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The musical collaboration in the video below signifys what the theme of this website is all about. East meets West as two famous masters from different music schools get together and perform as a duet. Menuhin and Shankar go on to discuss elements of East Indian music tripmonk0 — May 18, 2009 — A short clip from a marvellous series from the late 60s early 70s presented by the Late Sir Yehudi Menuhin. This slightly grainy clip shows Pandit Ravi Shankar & Ustad Alla Rakha demonstrating & talking about Indian classical music.
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| Of course, not all of the diverse music forms and interpretations are, or could hoped to be, represented. This site is only an overview; a basic introduction to some of the more well known examples that might be found in a "Global Music Appreciation 101" textbook. |
Fundamental elements of rythm, melody, harmony, singing style, performance settings and others will be observed and compared. Hopefully the viewer/listener will come to expanded awareness of a "Global music appreciation" |
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The music available here is taken from freely available online sources. |
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One of the elements that varies in usage around the world is the relative importance of a standardized tuning system and the criteria to which it is applied. Tunings range in application to making sure all instruments of a modern symphony orchestra will sound well together to simply drilling holes in a homemade traditional flute and letting the "soul" of that particular instrument express itself. Not only the individual pitches were unique but also the very scale the flute would produce could only be played on that particular instrument. Thus pitch and modes (or scales) are fundamental to music but are applied differently according to accpted traditions and training of the culture in question. |
A professor of Western music was asked to fill in on a tamboura at an East Indian music concert. His practical music education and training was founded on the well-tempered tuning system upon which amost of his familiar music experience was based. This professor had a hard time utilizing the perfect tuning system essential in performance of a raga; wherin intervals are absolutely based on physical ratios of perfect octaves, fifths and fourths; not on an "imperfect "slightly altered" system creating enharmonic equivalence (such as F#/Gflat allowing for changing of keys (such as "C" to "G" or "D") within a piece etc. |
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Quarter tone interval sing exercise I talked with an Iranian musician who is an instructor of the Kamancheh and also teaches voice. He told me about the use of tetrachords. He explained there are the major and minor versions much the same as would be found on a piano but, in addition, there are certain pitches which are altered by quarter tone increments. This is what gives the music a different exotic feel. To many Westerners it might well sound out of tune. This video does a good job of showing how the quarter step intervals are applied to Persian music. |
Persian Voice Training, lesson 2. Simple mayehs درس آواز |
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For indepth information on scales, modes and ragas check out - Modes and Ragas:More than just a scale. |
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The human voice: An instrument of such power, beauty, natural and seemingly unnatural performance heard in diverse striking contrast as voiced throughout the music of mankind. For more on human voice use and examples of widely varying traditions world wide click on the appropriate link:     |
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Franz Schubert was a prolific German composer. He wrote many kinds of music but is most remembered for his many romantic art songs. Notice how the solo voice is accompanied. The standard notated music of chords and melody is very familiar to those acquainted with European/ Western music theory yet, this kind of music practice is quite different than what is heard in "Hindustani" or "throat singing". Soprano Christine Schafer performs the Leider der Delphine. D 857 nº 1
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Of large dimensions and granduer. Music can be a way to inkindle concepts of cooperation, organisation and appreciation; inspiring an awareness of wonder and beauty within us all. This whole work is scored for large orchestra, chorus and soloists. All must work together if the complete whole is to be realized. To harness forces of this size and blend them into a rich evolving musical universe of expressive beauty of soul and sound is surely a bestowal of favor; a showcase of genius within the human spirit of creation and fellowship.; Listen as Andrea Bocelli conducts the ''Sanctus''. from the Verdi Requiem
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The Barbershop Quartet: Singing in four part harmony. |
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Barbershop harmony is based on four part singing. One of the rules when writing this style of music is that none of the four parts can be doubled. In other words, no unison or octave intervals are used. Each voice must at all times carry its own part and be an integral part of the harmonic structure. For four part writing that means utilizing very complex chord structures. Dominant seven chords, such as C,E,G, Bflat are commonly used but many varieties of major, minor, augmented and diminished forms of " six", "seven" and even "nine" chords are used as well. Barbershop singing utilizes the physics of overtone harmonic generation. A good quartet works hard at blending parts together in just the right combination of tone and loudness so as to "ring" the chords. When this is done well pitches may be heard that are not actually sung. The blending of the harmonies themselves produces a "fifth" tone. The physics involved is difficult to capture in a recording so often the "chord ringing" effect will be lost; but, trust me, it is there in a live performance, |
The Barbershop Harmony Society is proud to present your 2009 International Quartet Champions....representing the Central States District...Crossroads!!!!!!!! They opened their semi-final set with this rendition of 'Lucky Old Sun' arranged by David Wright. Crossroads-2009 International Quartet Champions |
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Compare a performance of the same song as it was sung by Louis Armstrong sixty years earlier. Note, not only the performance reflecting the times, but also the distinct contrast between this recording and the Barbershop rendition heard above. To the right is a brief history showing how a popular song can beused and repopularized by different artists. Louis Armstrong with Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra Upon listening to both the Louis Armstrong and barbershop versions of the song "That Lucky Old Sun" a friend said," The barbershop arrangment does not sound like the same song as was sung by Louis Armstrong. The words are the same but the music is different". He then asked," When is a song considered a separate independent piece and not an arrangement of the same song?". I answered," in "That Lucky Old Sun" both lyrics and melody were used directly from the original 1949 song. It was simply adapted for use in barbershop singing. Sometimes the melody line in barbershop arranging may be hard for someone not familiar with the style to follow. You have to listen for it within the chord structure. Usually the melody is sung by the Lead (which is below the tenor) but can be shared between all voices. Music history is full of examples of composers taking well known folksongs and incorporating the melodies into their own work. The Largo movement of the "New World Symphony by Dvorak is a prime example. The melody to the Negro Spiritual "Goin Home" is clearly discernable. Dvorak was a student and researcher of folksongs. Yet, further research brings to question what I was traditionally taught in music history class. New light is shed upon the true origin of the "Goin Home" melody. Was it actually created by Dvorak himself or taken from a preexisting song?. see: http://www.americanmusicpreservation.com/nemusic4.htm |
"That Lucky Old Sun" is a 1949 popular song with music by Beasley Smith and words by Haven Gillespie. Like "Old Man River", its lyrics contrast the toil and intense hardship of the singer's life with the obliviousness of the natural world. The biggest hit version of the song was by Frankie Laine. This recording was released by Mercury Records as catalog number 5316. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on August 19, 1949 and lasted 22 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1. [1] The recording by Vaughn Monroe was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-3531 (78 rpm) and 47-3018 (45 rpm). It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on September 16, 1949 and lasted 14 weeks on the chart, peaking at #9. [1] The recording by Louis Armstrong was released by Decca Records as catalog number 24752. It first reached the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart on October 14, 1949 and lasted 3 weeks on the chart, peaking at #24. [1] Frank Sinatra released his competing version of the song on the Columbia label catalog number 38608. It reached the best sellers chart on October 29, 1949 and peaked at #16. This song was translated into Russian, and was presented to Soviet audiences as describing how a Western man suffers the hardships of capitalism. It was recorded in Russian by singer Mark Bernes in early 1960s. A version by Ray Charles appeared on his 1963 album Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul. (This recording is also included as a bonus track on post-1988 CD reissues of Charles' landmark 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.) Jerry Lee Lewis recorded an unreleased solo version at Sun Studios in 1956 or 1957. (A recorded version by Lewis can be found on the Great Balls of Fire album, the soundtrack for the movie "Great Balls of Fire" with Dennis Quaid playing the part of Jerry Lee Lewis.) Paul Williams recorded a version on the 1972 Album Life Goes On (Paul Williams album) Willie Nelson recorded a version on the 1976 Album The Sound in Your Mind which was also released as an extra track on the reissued Stardust: 30th Anniversary Legacy Edition. The Jerry Garcia Band performed a version on the Jerry Garcia Band live album in 1991. Johnny Cash covered it on the album American III: Solitary Man in 2000. Brian Wilson premiered a song cycle inspired by the song entitled That Lucky Old Sun (A Narrative) at the Royal Festival Hall, London, England on 10 September 2007. A duet with Kenny Chesney and Willie Nelson is included on Chesney's 2008 album Lucky Old Sun. |
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Dvorak - Symphony No. 9 " New World" - "Largo" (part 1) |
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Below are some original compositions exploring different styles of music. |
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(A flute harmonizing as a duet with recorded calls of wild loons.) |
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(Music is a hybrid of East & West styles.) |
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>Lauded & Glorified art Thou: A Baha'i prayer. (Music is a hybrid of barbershop and contrapuntal classical.) |
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(Verses about stars set to Mozart's classic melody.) |
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The Violin: The ever-popular violin has had a major impact on the global music scene. It has been adopted and adapted by many and it, in turn, has often influenced change in native instruments themselves. Experience eand learn more about how the violin is played in other kinds of music by clicking on the appropriate link below.
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The "Global Music Appreciation" concert tour presents a perfomance of a well known German symphony conducted by a Japanese conductor. This live recording, from the Alte Oper Frankfurt, features the Japanese maestro Seiji Ozawa conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No.8 in F major Op.93.
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Note: This site on "Global Music Appreciation" is a work in progress. Thie main purpose of being online at this point of development is to allow collaborators and friends to view the progress, make suggestions and provide comments. You may find "scratch notes" concerning future implementaion of goals. Pages will still be partially complete or even blank. Yet, there is still an ever-evolving growing selection of music from around the world lavailable through links in this site. You are welcome to look, play and experience music as performed from around the world. Sincerely David |
| To email me, Click here |
Do a "Match the Mode" exercise in which modes will be played and described allowing a student to match the mode name with its sound.
Also pieces done in various modes will become available. The mode will be then selected to match the composition.
Examples of popular chord progressions will be shown...including the popular 1,6,4,5, of popular 50s/early 60s music; the 1,5,6,3,4,1,4,5 progression of Pachelbel's Canon; the "search for a home key at the beginning of the beethoven 1st Symphony and a few others.
This will lead to a few examples of key modulation as commonly seen in Western music practice.
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Below are some original compositions exploring different styles of music. |
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(A flute harmonizing as a duet with recorded calls of wild loons.) |
>Lauded & Glorified art Thou: A Baha'i prayer. (Music is a hybrid of barbershop and contrapuntal classical.) |
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(Music is a hybrid of East & West styles.) |
(Verses about stars set to Mozart's classic melody.) |
| To email me, Click here |
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