Questions tagged [musicology]
The scholarly study of music, particularly different musical cultures and traditions
103
questions
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0answers
39 views
Spoken word song about Jesus [migrated]
In the late 60's or early 70's there was a spoken word song about Jesus. You didn't know who the song was about, the narrator only told you that he was a long haired hippy who wandered about ...
1
vote
0answers
30 views
Identify song name and artist [closed]
I think it was in 70s or 80s a young woman from U.S. went to work for awhile on an island, maybe Jamaica. When she was ready to return I believe there was a problem taking her earnings with her so she ...
5
votes
1answer
149 views
What are these overlapping notes with different rhythms called in Music Theory?
On piano, when playing a long note followed by an overlapping shorter note or vice versa, what is this called? I know this is an extremely common thing in piano music, but I don't know what it's ...
5
votes
1answer
172 views
what is a beat histogram and how is it different from spectrograms?
I am learning about audio signals for analytical purposes. I came across beat histograms and spectrograms. I understand that a spectrogram is all about frequency and time but I am confused about beat ...
3
votes
2answers
99 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?
3
votes
2answers
80 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'...
1
vote
0answers
33 views
Chord or tabs sheet for Baden's time [closed]
Can anyone please tell me the chords or tabs for baden's song to play on Acoustic guitar ?
I wanna play it so badly pls help me .
song : Baden's time (https://open.spotify.com/track/...
5
votes
2answers
78 views
Chants in Renaissance vocal music
In notice that in some vocal works composed during the Renaissance, especially masses, long chunks of music (sometimes the whole piece) are preceded by a monophonic, often short chant which is ...
7
votes
2answers
211 views
Confusion about Zarlino and his assertions about the diatessaron (perfect fourth)
In Part Three of Gioseffo Zarlino's "Le Istitutioni Harmoniche", "The Art of Counterpoint", Zarlino argues that the diatessaron (or perfect fourth) is not a dissonance, as the ...
1
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0answers
38 views
Books on understand music and emotion for a beginner [closed]
Say you have someone in your life you'd like to help learn to appreciate music. This person has only informally played music as a kid for a few months and has a sizable selection of CDs, but they've ...
7
votes
3answers
371 views
Latin voice denotations in Renaissance vocal music
I see that in the original printings of renaissance vocal music, the voices are labeled with Latin words like cantus, triplex, medius, etc... Assuming that these words denote the ranges of their ...
5
votes
3answers
741 views
Do the instruments used in a piece of music play a role in determining its genre?
I am researching about music genres but I am confused if instruments played in music help in determining its genre?
What could be the differentiating features in genre recognition of music?
8
votes
5answers
233 views
How to argue that it might be a good idea for a composition to follow music theory more closely? [closed]
So I'm a cabaret composer and have been studying music for quite some time. I have a band including myself, an accordionist, and a guitarist.
I've been writing progressions and parts for everyone, ...
9
votes
6answers
176 views
Why is it easier to remember a melody as opposed to a simple interval? [duplicate]
There's already a question similar to this here, but most of the answers raise questions like, "If you can throw an object a certain distance but not tell precisely how far you threw it, how do ...
2
votes
1answer
54 views
Relevant literature on Mathematical and neurological theories for functional harmony?
I’m interested in finding out what are the current proposed theories surrounding the expectation + release behaviour of functional harmony.
From what I reckon, functional harmony seems to be a human ...
1
vote
0answers
25 views
Early arrangements and rehearsals of the arrangements of the recordings of The Jordanaires
Are there any articles, books, thesis that analyze and give insight into the arrangements and rehearsals of the arrangements of the recordings of The Jordanaires from the late 40's and early 50's with ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
What is it that makes music from different cultures/regions sound different?
I have always wondered what it is that makes music from different cultures/regions sound different from each other?
For example, if we compare Western music, Indian music, Chinese music they all sound ...
1
vote
3answers
84 views
How did Victorian Christmas carolers sing Christmas carols?
Do we have any idea of how Victorian Christmas carolers actually sang Christmas carols? What chords did they use, did they use ornaments etc, were there special ways that they ended the Christmas ...
2
votes
2answers
111 views
Did Nicolas Gombert compose a clean change of note or slides as endings in his motets?
A member of the Facebook group Barbershop Harmony said that in live performances of Gombert motets, the Bass will randomly drop an octave on the last chord, within one syllable, whilst the other ...
2
votes
1answer
63 views
Is this a Passacaglia?
This piece is in triple-meter and has a clear cadential-formula. Is it fair to call it a passacaglia despite no bass-ostinato?
Or is it a Chaconne? I am not clear on the difference except one is from ...
1
vote
2answers
102 views
Spatial perception of pitch and playing an instrument: Any studies about it?
A keyboardist plays left to right (lower to higher notes). A violinist, the higher the notes, the fingers go nearer the body. A Double-bassist, the higher the notes, the fingers go towards the floor. ...
2
votes
1answer
172 views
What makes this song sound so middle eastern?
What makes this song to feel so middle eastern? I mean harmonically and theoretical context. Because as I see live here all performed instruments are western but still it feels so oriental.
Also here ...
1
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1answer
108 views
Cuban Standards
I know that some of cuban songs are listed in Jazz standards but are there any list of cuban standars that one should follow to learn harmonics and theory about boleros and other genres affiliated to ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the word to describe the aspect of a chord being either minor or major?
I am looking for the noun that is the thing that is either major or minor in respect to a chord such as a triad. I suppose it could also be an adjective. It would be 'x' in the following question: "...
2
votes
1answer
44 views
How to add counts (by 8) to music [closed]
I am a salsa instructor and during this quarantine, I am teaching students to dance at their homes via sending them instruction videos, which I make on my own with counts and on music as well.
One ...
2
votes
2answers
87 views
Why is the numbering scheme of the Telemann-Werke-Verzeichnis (TWV) not adopted more universally?
Telemann's works are numbered first according to genre, then, where applicable, by key (with minor keys in lowercase and major keys in uppercase), and finally (if possible) chronologically or else at ...
1
vote
3answers
92 views
Why are western double-reed instruments smoother than double-reed instruments outside Europe?
When one thinks of the timbre of double reed instruments, we tend to divide them as two groups:
Oboe, English horn, bassoon. (Western instruments.) The sound is very smooth and pure.
Other double-...
1
vote
1answer
82 views
Associating modulations with emotions [closed]
I once read a book (pdf) from imslp or forgottenbooks that was about composition (or harmony), and it had a list of every possible modulation and its emotional association. For example, Up a perfect ...
0
votes
5answers
446 views
When to use different type of chords in composition?
I want to know when to use (i.e., situation and feel) different type of chords listed below. Could you please help me to know that?
Major - Bright - Happy Feeling,
Minor - Dull - Sad feeling,
...
1
vote
2answers
136 views
Was there a conscious decision of medieval composers to compose within a harmonic framework?
How much were medieval composers (such as Hildegard von Bingen) aware of modal approach when they composed and "engineered" their pieces?
Now, this question is almost stupid. They didn't compose ...
-3
votes
1answer
81 views
Music theory-Ornaments-TURN [closed]
Which of the given options would be correct for the turn ornament shown in the piece of music.
4
votes
2answers
311 views
“Contemporary Christian Music” but for other religions?
Contemporary Christian music (or CCM -- and occasionally "inspirational music") is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith.
Do ...
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votes
3answers
337 views
Why is Eastern Music a Mode of Western Music?
Western music (to me at least) is best captured in the major scale. And Phrygian, which is the 3rd mode of the major scale can be used to get a more Eastern sound (for example Jefferson Airplane/White ...
2
votes
2answers
272 views
English translation of Brahms' essay: “Octaven und Quinten”?
I am now doing some research on Brahm's essay, Octaven u. Quinten. I cannot read German, so I cannot do anything with the original manuscript. I have read some secondary sources about this essay, but ...
3
votes
1answer
242 views
Stability of chords
I wish to understand the connection of music theory to the physics world, or to waves.
In this context, I quite understand notion of dominant chords as containing tritone, which is dissonant. What I ...
2
votes
0answers
78 views
What are good resources for composing music in the style of sea shanties? [closed]
I've not been able to find any literature on the topic so far. If anyone could point me in the direction of some good books or other, that would be great.
18
votes
3answers
802 views
Music Theory: Facts or Hierarchy of Opinions? [closed]
To get right to the point, what I want to know is: what makes a claim acceptable in the world of music theory?
From my understanding, music theory has very little to do with any "natural law" or ...
3
votes
3answers
9k views
Is it possible to transpose samples (in cents) from minor to major?
I'd like to transpose a sample (in cents) from G Minor to C Major.
How do I do that, or is it even possible?
2
votes
1answer
1k views
How is the human voice classified?
Considering the vocal cords can be a membranophone or considering the air column can be an aerophone.
or do we need another classification?
6
votes
2answers
868 views
Are there any thematic similarities between Shostakovichs' Symphony 5th and Beethovens' 7th symphony? [closed]
Taking a look at the opening bars of Shostakovichs' Symphony 5th and Beethovens' 7th symphony 4th movement (bar 136 onwards) see below they sound kind of similar.
Somebody suggested (Radio 3 I think)...
1
vote
1answer
88 views
Music for Piano, Frangis Ali-Sade
What should I know about the music tradition behind Music for Piano, I believe mugham? From what I gather, the notation is more of you'd call a guideline. I have the 1998 Musikverlag Hans Sikorski ...
3
votes
1answer
59 views
Can someone help me figure out this music theory KEY finding question
Messing around Sunday I came up with a song that has the following Chord Progression. I'm just learning music theory and am having trouble on identifying the key.
The chord progression is:
C7 D7 F7 ...
1
vote
0answers
56 views
Beatles' usage of pronouns [closed]
I was wondering how did the Beatles' usage of pronouns influence the rock genre, and music in general? Of course, famous musicians such as Bruce Springsteen were inspired by their music, but did the ...
10
votes
1answer
9k views
Carnatic Vs Western 12 Note system
I was trying to learn the chromatic scale and associate it with carnatic equivalents (I know equal temperment is not the way with indian music, but it interest me to relate and learn it to certain ...
1
vote
0answers
77 views
Who particpated In formal musical grading education in England? [closed]
England has produced some very successful musicians in the popular music field in the past five decades. Elton John, The Beatles, The Stones, The Moody Blues, and countless others. But in the U.S. we ...
0
votes
1answer
267 views
What is the real meaning of “dominant” in music? [duplicate]
Please answer with a simple explanation and example.
Why is every 5th tone from tonic called "dominant"?
0
votes
2answers
96 views
Where do I get answers to my musical “Why” questions, i.e. are there any “Why” books out there? [closed]
I have been studying music theory for some time now and I have become genuinely interested in the genealogy of music theory. I keep asking why when I study even the most basic of theories. For example,...
0
votes
1answer
269 views
Any studies on ear training, or musicality out there
Are there any established and scientifically backed-up facts about what is possible, and what time it takes for ear training? Any studies out there that look at these questions? Like letting people ...
2
votes
1answer
88 views
conterpoint and melodic learning or other ways?
If I want to learn about melodic for composition, I have to learn counterpoint, that 's right? Or it has other ways or great books for learning about, please anyone help me I lost a lot of time for ...
1
vote
3answers
324 views
Is ear training for piano is 100% sufficient for ear training flute?
If a person ear trains pitches of piano will he be automatically able to understand the pitches of flute or should he do some extra ear train for flute ? For example can we say if a person ear trains ...
