Listening (Corigliano (The Ghosts of Versailles)

I couldn't find the listening on Sakai, however the Opera was on youtube and I listened to "They Wish They Could Kill Me". I thought that the scene and song were very different. There seemed to be a lot of sarcasm in the piece. I liked how the actors didn't simply speak, they seemed to sing speak. I thought that this was more entertaining than stopping and starting between speak and song. I thought that it was neat how the Opera was based on a rewrite of history. I believe that it was done to save Maria Antionette. Overall I thought that the opera was different than others because it had a comical element.

Listening (John Adams, On the Transmigration of Souls (2002)

I thought that this piece impacted me the greatest. It had such a profound impact because I live so close to New York City and experienced the tragedies of September 11th first hand. While I was only in the 5th grade I still have a vivid image of that exact day. I thought that it interesting how the child repeated "missing" constantly. This truly drives in the idea of a lost person. I liked how he uses some of the ideas from Charles Ives. Some similarities are the trumpet, and the constant strings. I also like the overall message of this piece--it helps us get through our feelings. I think that by reflecting on who we have lost it helps us accept what has happened.

Listening (John Tavener, Song for Athene (1993)

I really enjoyed this piece. My first impression was that it was relaxing. I also liked it because I enjoy large choir pieces. It was interesting how he composed the piece for Westminster Abby. I feel that the piece is sad, however there is a theme of remorse. Musically, I like how the basses hold out a tone so that a constant sound is heard. I feel that this sound gives the pitch an ominous sound. I think that it was exceptional how he based his composition on icons. This adds a visual aspect to the composition. Additionally, I thought that it was neat how he views the piece has a reflection of society. My favorite part of the song was at the end when the entire chorus moves to forte or double forte. I feel that this part signifies the resolve of a problem in society.

Listening (Kaija Saariaho, From the Gramm of Dreams)

After listening to this piece I felt that Sarriaho was influenced by the government run electronic lab. Even though the piece doesn't have a larger electronic aspect I feel that the electronic sounds are replaced by the voice. I pitch of the voice goes up and down like those of synthesizer's. Also she says words that span over several measures and slide down from a higher pitch. I thought that it was interesting how the theme of this piece is death. I felt that it was very similar to George Crumb's work. It was similar because the voice seemed to be amplified and changed pitched rapidly.

Listening (Diamanda Galas, Plague Mass, "Were you a witness?" (1991)

I thought that this piece was similar to John Schwantner's composition because they both had supported an idea. Schwantner's was MLK's, while Galas was supporting the fight on aids. I feel like this composition is very power. The sounds that Galas creates seem unnatural and personally scared me. I feel like with a piece so odd that it would gather alot of attention. I thought that it was interesting how she somehow used vocalization to speed up her voice to sound like chatter. I thought that this music was a creative way to support an idea. However, I would not listen to it in any other context. Also I thought that the lyrics were violently charged. In the beginning she speaks about battle and blood. I didn't like how she was so negative. I felt like she could have supported the fight against AIDS in some other more positive way.

Listening (Laurie Anderson, Home of the Brave)

When listening to this music I feel that it would have been easily made into a music video. I thought this because most of the music seems very visual. To me, the music sounds very 1980's. It seems like these compositions are a mix of some of the elements in the 80s. The voice sounds like that from the B-52's, and the instrumental seem similar to Huey Lewis and the News. I also thought that it was interesting how Anderson's singing is similar to speaking. I felt like it was hard to distinguish between when she was speaking and singing. Furthermore, I thought the background vocals added a contrast between the lead vocal.

Listening (Joseph Schwantner, New Morning for the World (1982)

I thought that this piece was a new way to advocate politics in music. This piece is an instrumental with voice over. The voice is reading a passage from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech. I thought that the reading and music fit together well. I liked how there was a passage from the reading then the theme of that passage was played in the music. An example would be when the reader says "I have a dream", and the music follows with one of the pieces largest climaxes. While I thought that the instrumental was well constructed, I thought that voice could have been better. I feel that actors such as James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman would have been more qualified for the reading.

Listening (Annea Lockwood, A Sound Map of the Hudson River (1989),

I feel like Lockwood brings up the debate between the limitation of music. I feel that this is not a musical composition. I strongly think that this falls more under the category of a philosophic idea. While I disagree with the musical aspect of the "piece" I feel that the idea is innovative. I like how she uses different spots on the river to show the difference in society. I like how the first site, Stuyvesant, is calm and slow. While the further you go towards the ocean the louder and more forceful the sounds get. Additionally, went getting closer to the ocean you get closer to the city. I feel that there is a similarity created in this venture along the river.

Listening (Toru Takemitsu, String Quartet No. 1: A way alone (1980)

I liked how Takemistu combined eastern and western music. I feel that this idea was very innovative for the time. I understand how this composition was based on nature background. I think that it was perfectly matched James Joyce's book " Finnegan's Wake". Most of Joyce's works are dark and full of death and mystery. I could definitely tell that this piece was based on serialism, however I didn't recognize the jazz element. The serial element is easy to hear within the change of pitches. I think that the jazz phrase are those that slide up and down and move quicker. However I couldn't tell for sure.

Listening (Morton Feldman, Rothko Chapel (1971)

I thought that Morton Feldman was an extremely influential person during the later half of the 20th century. His ideas towards art were different and new. I liked how he felt that art was going to die and he wanted to extend it's life. Additionally, I thought it was interesting how he thought of Rothko Chapel as a simple place were men and women could come to relax. I thought that his music was like Varese's were he wrote for space and sound. Throughout the piece phrases are separated by silence. I feel he wanted this to occur because it always each element of the phrase to be accepted. This theory coincides with his views on the chapel.

Listening (Sofia Gubaidulina, Pro et Contra, mvt. 3 (1989)

It thought that it was interesting how the song starts low in pitch. It seems like she is trying to create tension early to create a impacting climax. She uses this technique throughout the piece--falling and raising. Generally, she moves from soft and low to high and loud. I feel that this is a natural progression. I think that this style has to do a lot with her background. She lives in Russia and was religious. I like how the piece has a USSR feel. There is tension and suspense. I would assume that's how most creative people lived during that time era, because they were not sure if their music would be accepted or not.

Listening (Arvo Part, Fratres (1983)

This piece reminds me of an expansion on a minimalist piece. There are elements that are repeated, however they are not repeated as much as Violin Phase. I thought that it was an interesting element to include Tintinnabulation. The phrases for solo violin to a good job of sounding like a bell. The violin has a basic phrase, but changes one note each time. That note is the in same place in the phrase. This was an interesting way to represent bells. Furthermore, the quick violin lines seem similar to Philip Glass's work, while the piano part's seem similar to piano fantasy, with more organization. I like Part's philosophy behind his music--he feels like the sound is "moving through a prism, and it is different to all listeners".

Listening (Henryk Gorecki, Symphony No. 3, Op. 36, mvt. 2 (1976)

It was interesting how Gorecki's composition felt religious. The singer's long and drawn out voice seemed like a preaching to the audience. Thus, I feel like he did a good job of constructing this piece. The composition is based on a lamentalon for Mary. Musically, I thought that it was innovative how the strings and singer had the same pitches and move together. Also I liked how the vocal lines were long and legato. Additionally, the main theme in the beginning seems to represent inspiration. I think this mainly because it is in a major key. I thought that the calmness of the piece is very pleasing to the ear, even during the harsh parts. Overall, I liked how the idea of Mary and religion tied into this piece.

Listening (Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Symphony No. 1, mvt. 1 (1983)

I thought that it was interesting how Zwilich composed music under the genre of "Later Neo-Classicism". It seems like she is taking styles from earlier generations and applying them to ideas in our current generation. I like how Zwilich uses strings in a serious moving line, while the flute moves up and down within notes. She also uses a lot of brass in this composition which also indicates the seriousness of the piece. I feel that the piece has a mysterious element to it, and this adds to the brass's dramatic effect. I thought that this piece was deserving of the Pulitzer Price in 1983. Also towards the end of the piece there is a softer section within the strings. It was interesting how the piece was so serious, and then seemed to end with a question, thematically.

Listening (Philip Glass, Koyaanisqatsi (excerpt) 1982)

I thought that the film and musical compositions were a new way to show life. I like how the film in centered around the the music. I also like how the images in the movie move from nature and the organization of society to inner cities. This shows the development of society and how it changes. The music is a perfect fit for this movie because it is mostly minimalism. While the set of images change the music also changes. Additionally, I feel that the music is more important than the images. A story was once told me that if you turn the volume down on a horror film its not scary. I feel that if you turn the music down on this movie it loses most of its dramatic value.

Listening (Philip Glass, "Einstein on the Beach" (1976)

Through my listening in class and my attendance of the Bruckner Orchester Linz performance in Wait Chapel I have become extremely interested in Philip Glass's compositions. I like how he uses minimalism and incorporates innovative ideas, like having the singers recite numbers while a women recites a monologue about consumption in society. I also feel that the title, "Einstein on the Beach" is very creative an symbolic. Einstein represents the scientific element of the piece, however the beach and Einstein don't really have anything in common. I think that lack of connection is symbolic. Also I like how he uses electronic music as well as strings.

Listening (Rihanna, Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded, "Disturbia" (2008)

I thought that it was interesting how successful Rihanna is considering that she is only twenty one years old. I feel that much of her success is because of her dynamic voice. You can immediately recognize a Rihanna song by listening to the vocals. This composition I like how she uses her own voice at the same time. Towards the end she sings lyrics while at the same time providing a backing vocal line. I also thought that it was creative how she used auto tune in some of the vocals. This is a computer effect that takes the vocals and creates a sound when the singer changes pitch quickly. The sound is similar to a slide and you can hear each pitch as the singer moves up and down.

Listening (Phish, Tweezer 1992)

I enjoyed listening to this composition for several reasons. I liked how Phish uses improv in their music. I thought that taking a riff or phrase and changing is very creative. The fact that they are creating most of their music on the spot is entertaining. Being in a rock band myself I can relate to their music. When my band "jams", meaning improv playing, I have a lot of fun. I like how one person in the band can alter the theme and then with talking other members will change their style or theme to match. I feel like this happens in great detail in this composition. I like how the bass goes from a slapping technique to a more laid back playing during the 6th minute. Also I like how they build up during this section. Overall this song does a great job of showing the improv work of jam bands.

Listening (Rap (Run-D.M.C.)

To me Run D.M.C. is the first rap group. I feel that they are the trendsetters for the genre of rap. Many rap artists have used the simple techniques that Run D.M.C created. D.M.C. was the first rap group to use electronic beats in their music. I felt that the creation of rap placed along side with electronic beats is the basic formula for current rap. While rap today has marked with explicit lyrics and images, I feel like each song can be traced back to Run D.M.C.'s music. I feel that this is special because not all classical music has roots in Bach or Mozart. I felt like this musical selection was good, however "It's Tricky" or "Walk this Way" are two compositions that represent their diversity.

#6 Evan Ziporyn

I thought that this article on Ziporyn, "Who Listens if You Care?" had an interesting take on the creation of music. I felt that his ideas were more similar to an innovative philosopher, than a musician. When he destroyed the "notion of musical property" he felt that it was terrifying. I feel that at first his change was not accepted causing it to be controversial. However, I feel as the article develops his ideas are more accepted. I thought that it was interesting how he mentions western music and it connection to mainstream ideas. I like how he makes a connection between new music and how its differences define it as a genre. Additionally, I liked how he feels that whether music is for fun or profit there is always the same end result--every type of music can be subsumed.