levels which equals to a bachelor of music
Thanks
- 21
5
votes
1
answer
113
views
Did Rachmaninoff make his pieces hard to perform to challenge the pianist?
I'm not sure if this question belongs here, so I apologise if it doesn't.
When when I was in high school, I was really into Rachmaninoff's pieces. My teacher once heard me trying to learn one of his ...
- 153
1
vote
1
answer
43
views
What is the proper way to check for parallels when using multiple ncts and chord tones between two chords in a chord progression?
Let's say I have a two chord progression written in four-part harmony that consists of a I chord and a V6 chord in the scale of C major in 4/4 time. The bottom 3 notes (Alto, Tenor, Bass) of both ...
3
votes
1
answer
53
views
How to go about writing multiple melody notes in between chords
In my music theory instruction, we are taught how to utilize one nct between two chords in a chord progression (i.e. check voices for direct and hidden parallel fifths and octaves between chords on ...
6
votes
1
answer
85
views
What harmonic idea is being used in Measures 9-12 and 17-19 in "Recuerdos De La Alhambra? "
I have done some harmonic analysis on Francisco Tárrega's “Recuerdos De La Alhambra”, as you can see below. Most of it makes sense to me, but there are sections in measures 9-12 and 17-19 that the ...
- 271
2
votes
1
answer
80
views
Drawing on Classical Guitar with Open Pore Finish
this might be a somewhat naive question, but I am curious if using some type of permanent marker to draw on a classical guitar with an open pore finish will cause any issues? I'd like to give it a go, ...
- 21
3
votes
2
answers
144
views
Do the touch, feel and weight of the keys matter to play classical music?
My question is really about the importance of quality of piano keys in perspective of playing hardcore classical pieces (i.e.- gaspard de la nuit) like how much it matters - the touch sensitivity, ...
- 31
2
votes
0
answers
45
views
Is there any software to convert carnatic vocal/instrumental music to swaras notation i.e., written musical notation? [closed]
I want to convert vocal music rendition into carnatic musical notations ( sa re g ma pa ..).
I tried searching for such tools but there are only softwares for western music, where they convert ...
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
134
views
Why does my singing voice sound squeeky [closed]
Most of the times I sing on pitch but still my singing sounds extremely dull. . How can I fix this ?
- 21
-5
votes
1
answer
64
views
Was Paganini the slash of the late 18 century and Stardivarius the Ferrari and Guarneri the Lamborghini of luthiers? [closed]
Would you rate Paganini the Slash of the late 18 century and Stradivarius the Ferrari and Guarneri the Lamborghini of luthiers ?
- 99
5
votes
3
answers
191
views
I'm a singer struggling with tempo and time
I'm a singer with a decent voice and technique, I also used to play the violin so I can read classical sheet music and sight-read pretty well. However, I've always struggled with counting.
I have no ...
- 51
3
votes
3
answers
143
views
Piano sight-reading confusion [duplicate]
everyone. I am a beginner pianist and I am to improve my technical and sight-reading skills. I have been sight-reading Primavera - Ludovico Einaudi for the past week and I came across something odd. ...
- 31
1
vote
1
answer
56
views
When does this extract change key? (Roman Numeral Analysis of Greene: 'Ode on St Cecilia's Day')
Quick question regarding bar 3 in this figured bass exercise. We start off in D minor. The introduction of C naturals in bar 3, along with the fact we finish the piece in the relative FM, seems to ...
- 681
2
votes
3
answers
198
views
Melody harmonisation: How to handle leaps?
I am currently harmonising a melody- the last three bars of the phrase are shown in the picture. The melody is in the alto part, and it finishes the phrase with a large leap down to G. I would like to ...
- 681
6
votes
1
answer
138
views
Does "the original" Dies Irae show up in Verdi?
Does Verdi's (or Mozart's) famous Dies Irae draw on the original plainchant melody
in any less obvious way, or does it just use the text?
- 171
1
vote
2
answers
169
views
Why do I always hear the Zelda theme in Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major?
In the first movement of Tchaikovsky's Op. 35, Violin Concerto in D Major, in the very soft part at the middle of the song (07:19 in this Yehudi Menuhin recording), I've always heard the Zelda theme. ...
- 885
6
votes
1
answer
252
views
How to imitate the sound of other instruments with piano
Playing classical music on an acoustic piano, one is often required to imitate the sound of other instruments in order to create different atmospheres.
This is especially the case in the music of ...
- 362
1
vote
0
answers
50
views
Four part writing: How to treat the 7th over static harmony?
My example:
The harmony in bar 28 is C sharp half dim 7. On the off beat of beat 2, I have root C sharp (repeated harmony note- tenor part [alto clef]), sounding at the same time as the 7th B (aux ...
- 681
3
votes
1
answer
167
views
Does it have a name what John Williams is doing in these pieces (and lots of others)?
I noticed a very common thing John Williams does.
My knowledge in music theory is pretty limited.
The only thing I could name are lots of passing notes and chromaticism? - but maybe there is a special ...
- 41
2
votes
2
answers
82
views
Four part writing: Does quality and amount of dissonances affect use of non harmony notes?
Still writing four part. I have found that, even if dissonances are prepared and resolved by the book, they can still be quite jarring. So, I was wondering if it is normal to take extra factors into ...
- 681
3
votes
0
answers
231
views
How else is Girls' Generation "Into the New World" related to Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 in E minor, "From the New World"? [closed]
I've been listening to Into the New World (song) since 2008. But I didn't realize until today that Mindblown. : SNSD
the opening phrase in ITNW
contains the same sequence of notes as the first theme ...
user26407
2
votes
1
answer
119
views
Piano - Reaching arpeggios in Beethoven's Pathetique 3rd movement measure 107
If I start the piece from a neutral position in relation to my left hand I find that when I get to the arpeggios in measure 107 I can't comfortably reach them with my right hand. If I start the piece ...
- 61
4
votes
3
answers
120
views
Does tempo affect use of non-harmony notes?
Writing a four part piece for strings at a very slow tempo (55 bpm). On paper, it seems as though the non-chord notes I have selected should work, but I am finding some of them jarring. I am unsure if ...
- 681
6
votes
2
answers
383
views
What do (P5) and (P6) mean? (Guitar)
Nocturne (Noturno) Op.9, No. 2 by Chopin. Tarrega's version, revised by Edson Lopes.
In bars 18 and 19. P(5) and P(6) are written below the music. They are repeated throughout the piece with the same ...
- 63
20
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How could I get my Classical Music Compositions published and known?
I'm a first timer on this site. Have patience and mercy with me. For years I've been a professor, performer and Conductor. I'm a composer, not that many would know, I'm on my 711th opus. All classical ...
3
votes
2
answers
119
views
What are the trends that led to fizzling of ars antiqua and rising of ars nova?
What is the trends that led to the fizzling of ars antique and to the rising of ars nova?
1
vote
2
answers
220
views
sharp ii dim 7th: How to use?
Still here and working on part-writing. I have used a sharp ii dim7th chord, straight after iihalfdim7- leading to V. Is this actually the right place to put it in terms of chord sequence/harmonic ...
- 681
4
votes
6
answers
2k
views
What is the purpose of the first movement in Moonlight Sonata?
As someone inexperienced in formal music theory, I wonder what the purpose of the first movement of Moonlight Sonata is. Whenever I listen to Moonlight Sonata, I feel like skipping directly past the ...
3
votes
2
answers
121
views
Questions about Renaissance music notation
I see that in Renaissance music printings, the noteheads are diamond and square shaped as opposed to circular, and the stem for each note comes up or down from the middle instead of from one side (I'...
- 331
1
vote
0
answers
101
views
What piece (possibly by Chopin) begins with the scale e,f#,g#,a,b,c,d,e? [closed]
My mom played a piece from memory that started with a run of this scale. She knew it from her youth and never remembered the title. She thought maybe Chopin, but I've unsuccessfully searched. She has ...
- 11
2
votes
2
answers
107
views
Four part writing: How to voice augmented 6th chords?
I have recently started adding augmented 6th chords to my part writing. As far as I can tell, I have not broken any harmonic rules in the displayed voicing, yet it does not sound right to me. Just ...
- 681
13
votes
1
answer
889
views
What is this very long pipe instrument?
In
at 15:25 there is a very long pipe instrument with no holes. It is supposedly a folk instrument from Argentina since the piece is Misa Criolla by Ramirez, which ...
- 1,621
5
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why do the members of one orchestra generally sway while playing, and the others don't?
I'm listening/watching to two videos on YouTube with two different orchestras, each playing a rather distinct style of music, but the members of one really seem to get into the physicality of playing
...
- 159