Music essay - Grade: A PDF

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Professor: Desiree Scarambone
Rubric:
Music Comparison Essay

This assignment requires that you compose an essay (minimum of 500 words in length) that analyze and compare two musical works of your choice. These works may compare:

Two versions of the same ...

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Jessica Flesch 10/28/2016 MUS 100 Music Comparison Essay Music throughout the ages has always been used as a way to bring people together and express emotions in a way that words cannot do alone. While the purpose of music has remained similar for centuries, the individual characteristics of songs are shaped by the culture of the period they were created in. Music can be viewed as a collection of the thoughts of the composer, the demands of the audience, and the influences of current society. The world is constantly changing, so naturally, music will do the same. Two works from different time periods that demonstrate the vast array of musical styles are The Lumineers, "Ophelia" (2016) and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, "Flight of the Bumblebee" (1899). The main cause for the difference in these two works is the different eras they were created in. "Flight of the Bumblebee" is an orchestral interlude written as part of the opera The Tale of Tsar Sultan in 1899. The music of the nineteenth century was known for its themes of romanticism and the opera remained an important genre from the classical era. Romanticism, which is the fascination with imagination and individual emotion, is a heavy influence in the opera that "The Flight of the Bumblebee" is featured in. During the piece, the magic swan turns the Tsar's son into an insect so that he can fly away to visit his father, who doesn't know his son is alive. The song is used as a method of story telling because it heightens the drama and helps express the individual character's emotions. The song "Ophelia" is a folk song that was written in 2016. Like many other songs of the twenty first century, this piece is about love. The lyrics focus on a girl who the singer claims has been "on [his] mind since the flood." The lyrics reveal that

the singer was part of a failed relationship and he is still pining for his lost love. Modern day music often focuses on the universal theme of love because everyone can relate to it and it makes the music feel more personal. A primary difference in these two pieces is demonstrated in the form difference. "Ophelia" is written in verse chorus form and is composed of an intro, two different verses, two instrumental breaks, and a repeating chorus. This is a common musical form for songs written in the twenty first century due to the repetitive chorus that makes it easy for listeners to sing along. "Flight of the Bumblebee" is composed in ternary form, which is ABA. This means that the first subject (A) is heard in the beginning of the piece, and then a new subject (B) is introduced in the middle, and then the piece is concluded with a return to the original subject (A). In addition to form, the overall character of the sound of the two pieces are significantly different. "Ophelia" has a rich and acoustic timbre. The deep vocals and piano heard in this piece combine to create a warm, rustic feeling. Because of the happy sound of the song, it is considered major mode. The smooth movement between notes characterizes the conjunct melody. The tempo varies throughout the piece; it begins largo and then increases to allegro after the first verse, and then slows down to andante until changing to allegro after the first chorus. Both choruses, as well as the first verse is performed andante, while both short instrumental breaks are at the quick pace of allegro. In contrast, "Flight of the Bumblebee" has a rapid presto tempo for the duration of the song, other than a small period of andante during the B section. Leaps between the short, disjointed notes create a disjunct melodic movement. This song was composed to accompany a scene of the opera that is full of suspense and fear, which is reflected by the minor mode. The use of minor mode heightens the audience's emotions from the drama and builds tension. The piercing notes played on violin in this performance give the song an overall tinny, shrill, and

frantic character. As an opera interlude, the monophonic texture is unexpected. Most operas feature larger ensembles, but there is a solo violinist performing "Flight of the Bumblebee." The genre of "Ophelia," composed over 100 years later, can be classified as folk. Homophony can be observed because the vocals carry the most important melody, while the instrumentals serve as accompaniment. As different as these two pieces are, there are a few surprising similarities. For instance, both include dynamic changes throughout. In "Flight of the Bumblebee," the dynamics have a direct relationship with the tempo: as one increases, so does the other. During the presto section in the beginning, the dynamic is forte. The volume diminishes to piano for the B section in the middle, and crescendos back to forte at the end. In "Ophelia," the dynamics correlate to the structure. It begins as piano, steadily rises to forte at the chorus and maintains throughout the second verse, decrescendos to piano for the beginning of the final chorus and then returns to forte for the close. The instruments provide the majority of dynamic change in this piece because the vocal dynamics stay almost constant throughout. Another characteristic the two pieces have in common is the use of word painting. "Flight of the Bumblebee" is meant to represent the frantic flight of the insect, and does so with the use of a violin. It creates a buzzing sound reminiscent of a bee and the quick turns in the music symbolize the unpredictable flight path. The technique of word painting is utilized multiple times in "Ophelia." There is a line that says, "he's on top," and at this point the vocals move up an octave. The lyrics also discuss a flood, which is followed by a piano solo that sounds similar to the falling of raindrops. The final example is at the section that says, "that's all she wrote." This line is followed by a brief pause in the music, emphasizing the lack of communication.

Music has changed drastically over time to adapt to the ever-changing culture, but it remains a central part of life because of its ability to express emotion in a unique way. Looking at works from a specific time period can reveal a lot about that era because of how heavily influenced music is by the demands of the audience, the current society, and the individual composer. Both "Flight of the Bumblebee" and "Ophelia" reflect the respective periods in which they were created, and although they are vastly different, share some surprising similarities.

Works Cited: The Lumineers, "Ophelia." Cleopatra, Dualtone Records, 2016, Spotify Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, "Flight of the Bumblebee." Humoresque – Favorite Violin Encores, 1899, Spotify...