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September, 2013

  1. Classical Music

    September 27, 2013 by Daniel Friedland

    It is clear to me that a majority of kids in our generation are not huge fans of classical music. This is not at all surprising due to the simple fact that we are seldom exposed to it. Our parents, for the most part, listened to what we consider “oldies” or rock, so we are very familiar with those genres because of early exposure from our parents. Radio stations are another common way we become accustomed to music. Almost all radio stations play either pop or rock, and besides NPR, I cannot think of any station that plays classical music regularly. Thus, I would like to take this time to raise some awareness of one specific type of classical music: that of string orchestra.

    Arguably one of the most tragic and emotional pieces ever composed, Barber’s Adagio for Strings is generally performed by a small to mid-sized string orchestra, meaning that the only instruments present are the violin, viola, cello, and string bass. The piece begins with a simple melody that is continually built upon until it reaches its beautiful, powerful climax near the middle of the piece. The piece concludes with a sort of return to the main theme at a much lower dynamic (volume) level than before. Listen to this clip of Adagio for Strings being performed by the BBC Orchestra in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11/01.

    Barber – Adagio for Strings

     

    Lending a far less serious tone, Vivaldi’s Presto from Summer of his Four Seasons. Also performed by a string orchestra, “Presto” contains a violin soloist which embellishes the theme through small flourishes of virtuosity throughout the duration of the piece. I would describe the piece as extremely exciting, epic, and breathtaking. It is fast-paced and extremely musical at the same time (a hard feat to accomplish), making it a uniquely beautiful piece. The following clip is Sarah Chang’s version of the piece. Enjoy! (Don’t worry, this one is very short!)

    Vivaldi- Presto (Summmer) from the Four Seasons

     

    I sincerely hope this post has made you a fan of string orchestra or classical music as a whole. At the very least, though, I hope it brought awareness of a form of music that is older than anything else on the radio these days. There is so much to explore within classical music because it spans hundreds of years, various musical periods, and composers. The possibilities are endless, as classical music lives on today, hopefully remaining a popular form of music that contains such feeling and emotion without words.

    That’s all for now, folks. Until next week!

    -Dan

     

    Video URLs:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRMz8fKkG2g (Adagio for Strings)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98LDH0CfbWg (Presto from Vivaldi’s Summer)

     

     

     

     

    Category Passion | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | 3 Comments

  2. Rhetoric and The Pope

    September 20, 2013 by Daniel Friedland

    Since he became the Pope, Pope Francis has set out to change the direction of the Catholic Church. While he plans to maintain the ideals and beliefs that the church has had for years, he plans to be a sort of “forward-thinking” leader of the Catholic faith. An article posted on CNN this morning outlines the new Pope’s stances on certain issues and contains direct quotes from the Pope himself from a recent interview. A big point the Pope is making is that the church must strike a balance between its religious and political objectives. He continuously makes the argument that the church should further separate itself from the political realm when he states, “The people of God want pastors . . . not clergy acting like bureaucrats or government officials. Pope Francis even goes as far as calling himself a sinner, which is true based on the Christian belief that everyone is a sinner; however, it is still odd for the Pope to be so open in that respect.

    Pope Francis has also been criticized for not giving a definitive statement regarding abortion, contraception, and gay marriage, yet he maintains that, “It is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time.” This is certainly a striking comment, as it eludes to the Pope’s aversion to the endless discussion of present-day social issues and his preference to remain devoted to the study of religion. This may sound harsh, but he makes a valid point. The catholic church has its beliefs about things like abortion and pre-marital sex that have been around for years. Merely reiterating these beliefs does not accomplish anything new.

    As for the Pope’s implicit use of rhetoric, he utilizes ethos and logos numerous times. Because Pope Francis embodies the Catholic church and everything it stands for, he must establish ethos in order to maintain his credibility. His manner of speech certainly establishes his ethos because he always speaks honestly and intelligently about matters concerning the church. For example, the Pope states in his interview, “The great leaders of the people of God, like Moses, have always left room for doubt . . . You must leave room for God.” This statement easily solidifies Pope Francis’s position of wisdom and leadership among his people and the public eye, as well.

    Additionally, Pope Francis utilizes logos to back up some of his debated claims. For example, in his assertion that homosexuals should not be discredited or disrespected in any manner, he offers the question, “Tell me. When God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person.” He inadvertently answers the question of his personal opinion of homosexuality through his God’s word. Whether or not you believe in a god of some kind, the logic still exists that a gay person is still a person, and thereby, deserves to be treated like one.

    It will certainly be interesting to see if Pope Francis changes the course of Catholicism in a significant way during his papacy.

     

    Works Cited:

    Marrapodi, Eric; Burke, Daniel. “Pope Francis: Church can’t ‘interfere’ with gays.” CNN. N.p. 19, Sept. 2013. Web. 19, Sept. 2013.

    URL:

    http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/09/19/pope-francis-church-cant-interfere-with-gays/?hpt=hp_t3

     

    Category Rhetoric and Civic Life | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | 4 Comments

  3. Music Videos: Do They Hit You Like a Wrecking Ball?

    September 19, 2013 by Daniel Friedland

    So far in this blog, I’ve been talking about music, but what about the visuals associated with music? They can range from album covers to images formed in one’s mind, but I want to take a moment to examine music videos. There are thousands of them on YouTube, but are they relevant or important to the understanding or experience of listening to music? In other words, do music videos serve to accompany the song’s themes and accentuate them through images or are they merely a distraction or gimmick? I would argue that it depends on the individual video. Here are a wide range of different “types” of music videos and my thoughts on their relative musical value. Keep in mind that these are mere opinions, so don’t take what I have to say too seriously.

     

    Kimbra – Settle Down

    Kimbra offers a catchy enough song with a clear message. Listening closely to the lyrics, it is evident that she is talking about societal pressure for women to live a “predestined” life of securing a man and serving him. Obviously this view is ludicrous, but there is some truth to what she is saying. Little girls were for a long time taught that marriage and motherhood were things to look forward to and expect. Kimbra is trying to make fun of this stigma and present her own idea that women should be free to break the mold of “settling down.” The music video certainly helps to portray the message through a wide variety of symbols. The man in the music video is portrayed by a mannequin, symbolizing that the man himself does not matter to the girls; what he represents (family / settling down) is what she really desires. Kimbra’s goofy-looking dancing at the end contrasted with the two girls’ choreographed, “perfect” dance routine seems to show that breaking away from what is expected by society is not just okay, but it can be fun! All in all, I really liked this music video, and I think it was certainly beneficial to the meaning of the song.

     

    Coldplay – Yellow

    This is one of the more simplistic videos I have seen, and it is quite obvious as to why that is. Throughout the entirety of the video, Chris Martin (lead singer of Coldplay) is seen walking along a beach. He sometimes stops and turns around, but that is about the most exciting thing that happens. Now, while this video is not necessarily “entertaining” or “in-your-face,” its simplicity is comforting. To me, the song is about someone who died, whom he is remembering and praising. The lyrics are more important to this song, and since there is not much going on action-wise, it makes the listener pay close attention to the lyrics, rather than the visual. I would argue that the video is not too important or beneficial for the listening experience, but it is pleasant enough.

     

    Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball

    ***Disclaimer*** This music video … (how can I put this) … certainly pushes the boundaries of what is deemed “acceptable.” Watch if you dare.

    Now, if you are an avid pop culture enthusiast, and even if you are not, odds are you have heard something about this music video from someone. Though I am not really fan of Miley Cyrus, I will admit that the SONG is not terrible. I don’t really like the song, honestly, but it does have some meaning and “vulnerability” behind it. The VIDEO, on the other hand, seems very misguided. Besides the obvious fact that she is lavishly and elegantly dressed in her birthday suit, I want to get into the real failure of the music video. The big problem with the video for me is that it seems to demand attention, rather than invite people in to relate to the music. I get that being naked adds to the vulnerability she is trying to portray, but there are other ways of portraying vulnerability that do not include making a spectacle of oneself. Her “crying” certainly portrays her emotion well enough, but the nudity seems to be a cry for attention, whether or not she intended it that way. To make things worse, the way she licks and caresses her sledge hammer is laughable and ridiculous, further distracting the viewer from the content of the song. Overall, I can see what she was getting at, but the music video was an utter failure in portraying the sorrow and vulnerability the song entails. On the other hand, the video was successful in getting her tons of press. Hooray!

    That’s all for now. Stay fly, and goodbye!

    -Dan

     

    Video URLs:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHV04eSGzAA (Settle Down)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKNxeF4KMsY (Yellow)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My2FRPA3Gf8 (Wrecking Ball)

     

     

     

     

    Category Passion | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,, | 4 Comments

  4. Just How Plain is Pop Music?

    September 12, 2013 by Daniel Friedland

    Pop music is certainly a polarizing genre, drawing lovers and critics from virtually every age group. Many of us college-aged kids seem to reject some or even most pop music simply because pop tends to dominate the “hip” and “current” music scene. Whether you are some ultra-hipster who hates all things mainstream, a teenage girl who is love with T. Swift or The Biebs, or somewhere in between, pop music is probably the most popular genre of music being produced these days. Therefore, it is something I feel I need to take a deeper look into.

    Whether you love it or hate it, you have to admit that a lot of pop songs are really catchy. So here I shall attempt to explain in basic terms why that is. I apologize in advance to any pop-fanatics for making pop music seem extremely simple.

    Essentially, the vast majority of pop music has the same chord progression. It goes I, V, VI, IV. These numbers denote the base note of each chord. Take a look at the first minute of this video to see this chord progression on the piano:

     

    I, V, VI, IV Chord Progression

     

    Here is one song in which it is relatively easy to hear the chord progression. Listen for the bass part, specifically:

     

    U2 – With Or Without You

     

    Here are some more examples of songs that utilize this chord progression. It may seem surprising, but all of these songs are extremely similar when you break them down to their musical basis:

    Journey -Don’t Stop Believin’

    Adele – Someone Like You

    Rihanna – We Found Love

    Lady Gaga – Poker Face

    Phillip Phillips – Home

    One Republic – Apologize

    Alphaville – Forever Young

    Akon – No Matter

    Jason Mraz – I’m Yours

    The Beatles – Let It Be

    James Blunt – You’re Beautiful

    Elton John – Can You Feel The Love Tonight

    and basically every song by Taylor Swift.

    Give some of these songs a listen to see if you can hear the chord progression.

    Now, these are not all pop songs, but the majority are. Truthfully this chord progression can be found in songs from almost all genres. It just so happens that most pop songs contain it. Regardless, all of these songs are extremely catchy, whether you like them or not. As you may be able to tell from my generalization about T. Swift, I am not the biggest fan of her music. But even I have to admit that her songs are catchy, if nothing else.

    If you remember from my previous post, a nagging question that I have had for a long time is: Why are certain songs “catchy” to us? This chord progression is certainly a part of the answer. The I, V, VI, IV progression is extremely pleasing to us because of the harmonies it allows and the musical “journey” it takes us through. It is no wonder that the pop genre arguably has a greater number of “catchy” songs than any other genre. It is simply because the I, V, VI, IV chord progression dominates the pop music industry.

    It is a strange thing to realize that most of the songs we get stuck in our head basically have the same musical construct. Ah well. Knowledge is power, right? See y’all later!

     

    Video URLs:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQr0dJjM9mw (Chord Progressions)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmSdTa9kaiQ (With or Without You)

     

     

     

    Category Passion | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,, | 5 Comments

  5. A Cordial Introduction

    September 6, 2013 by Daniel Friedland

    Music is an integral part of the human experience, and you would be hard-pressed to find someone who does not enjoy music in some form or another. Whether it be rock, pop, country, rap, classical, or any one of the multitude of musical genres, something about hearing certain sounds, pitches, rhythms, and melodies makes us feel something. It has the power to influence our emotions, unite different cultures, and change who we are. Some music tells a story through lyrics, while other music does so through instrumental passages or mere beats on a drum. The word “music” encompasses so many people, experiences, and ideas that its study is a perfect way to discover more about the world and all its intricacies.

    Therein lies the purpose of this blog. I plan to discuss all types of music, both “mainstream,” and obscure. I like to think that I have a decent amount of diversity in my music library, as it holds about 1,000 songs ranging from hard rap to violin concertos, though there are certainly gaps that I have not covered. Admittedly, I am not as musically cultured as I would like to be; however, it is my hope that through this blog, I can delve deeply into music and gain some insight into its universality and complexities.

    What I think is difficult about accepting all types of music is that it requires a lot of hard work. At times we hear something odd that does not seem to please our ears. This piece comes to mind for me:

    Ligeti Violin Concerto

    It is an extremely modern type of music that to me sounds like a bunch of random pitches strung together. It does not invoke any sort of emotion in me whatsoever other than confusion as to why someone would pay to listen to a performance of this. However, some people must like it in order for it to be a legitimate musical composition. It takes a lot of knowledge of advanced music theory and a sensitive ear to understand how this piece (and other modern classical pieces) works. In other words, specific knowledge is required to appreciate its potential “beauty.” It is the same concept as reading difficult books. Without knowing the vocabulary, it is difficult to get through and appreciate a piece of literature that we do not understand. But after improving our vocabulary and reading comprehension, difficult reads can and often are the most rewarding.

    On the other hand, some songs are almost universally popular. This one comes to mind:

    Don’t Stop Believin’

    I dare say that a vast number of people like this song and may even know all of the words. Something about this song makes it extremely catchy. For some reason, this piece of music is “well-liked” by our ears. I cannot speak for everyone, but I think this song is pleasing to me because the instrumental catches my ear right from the beginning, and the lyrics just flow well. It is easy to relate to, as well, because I can just belt out the “meaningful” lyrics and feel a legitimate connection to the song.

    It is a strange concept, why we like and dislike certain types of music. Is it merely personal preference? I am sure that is part of it, but I think there is something more to it. There may be spiritual, abstract, or scientific reasons for our musical preferences, but for now I will just leave it to contemplation, as this post has run rather long. Until next time!

    -Dan

     

    Video URLs:

    http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLy26ZZDRbc (Ligeti Violin Concerto)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcjzHMhBtf0 (Don’t Stop Believin’)

     

     

     

     

     

    Category Passion | Tags: ,,,,,,,, | 5 Comments

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