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Part 1- Evolution of Musical NotationThe basis and variety of music itself comes from the different patterns and levels of notation. They are the record on paper of what is supposed to be played by the instrumentalist. Music, as we all know, has gone through thousands of years, dated from all the way back to the time before the birth of Christ. In effect, music and its notation have also gone through many stages of change and perfection. Musical notation can be divided into two main uses.The first use of musical notation is using it as an aid to memory. Unlike nowadays, in majority, music has been passed down orally in the past. Written pitches and rhythms only serve didactic use. Therefore, music notation in the past allows all musicians to improvise and to add in their own details. Musical notation in the past only contains mandatory style and notes, without the dynamics or other elements of music. These ¡§details¡¨ are usually learnt when a student in the music field learns from his master in an apprenticeship. The second use of musical notation came into the musical world at a steady rate. This kind of musical notation allots mandatory and important information to the performer in which he should follow to execute an excellent performance. It contained information about specific rhythm, dynamics, form, texture and style on how the music should be played. This way of playing lead to the regularity of interpretation of music. One of example of the regulations would be the formation of Italian terms (e.g. Maestoso, Presto, Decrescendo, D.C. Al Fine).
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However, we can still divide these two main musical notation ¡§periods¡¨ down into further groups. In the following, there will be a more detailed explanation on the chronological timeline of musical notation.Music notation at first was hand-notated and gave merely anything at all about dynamics, duration or other elements of music. Music was originally written in a theoretical sense, where they provide general methods of playing for several different pieces of music, rather than one piece of independent music.From the start of the th century to the 11th century, musicians used neumes to record music. Like early notation, these were handwritten by the performer. However, the neumes provided information, which was only the rough sound of the melody, to the performer also. Guido of Arezzo in the 11th century probably invented the ancestors of our five-line staff. He introduced a line system to give precise pitches to the musicians. One downside of this notation was that it had no signification of rhythm.In the 1th century, church music began to take its own form and contribute to the development of musical notation. This kind of musical notation, which is still used nowadays, is written specifically for Roman Catholic Churches. This showed everything the Guido of Arezzo had invented, and also included rules and examples that show patterns of rhythm, but not the exact rhythm for the specific musical composition. This rhythm pattern was generally decided by the head of the church choir. This form of musical notation was called the Square notation (because of its resemblance to a square) and Roman notation (because the Romans had invented and used this kind of notation).The next major step of progression takes place after the Dark Age, which was the Medieval Times (around 180 A.D.). A man by the name of Franco of Cologne invented a more precise system, called the Mensurabilis, to organize rhythm, using a ratio-based system. His system would subdivide one beat into different number of values. The position of a note would determine the reduction or augmentation of a note. Franco named that the subdivision by three Perfectio because it was the symbol for the Holy Trinity. On the other hand, dividing by two was called Imperfectio. This system was well thought out and can allow performers to ply very complex rhythms. However, this format was considered to limit the opportunity for the performers to improvise and add in their own details. Music was then written specifically for different instruments because the Mensurabilis could not give concrete interpretation to every instrument. Therefore, the tablature was invented to give specific notation for keyboard and string instruments. This form of notation allows the performer to play the music without any other musical aid but the music itself. For string instruments, this musical notation indicates to the performer which finger to place on which string. For keyboard performers, tablature shows a specific key to be played, but leaves the fingering up to the performer. The tablature¡¦s greatest advantage was that it saved space and ink.As we move into the 17th century, there is more musical notation specifically written for instruments. These separate notations are put together to form a Full-staff for a specific piece of music. These were pieces of music for different instruments playing the same piece. This kind of staff was and still is generally used by the conductor only, as the conductor needs to know what each instrument is playing at a specific time. With the invention of the printing press, it made the writing of musical notation easier. However, it could not give detailed information about articulating. Therefore, articulation components such as slurs or ties are usually hand-written back then and even sometimes nowadays. The progression of technology even allows composers to produce musical notation with the help of computer software and printers.Because contemporary music is getting much more complex, new forms of musical notation needed to be invented to add to or change the old musical notation. Elements of music such as rhythm required new ways to describe it. For example, contemporary music is more and more written in real time (e.g. seconds) now, rather than the traditional note-value way. This way of writing music has proved that the old ways of writing music insufficient to meet with today¡¦s standards. Other new musical notation includes the guidance for the exact use of piano pedals or the bow of a violin. This kind of musical notation sets both the composer and the performer free for new kinds of music, rather than following the traditional way or regulations of music. Musical notation has obviously grown a lot, from uncontrolled musical freedom to more regulations and back to a bit freer musical notation again. In my perspective, I think that there is going to be a recurring pattern of musical notation.Part - The Baroque EraThe Baroque Era, an era of evolution as a result of the Renaissance, roamed around the western society around the late 16th century and the early 18th century. This era was considered a revolution against polyphony. Polyphony was the recitative of playing of the same melody but in different pitches. The baroque era displayed to Europeans the emotional extremes in the form of music. There were many famous and excellent composers revealed as a result of the baroque era.1) Major Composers of the Baroque Erai. Johann Sebastian BachThe Bach¡¦s was a family of musicians, producing over 5 talented or non-talented composers, from Veit Bach to Wilhelm Friedrich Ernst Bach. However, the considered most talented composer in the family was Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Bach was born of March 1, 1685, into a family of musicians, including his father, whom he first received music lessons from. In Bach¡¦s early years, he traveled around Europe to learn from different masters and worked for churches as different instrumentalists, such as a violinist, organist, etc. At the start of 1708, Bach lived in Weimar for nine years. During this time, he composed 0 cantatas, which was a shorter or briefer form of an oratorio.In 1717, Bach began his 6-year career as chapel master and director of chamber music for Prince Leopold. During this time, Bach began writing music books for his wife and children, mainly about the use of keyboard instrument and musicianship. Bachs first wife, named Maria Barbara Bach (who was Bach¡¦s second cousin) died in 170, and the next year he married Anna Magdalena Wilcken, a fine singer and daughter of a court musician. She bore him 1 children in addition to the 7 he had had by his first wife, and she helped him in his work by copying the scores of his music for the performers.Bach moved to Leipzig in 17 and spent the rest of his life there. However, his career there was considered rather unsatisfactory. He had many discrepancies with the town council and other councils. They did not appreciate his musical genius and saw him as a stubborn old man to create obsolete music. Nonetheless, much of Bach¡¦s music still exist today. His famous compositions include, the Goldberg Variation, Christmas Oratorio, and the Ascension Cantata. Bachs sight began to fail in the last year of his life, and he died on July 8, 1750, after undergoing an unsuccessful eye operation. ii. George Friedrich HandelGeorge Friedrich Handel (1685-175) was a German composer, but worked primarily in England. Along with Johann Sebastian Bach, they were considered the greatest composers in the Baroque Period. While Bach¡¦s main accomplishments was devoted to instrumental and vocal parts for the Lutheran church services, Handel based his works upon operas and oratorios for the theatre. His most famous composition was The Messiah, composed in 174.Handel began his studies in music at the age of 7, with his master, named Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow. At age 17, Handel became an organist at Halle¡¦s main church, the Domkirche. In 1706, Handel left for the country of Italy, the birthplace of operas, and spent the next four years in Rome, Florence, Naples, and Venice. During this time he composed a large number of cantatas (compositions for voice and accompaniment designed for an intimate setting) and Italian oratorios (large-scale, unstaged dramatic compositions for vocal soloists and instruments). In 1710, Handel returned to Germany once again and worked for Kind George I of Great Britain and England.Without a doubt, Handel¡¦s greatest accomplishments are his works in oratorios, including his most famous piece, the Messiah. The Messiah is still played commonly today and is still greatly enjoyed by many.Other less famous composers of the Baroque Era were Johann Pachelbel, who was the composer of Pachelbel¡¦s Cannon. Also Georg Phillip Telemann was famous for his combination of different cultures¡¦ methods to play oratorios into one piece.) Style and Traits of the Baroque EraThere are four major forms founded and commonly used in the Baroque Era. They are, operas, cantatas, oratorios, and concertos.i. OperasOperas were concentrated in two countries during the Baroque Era, Italy and England. The most famous Italian writer was Claudio Monteverdi, and the most famous English writer was Henry Purcell. Operas are basically theatre performances with a lot of music combined with drama. It combined beautiful melodies from Italy, refinement from France, technique from Germany and the great choral tradition of the English. Baroque opera blossomed into a highly successful art form.ii. CantatasThe word ¡§cantata¡¨ comes from the Italian term- cantare, which means to sing. Therefore, this musical form is written mainly for vocalists, and others such as choruses and instrumentalists based on a poetic narrative of sacred or secular origins also. In the Lutheran tradition, sacred cantatas were required for each Sunday with their texts based on the Gospel readings for the day. Johann Sebastian Bach wrote over 00 cantatas for his church.iii. OratoriosOratorios are similar to operas; however, they are done without visual aids or props. They are more religion-based, and tell religious stories. The story is told with the help of a narrator and using the operatic tools of aria, chorus and recitative. The most famous oratorio writer is perhaps George Friedrich Handel, who wrote the Messiah, and Elijah and Samson.iv. Concertos The baroque era marked the beginning of music written specifically for a certain or group of instruments. Specific instrumentalists were appearing to embark this in music history. There were pieces written specifically for them. These pieces, called concertos, often contained solo cadenza passages where the player was able to show off their technical abilities.) Styles and Traits of Baroque EraThere are two main styles of the Baroque Era, the continuo and the ornamentation. Both involve the difference between what the composer wrote down and what the performer played. Both are elements of musical style, which derived from Renaissance music and persisted into early Classical music.The continuo is similar to the accompaniment. This accompaniment is composed of two instruments, the cello and the harpsichord. They provided the rhythmic and harmonic foundations for the baroque ensemble. The continuo is sort of similar to the way jazz music is written, because it has numbers to indicate the harmonic pitch of the foundation.Ornamentation is the direct opposite of the continuo. Ornamentation is the decorations and embellishments of a musical line, such as trills and mordants. The ornamentations were rarely written and was left for the performer¡¦s tastes to add in specific decorations for the music. Baroque music was considered a great revolution to the polyphonic music before the Renaissance. It was capricious and unpredictable. Some reactionists would even critique it as irregular and exuberant. It broke the restraint that was imposed on the music during the Dark Ages.Part - Function of Music in Historical and Cultural Context1. The Indonesian GamelanGamelan is a way of linking individuals in social groups. Gamelan music is performed as a group effort, and so there is no place for an individual showoff. Traditionally, gamelan is only played at certain occasions such as ritual ceremonies, special community celebrations, shadow puppet shows, and for the royal family. Gamelan is also used to accompany dances in court, temple, and village rituals. Besides providing music for social functional ceremonies, gamelan also provides a livelihood for many professional musicians, and for specialized craftsmen who manufacture gamelan.Today, although gamelan music is still used for ritual ceremonies and the royal family, it is also performed as concert music at social and cultural gatherings to welcome guests and audiences. Gamelan is also used to accompany many kinds of both traditional and modern dances, drama, theatrical and puppetry. In modern days, gamelan can be kept in places such as courts, temples, museums, schools, or even private homes. . Turkish CymbalsIt is thought that cymbals have been in existence in the Middle East and Asia since the first millennium BC as tiny finger cymbals. Cymbals as we know them now developed later, and were made from various metals, usually copper and tin mixed with silver, and gradually became larger and thinner using various secret processes for a more diverse range of uses and sounds. Cymbals have been used in rhythmic music when Turkish armies marched to the beating of drums and the clashing of cymbals and gongs. A turning point in the art of cymbal making occurred 77 years ago in 16 with the discovery of improved techniques by Turkish Armenian artizan Avedis. Avedis was an alchemist of Istanbul who discovered and developed a special processing technique for an alloy of copper, tin and silver with which he was able to make superior cymbals of extraordinary clarity and resonance. Sultans and viziers were impressed with the smooth bell-like tones and powerful resonance of his bronze cymbals, and all marveled at his precise craftsmanship. His fame quickly spread across the land and eventually he was given the name ¡¥Zildjian¡¦ (cymbalsmith) by the guildsmen of the time.. Ancient Chinese MusicThe Chinese often used music in Chinese operas along with vocal music. In China, a large variety of strings instruments are used. This includes both bowed and plucked strings instrument. Bowed string instruments consist of the Erhu, Banhu, Gaohu and Zhonghu. Plucked string instruments consist of the Pipa, Ruan and Saxian. Bowed instruments are very similar to the violin and viola in the Western Culture whereas the plucked ones look like the bass and guitar. These instruments were only used in the upper class and for the royalty. Ancient Chinese music was often combined with poetry. 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