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[jakegalounis]

Concert Review 3

I went to go see the Augustana Concert Band because i knew some of the people performing and I would like to see how they do. Coming into this event, I saw the casual attire and was happy. No one was in formal attire (besides the performers) and there were no assigned seats so people were scattered around. There was 100 plus in attendance. I enjoyed the atmosphere because it makes the event more enjoyable, due to me being comfy. The crowd was quiet throughout the concert except for applause and subtle laughter from the few jokes that were made in-between songs. There was high energy coming from the band/conductor and the opposite from the audience.

The first piece was Flourish for the Wind Band by Ralph Vaughan. This was the shortest out of all the songs but grabbed my attention instantly. The disjunct sounds with some call and response throughout made itself known. The crescendo helped boost the overall song by adding an excitement. The percussion instruments used were very distinct and showed great importance.

The second piece was Danzas Cubanas by Robert Sheldon and I believe that this was my favorite one performed at the event. This piece had large range and it was conjunct. Fast rhythm and beat brought the energy up in the crowd. The percussion section were in control the whole time. They finished off with a Big Bang allowing the percussion to close.

In the end this was a good concert. I liked the percussion section the most. Also, watching them move to different instruments showed great skill. In the end, this was a fun event to attend.

[jakegalounis]

Blog Post #10

The most important thing that I think I learned from this class is that my musical knowledge has improved. Before I could not tell you a single musical element, but now I know all of the base elements. I now know how they work and it is enjoyable to recognize such things within songs.

[jakegalounis]

Concert Review 2

The atmosphere in the room felt more professional compared the last concert I went to in Wallenburg. The Jazz Ensemble Fall Concert took place in Centennial Hall. Even though the room was very big, the music enveloped the entire room and it sounded clear from anywhere within the hall. The lighting on the stage was a spotlight that covered the stage which really made the brass instruments shine. There was only formal attire worn by the musicians and casual attire by the audience. But, the formal attire really stood out against the white background. The audience size was close 100 or more with people. There wasn’t much movement from the performers except for the conductor.

The first piece ill be doing is Send In The Clowns by Stephen Sondheim Arr: Dave Barduhn, where it begins with a piano solo. The tempo begins rather slow but picks up when the trumpets begin to play the music crescendos. As the musicians play louder, the piece sounds very consonant. The music has a subito letting the brass players suddenly stop playing and let the piano play solo once again.

The second piece is Granada Smoothie, by Mark Taylor. It begins with a very disjunct sound and is in your face with loud dynamics. The trombone takes over while other instruments accompany it, such as the bass, piano, and guitar. The other brass instruments jump in and fuse together very well as the speed of the music increases. It blends so well and has a great mix within it all. The use of syncopation from the other instruments gives a nice appeal. The dynamics used makes the music sound very smooth but when it crescendos the music almost seems cluttered. 

This concert very enjoyable. When I saw we could attend a jazz concert I was actually looking forward to hearing the music. I went from listening to people just singing to music being played with no singing. I loved it. I engulfed in the music as it filled the room. If there was another concert similar to this in the future, I would not be apposed. The music was peppy and energetic, it met my expectations very well.

[jakegalounis]

Blog Post #9

My favorite artist Kid Cudi does live life socially responsible. http://djbooth.net/news/entry/2016-11-22-kid-cudi-feeling-great-rehab-kanye-west https://mic.com/articles/85497/kid-cudi-thinks-hip-hop-could-save-kids-lives-if-only-rappers-took-this-advice#.Zp3g6lkrJ https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/oped-kid-cudi-reminds-us-we-re-not-peace-we-n664576

He is authentic because he acts on what he says. He believes that everyone should find their peace and happiness. He was socially responsible enough to check himself into mental rehab after speaking about his depression/anxiety.

This did not change my perception on him whatsoever.

No, I care for the music and not really what the artist did.

[jakegalounis]

Blog Post 8

1: Louis Armstrong was an important jazz musician who played the trumpet. Most jazz music I listen to is in the elevator. The instruments used are mainly the trumpet, saxaphone, and bass. Musical elements used are a smooth texture with slow or fast tempo.

2: Jim Crow laws helped contribute to jazz because of the impact it had on the black community. Jazz was used to help lift the mood and to express how the people felt; jazz was a coping mechanism. With all of the emotion and ways to express themselves, they formed the mood and feel of jazz music.

In the beginning of the documentary, it listed and described Louis Armstrong along with a few others as examples. Each person that was mentioned was analyzed and it gave us some of their life experiences. It used the popular musicians at the time as examples to tell the story of jazz. 

3: After watching the documentary most of my ideas of jazz were correct. My ideas didn’t seem to be limited because I already knew prior knowledge of jazz,. When it comes to the huge uprising of jazz music, I was not surprised to see how quickly it took off. This is because of the lifestyles people were in and the circumstances of race that were around.

[jakegalounis]

Blog Post 7 Jake Galounis

Harpsichord- you pluck strings, end of 1400s to 1790s its timbre sounds like angel’s music, not a very large instrument but not super portable. It could not have notes held on it. Does not have great ability to display dynamics, because it was not meant to be played for a large group. The piano would work best for the baroque era because it was an older model.

Late 18th century style- Not very portable. This piano could now hold notes. The dynamics could not be played very loud, because it had a small range. It was used throughout Mozart’s career and part of Beethoven’s. It was a mainly classical piano and also romantic, it could do just about everything the musicians wanted.

Clavichord- Very portable. It sounded like it had a ting to it. It could not display notes or perform different dynamics. It was popular in the middle ages it could only be played in the baroque era. Also, it did not have the ability to create expressive music.

Modern Steinway- New age piano, it is not portable. The piano has a pedal so the notes can be held for longer times. It is meant to be played for a large crowd. This instrument makes sense for the romantic period because of how they changed styles and how they used their instruments to tell a story.

[jakegalounis]

Concert Review

The concert that I went to was a Voice Seminar in Wallenberg Hall on September 26. I initially thought this would be a small event, however, I noticed as I walked in around 30 people were at the seminar already. The audience was made up of Art of listening students and people there for recital credit. I think people only showed up because they had too. This was a casual event. The audience was filled with casual and business casual attire, while the singers were in business casual. The audience seemed to be focused in throughout the whole seminar. They stayed quiet during the actual performances and they seemed to be following along with it all. The event was only 20 minutes, but was eye opening.

The first piece was “Zueignung” written by Richard Strauss but performed by Amy Croft with Sheila Doak on piano. I could notice how the tone was minor. The song was also disjunct which was clearly shown in her voice. The piano seemed to be more conjunct because the performance was mostly based on the vocal aspect. The texture was homophonic, due to the piano being the accompaniment. There was crescendo throughout the whole piece because Amy would start off very low but then pick it up over time. The piano would also do this but not as extreme and I think this was because the pianist did not want to drown the singers voice.

The next piece was “The Party Goes on from 35mm” written by Ryan Scott and performed by Katie Griswold with Sheila Doak on piano. This had a major tone which was in my eyes was a good transition from the previous piece. This piece was conjunct on vocals and on piano. The piano had terraced dynamics when it reached the verses and crescendo also occurred for a change in the chorus. When crescendo occurs, decrescendo has to happen. So after time they lowered the volume creating a decrescendo. This happened at the end of the song which was fitting.

Overall, I enjoyed the very short seminar. I expected it to be boring and long, but good music was created that portrayed much emotion. I always knew Augustana had talented chorus because I hear them playing from Old Main all the time. My favorite piece was  “The Party Goes on from 35mm” because it was something very different to me. I was not expecting the singer to do what she did and in the end it was my favorite. I would definitely attend another Voice Seminar.

[jakegalounis]

Blog Post #6 Jake Galounis

It seems as if music was the focus of the higher class. Mozart lived in Salts-burg and it gave him more opportunities towards music.

During this time making music was a way to make money and stay employed in the high courts. It was under your control and you had the freedom to do what you would like with your own music.

Mozart is considered a genius. Although his fathers was his mentor, he was creating piano concertos at age 4. Mozart had natural talent. His father saw the genius and wanted to open it up to the world. 

[jakegalounis]

Blog Post #5 Jake Galounis

I do not think that they were the same piece. The first video they had a single instrument playing making it monophonic. The second video they had multiple instruments playing making it polyphonic. With the second piece being polyphonic the texture is changed and created a whole new piece to me. 

Medieval

Flute, drum, recorder, and lute.

Form: Binary

Texture: The first half is homophony, the second half is polyphony.

This seems like secular music and that the three woman dance with a story.

Renaissance

Flute and renaissance guitar.

Form: Binary

Texture: homophony

Music seemed to be loved by the middle class and they wore more formal clothing for dance.

Baroque

Violin, Cello, Trumpet, harpsichord, and a trombone.

Form: Ternary

Texture: polyphony

Dancing was elegant and clothing was extravagant. Dancing seemed to be in the highest of regards.

[jakegalounis]

Blog Post #3 Jake Galounis

Agreement or concord, group of notes sounded together, a set of 3 connected notes.

Happy

Happy, Sad

Make it sharper

[jakegalounis]

Blog Post #2 Jake Galounis

Example 1.

Conjunct and Narrow.

Example 2: She controls melody. Music is constantly in the background. Conjunct and medium.

Example 3: Conjunct, it flows together. Major.

Example 4:

[jakegalounis]

Blog Post #1 Jake

I am from New Lenox, IL and a marketing major. I have played soccer all my life and play it at Augustana. My favorite parts to life are family, friends, and food. I have 3 older brothers and the oldest had went to Augie. 

No. 

3.

 Alternative, metal. 

Alternative is relaxing while metal is annoying.