The module that really struck me the most was the one with the hammer making music. I thought about my post for this and what came to mind was the Blue Man Group. As I grew up my neighbor was always into music and different types of music. In fact he went to a Blue Man Group concert where they use random objects to create music. It is so interesting to hear and watch on Youtube. I thought it would be perfect to share a piece from them for the module that we just went over. The second video shows music with pipe cleaners.
I decided to look at another composer that was not mentioned in this module and that is John Adams. He was born on February 15, 1947. He was an American composer and conductor who performed music during the classical period. He had been playing the clarinet ever since he was a young child. Most of Adams compositions were academic style however he began drawing on broader sources such as pop and jazz. Adams was mostly known for his operas.
Ludwig Van Beethoven was a German composer during the Classical and Romantic eras. He was born on December 17, 1770 in Vonn Germany and he died March 26, 1827 in Vienna. He was one of the most important and influential musicians in history. Almost everyone has heard of Beethoven. His main focus was playing the piano and he was a very versatile artist. His father pushed him to the best of his abilities. His father wanted him to be the next Mozart. However Beethoven’s personal life was a struggle at times he became deaf. This was really crucial to him the last ten years of his life when he composed some of his most important works.He died at the age of 57 on March 26, 1827. Just as a young boy music was always involved in Beethoven’s life. He studied the violin and clavier with his father. At the age of ten years old Beethoven withdrew from school to focus and study music full time with Christian Gotlobb Neefe. Just at the age of twelve he published his first composition.
One of Beethoven’s best known works was Symphony No. 5′ it was known for its first four notes. This piece in particular was known for the middle period in 1808. This is the one symphony that comes to mind when people think of Beethoven. The piece begins with urgency and foreboding and ends in triumphant celebration. It is actually a metaphor for transcendence and one of the most influential pieces ever written.
He was one of the most widely recognized and admired composers in the western time frame of music. I chose this piece because I felt this is a piece that everyone would recognize and relate to Beethoven. In my opinion I give him full credit for still composing music while he was deaf. I cannot even imagine the struggle of not hear and being a musician trying to compose pieces, that would have to be so difficult and discouraging at times. He sure does have some real talent. They said the deafness tested him to the very core of his being. Let alone having those pieces be some of the greatest pieces of all time. According to the NPR Listeners Encyclopedia Beethoven’s Broadwood piano is where he created most of his pieces. One in particular that he wrote was the Hammerklavier Sonata. I also did not realize the rough childhood he went through. Everyone has their own story and path through life.
The NPR Listener’s Encyclopedia of Classical Music
