The British Invasion is one of the few movements in music that didn't involve a radical change of musical influences, at least off of the get-go. When it first started, it was purely some of the British band's desire to emulate the American style of Rock and Roll. Though the influence was there, the movement didn't actually take place until The Beatles played on the Ed Sullivan show):
The movement was a combination of Rock and Roll, Beat, and Pop music, and was very similar in composition to the "surfer music" that was played already in the United States (The Beach Boys being an example of that). Though the music started out as being an extension of the style of music being done by other genre's, it quickly grew into its own style (crafted mainly by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones).
However, unlike many of the musical genre's, the British Invasion was not marked by the very specific things that it did to try and change about the current genre's, but the location from which the artists in question came from. Many of the artists had radically different styles of music, with changes to every aspect of Rock imaginable. The sole exception to this being that the guitar was always in the forefront of instruments, though the timbre, rhythm, type of guitar could radically change between each of the performers.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Sideshow the musical
Musicals are a popular form of play nowadays (transitioned from the Opera of earlier Europe for a middle class audience most likely). Though they tend to have somewhat radically different stories, the actual plot stays the same. Based heavily on the gender of the main character, the story tends to revolve around the life of the main character as they fall in love with someone (typically someone they meet out of the blue, and will later both break up with, and then join back up with again). On April 8-10 and 15-17, Sideshow the musical will be performed in the University Theatre (this post based upon the performance done on the 9th). Done in two acts, it depicts the antics of two Siamese twins trying to fit in the world (based on the real events of two similar people).
The songs tended to blend together throughout the entire musical due to their constant state. There would only be a few seconds while someone might be talking, quickly having them switching to singing their lines. Though each of the pieces were distinct, they followed a very similar trend of staccato notes throughout the pieces, with a few held notes to spice up specific lines. Notably, almost every instrument played drone, as well as spend time accenting the vocalists throughout the entirety of the piece (a couple of the brass instruments were the only ones to not do so). The singers did very little repitition of lines throughout the pieces, and only when the actual lines of the "play" would involve two groups trying to contest against one another (in an argument or otherwise).
The actors were in a constant state of motion for almost the entire duration of being on the stage. Only when a piece was done, or when another actor had some form of importance (and demanded the audience's attention) did the actors stop moving. Though they were in constant motion, there were no noticable ques between the actors for the music (several were done for the dance motions however), relying completely on the memorization of the piece (and the offstage director should they get stuck). In complete and sharp contrast, the instrumentalists in the back did almost no movement past raising their instrument when their time to play arose. Though they didn't directly que within one another, a director cued each of them for each of the movements done in the music.
Despite not being free, there was a rather sizable audiance throughout the theatre (though not a full house). Many of the viewers were parents to the performers on stage, as well as a large number of students that came for the performance. Many of the students came in larger groups of three and higher, though there were a couple that were there solo (only two couples that I saw throughout the crowd). There were also several previous members of the Art and Humanities department that showed up to support the new members.
The theatre was most likely picked for its ability to reverberate, and then quickly remove the reverberation. There were many edges along the walls, as well as along the back of the theatre, allowing for a large amount of reverberation through the theatre. The ceiling, however, had multitudes of sound traps to keep the sound from lasting for a large amount of time. The effect was that there was a large amount of reverberation when each note was done, but was quickly gone for the next note to start reverberating.
The flow of piece into another piece was the most notable aspect overall. While the pieces tended to be different entities onto themselves, they would get transitioned into one another to keep the general flow of the musical together. There were almost no times when there wasn't some form of music being played (desregarding the constant drone that almost always being played). This allowed the musical to keep flowing, and never have to spend time trying to set up for the next piece outside of the musical key.
The songs tended to blend together throughout the entire musical due to their constant state. There would only be a few seconds while someone might be talking, quickly having them switching to singing their lines. Though each of the pieces were distinct, they followed a very similar trend of staccato notes throughout the pieces, with a few held notes to spice up specific lines. Notably, almost every instrument played drone, as well as spend time accenting the vocalists throughout the entirety of the piece (a couple of the brass instruments were the only ones to not do so). The singers did very little repitition of lines throughout the pieces, and only when the actual lines of the "play" would involve two groups trying to contest against one another (in an argument or otherwise).
The actors were in a constant state of motion for almost the entire duration of being on the stage. Only when a piece was done, or when another actor had some form of importance (and demanded the audience's attention) did the actors stop moving. Though they were in constant motion, there were no noticable ques between the actors for the music (several were done for the dance motions however), relying completely on the memorization of the piece (and the offstage director should they get stuck). In complete and sharp contrast, the instrumentalists in the back did almost no movement past raising their instrument when their time to play arose. Though they didn't directly que within one another, a director cued each of them for each of the movements done in the music.
Despite not being free, there was a rather sizable audiance throughout the theatre (though not a full house). Many of the viewers were parents to the performers on stage, as well as a large number of students that came for the performance. Many of the students came in larger groups of three and higher, though there were a couple that were there solo (only two couples that I saw throughout the crowd). There were also several previous members of the Art and Humanities department that showed up to support the new members.
The theatre was most likely picked for its ability to reverberate, and then quickly remove the reverberation. There were many edges along the walls, as well as along the back of the theatre, allowing for a large amount of reverberation through the theatre. The ceiling, however, had multitudes of sound traps to keep the sound from lasting for a large amount of time. The effect was that there was a large amount of reverberation when each note was done, but was quickly gone for the next note to start reverberating.
The flow of piece into another piece was the most notable aspect overall. While the pieces tended to be different entities onto themselves, they would get transitioned into one another to keep the general flow of the musical together. There were almost no times when there wasn't some form of music being played (desregarding the constant drone that almost always being played). This allowed the musical to keep flowing, and never have to spend time trying to set up for the next piece outside of the musical key.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Gullah Geechee, the peoples of the United States of Africa
The Gullah Geechee people are a segment of African Americans that became segregated from the rest of America due to their resistance to the prevalent diseases that were prominant in South Carolina and Georga. Because of this segregation, they kept many of their old, African traditions, including their musical heritage. In August last year they held a music festival to share their music with the rest of the United States.
The music is very distinctly African in origin, and holds many of the common traits found in African music. The emphasis on drums and the beat of the song over having a complex set of instruments (though, drums are not the only thing used). The empasis on movement from the audiance/performers (based on the non-formal performances). The vocal lines tend to be done in more of a "chant", rather than trying to make them into their own kind of instrument (with their own complex harmony or melody). However, unlike several of the African music styles looked at before, their musical style doesn't appear to have any form of stringed instruments. Their emphasis on brass is also much smaller than the other forms of African-influenced musical styles, as well as the lack of wind instruments.
The music is very distinctly African in origin, and holds many of the common traits found in African music. The emphasis on drums and the beat of the song over having a complex set of instruments (though, drums are not the only thing used). The empasis on movement from the audiance/performers (based on the non-formal performances). The vocal lines tend to be done in more of a "chant", rather than trying to make them into their own kind of instrument (with their own complex harmony or melody). However, unlike several of the African music styles looked at before, their musical style doesn't appear to have any form of stringed instruments. Their emphasis on brass is also much smaller than the other forms of African-influenced musical styles, as well as the lack of wind instruments.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Shakespeare in Song
Shakespeare is a name known throughout the world for his amazing use in language (a fact that anyone who can read this has had drilled into their head). On the 26th and 27th the Chamber Singers paid homage to him with their Shakespeare in Song (more can be found out about them at their webpage: http://www.utdallas.edu/ah/programs/arts/musi/chambersingers.html ). Done in two acts, it showcased several of the pieces either in Shakespeare’s work, or inspired by it. This performance report is over their first performance, on March 26th at 8:00 PM
The actual performance consisted of seventeen classical pieces of music, all done by vocalists and a piano. The songs themselves had multitudes of differences’ within these boundaries however. Some of the songs had a soloist singing (though, none were acapella), some involved the entire choir. Some songs had the voice groups singing the same lyrics, some had them singing different lyrics. The piano, the real consistency throughout the performance, changed its texture to match the piece. If the song involved a soloist, the piano was played with a small texture. If it involved the entire choir, the piano had an extremely thick texture. Before, and sometimes after, there were also spoken lines from the play that the song originated from.
Throughout the performance, the performers kept a constant, stoic stance throughout the performance; unless their turn to do some form of solo or spoken dialog came up. Very little motion was made through the performers to try and give any form of cue or non-verbal conversation (short of the director), though there was a semi-constant movement back and forth from them (a product, potentially, of it being the first day). They also wore costumes as though they were performers in the pieces (Disregarding the fact that there were no female performers in Shakespeare’s time period. At least ones that openly displayed that fact). Though there were a few slip-ups in the performance, they managed to come out of their first performance without any hitches.
Even though the performance was free, there was a surprising lack of people attending despite being free to attend (a little less than half the chairs were filled), and most of the viewers were students. There were a few people there on dates, as well as a few parents/grandparents and a child. Of the students there, many of them appeared to be taking notes of the performance, though there were several that were strictly watching. Multiples of the watchers were from the older Chamber Singers group, and were there to give support to the new group.
The later time played a notable factor in the performance, as being after the days classes meant that there were more students able to attend. However, and more likely a bigger factor, was the day of the performance. Due to being on Friday, many of the potential viewers were more than likely out doing something else, instead of being there for the performance. Due to the composition of attendees, there was a fair amount of applause the times that the Chamber Singers left, and entered, the stage.
Despite keeping to the same type of music throughout the performance, the variety within the pieces helped keep the performance together. They had very few times were the music was similar enough to be noticeable (the pieces that were similar were also placed far apart), and they kept the pacing through the use of singing and reciting the lines from the plays. Giving a little bit more back-story into the context of which the songs would be performed.
The actual performance consisted of seventeen classical pieces of music, all done by vocalists and a piano. The songs themselves had multitudes of differences’ within these boundaries however. Some of the songs had a soloist singing (though, none were acapella), some involved the entire choir. Some songs had the voice groups singing the same lyrics, some had them singing different lyrics. The piano, the real consistency throughout the performance, changed its texture to match the piece. If the song involved a soloist, the piano was played with a small texture. If it involved the entire choir, the piano had an extremely thick texture. Before, and sometimes after, there were also spoken lines from the play that the song originated from.
Throughout the performance, the performers kept a constant, stoic stance throughout the performance; unless their turn to do some form of solo or spoken dialog came up. Very little motion was made through the performers to try and give any form of cue or non-verbal conversation (short of the director), though there was a semi-constant movement back and forth from them (a product, potentially, of it being the first day). They also wore costumes as though they were performers in the pieces (Disregarding the fact that there were no female performers in Shakespeare’s time period. At least ones that openly displayed that fact). Though there were a few slip-ups in the performance, they managed to come out of their first performance without any hitches.
Even though the performance was free, there was a surprising lack of people attending despite being free to attend (a little less than half the chairs were filled), and most of the viewers were students. There were a few people there on dates, as well as a few parents/grandparents and a child. Of the students there, many of them appeared to be taking notes of the performance, though there were several that were strictly watching. Multiples of the watchers were from the older Chamber Singers group, and were there to give support to the new group.
The later time played a notable factor in the performance, as being after the days classes meant that there were more students able to attend. However, and more likely a bigger factor, was the day of the performance. Due to being on Friday, many of the potential viewers were more than likely out doing something else, instead of being there for the performance. Due to the composition of attendees, there was a fair amount of applause the times that the Chamber Singers left, and entered, the stage.
Despite keeping to the same type of music throughout the performance, the variety within the pieces helped keep the performance together. They had very few times were the music was similar enough to be noticeable (the pieces that were similar were also placed far apart), and they kept the pacing through the use of singing and reciting the lines from the plays. Giving a little bit more back-story into the context of which the songs would be performed.
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