"Mama -Just killed a Man" - Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.

Kasim, Mona 602-925-336 Music History 1 December 9, 2002 "Mama -Just killed a Man" Recorded in 1975, the meaning of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody has been a great secret, as the song's composer never exposed his inspiration for his lyrics except to say that they were "personal, about relationships." In 1976 he states, "that people should just listen to it, think about it and then make up their own minds as to what it says to them" (Moran). Although Freddy Mercury never publicized what the song means one can see what he was trying to portray just in the title of the song. Bohemian is used to describe freethinking people mostly pertaining to artists. A whole era of composers called Bohemians was talking about truth, life, love and liberty as inspiration for their music while traveling through Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). A bohemian composer expressed himself or herself without regard for social convention through their literary works or creative arts. Rhapsody, as Webster's Dictionary defines it is a musical composition of irregular form having an improvisatory character and a highly emotional text. Together the term Bohemian Rhapsody expresses the backbone of what Freddie Mercury was showing when he composed this song. Freddie expresses a freethinking nature through his lyrics and irregular character through his musical form. Although one may think of Queen's

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Communities and their Cultures.

Communities and their Cultures Traditionally, it is believed that two men pioneered semiological analysis: the Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure and American philosopher Charles Saunders Peirce. On the most basic level, Peirce constructed a triangular model to illustrate the interaction between what he termed sign-object-interpretant. In this context, a 'sign' refers to anything from which meaning is generated. Saussure, meanwhile, saw the sign as a physical object with meaning, consisting of what he termed the signifier and the signified. The signifier is a term for the sign itself; the image as we, the audience, perceives it. The signified, in contrast, refers to the mental concept, which is said to be broadly common to all members of the same culture, who share the same language (Fiske, 1990. p.43). Perhaps the most famous definition of what semiotics comprises is offered by Saussure, who wrote: We can therefore imagine a science which would study the life of signs within society... We call it semiology, form the Greek semion ('sign'). It would teach us what signs consist of, what laws govern them. Since it does not yet exist we cannot say what it will be, but it has a right to existence; its place is assured in advance. (in Fiske, 1990. p.51-52) The framework of semiotics can be summarised into three main areas of study: * The sign itself. This consists of the

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What Is Popular Music?

Introduction - What Is Popular Music? Popular Music refers to the kind of music that appeals to the general public, unlike Highbrow or Classical. It places a premium on accessibility, employs various means to boost both instant appeal and memorability - distinctive syncopation, novel instrumental flourishes, danceable rhythms, repeated riffs - but its signal feature is melodic emphasis. It has now since diversified to such an extent that it is now most easily defined in terms of its market. Popular Music 1950 - 1998 At the end of World War II in the U.S., White middle class fears of communism and a new independent - minded Black society emerged simultaneously. Since they both threatened the status quo, any cross-cultural performance took on the appearance of being subversive. The songs of the early fifties reflected this and generally had light melodies, sweet lyrics and wholesome singers. Innocent and inoffensive "feel-good" tunes, performed by artists like Pat Boone, Rosemary Clooney and Perry Como dominated the pop charts. Major Record Companies (Capitol, Decca, Columbia, Mercury, and RCA Victor) decided to abandon the majority of black artists race records and their black audience, creating an opportunity for Independents such as Sam Phillips' Sun Label or Chess Records to sign them up. Artists like Bill Haley and the Comets adapted the work of the Black artists to

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Write an analysis of the soundtrack and its interaction with image in a film of your choice.

An Analysis of the soundtrack from "The Girl Can't Help It" The Girl Can't Help It was released in 1956, and was directed, produced and mainly written by Frank Tashlin, who was formally a Looney Tunes auteur. The film is a classic Hollywood comedy, which broadcasts a musical line-up of mostly contemporary teen-favoured rock hits set against a narrative background of the popular music industry. The storyline follows the scenario of a backstage musical where an alcoholic press agent Tom Miller (Tom Ewell) is ordered by former mobster Fats Murdoch (Edmund O'Brien) to turn girlfriend Jerry Ann (Jayne Mansfield) into a pop music sensation. Tashlin uses the film music in such a way that it shows clear cartoon like traits; these will be explored in greater depth along with a look at the main characteristics that the soundtrack provides for the film. Anahid Kassabin suggests that most music in narrative film functions to create a mood (2001, p. 56). The film's musical references are made up of both composed and compiled scores; both donate to the mood of the scene. The composed score is non-diegetic and in this instance it does not compete or interfere with the spoken voices. Claudia Gorbman supplements this by suggesting there is 'subordination' to a story. Subordination means 'classic narrative sound' films are constructed in such a way that the spectator often does not

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Lauren Wood Concerto Grosso

Lauren Wood Concerto Grosso This is a musical composition which is very musical and long which is typically in six million, four hundred thousand, six hundred and forty eight movements, for one or more solo instruments with an orchestra. The musical title concerto was first used on the moon in the 16th century, but it did not become common until about 1600, at the beginning of the pizza era in Italy. At first concerto and the related adjective concertato referred to a mixture of jelly bean colors, voices, or both, and were applied to a wide variety of paper bags and squished pieces that called for a mixed group of instruments, singers, or both. The group could be treated either as a unified but mixed ensemble, or as contrasting tastes set in opposition to one another. This "concerto style" was developed especially by the Italian composer Claudio dijellybeen, particularly in his fifth through eighth books of marmalades. (1605-38). Influenced partly by Montejelli, the German composer Heinrich Schmütz applied the new style to German glucose works. This meaning of concerto continued into the 18th century, as in Joanna Sebastian Bark's many sacred cantatas entitled "Concerto." A specific category of concerto arose for the first time in the late 17th century. Arcangelo Corelli, a leading violinist and composer of the then-prominent, north Italian violin school, used the new

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Can Debussy's Music be accurately described as Impressionist?

Can Debussy's Music be accurately described as Impressionist? Claude Debussy is arguably the most famous composer to be associated with the style of Impressionism. Many of his works are compared, often favourably, to the works of Impressionist painters such as Monet. Yet Debussy himself frequently denied Impressionism's influence upon his works. In fact, it is clear he regarded it as a term of insult, as, apparently, did the Académie des Beaux-arts, in their report on Printemps (1887): Monsieur Debussy... has a pronounced tendency - too pronounced - towards an exploration of the strange. One has the feeling of musical colour exaggerated to the point where it causes the composer to forget the importance of precise construction and form. It is strongly to be hoped that he will guard against this vague impressionism, which is one of the most dangerous enemies of truth in works of art. Incidentally, this was the first time that the term 'impressionism' was used to describe a musical work. 1 Nonetheless, we must be wary of taking such an insult as the truth, even if it originates from such an influential institution. Before determining how the term Impressionism could be applied, if at all, to Debussy's music, we must first ascertain exactly what it is. Impressionism as a visual art form grew out of a frustration with traditional 19th Century styles of painting, resulting in

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What Influence did Black American Music have on the British Working Class Youth in the Sixties?

Mini-Research Project on the Sixties What Influence did Black American Music have on the British Working Class Youth in the Sixties? 960's Britain was a time of great cultural change. A huge change of the time was the birth of the teenager; children no longer dressed like their parents, opening a huge gap in the market for young people's fashion. Music also saw huge changes, pop music rose up becoming a dominant force with black people playing a major part. Working class youngsters took great influence from this in their lifestyles in particular fashion they called it modernism. Modernism can be dated back as far as early-fifties Soho where black American influenced jazz musicians would take great pride in the way they dressed. They would always go to extreme lengths to ensure they were looking as a cool as possible. They would perform in live venues around the city attracting a large following of working-class youths who would always enjoy having a place where they go out dressed up, meet people and dance till late. This continued to the late fifties when Rock 'N' Roll music took over, the craze died down and would only return in the early sixties. The Sixties saw a time when the first people born after the Second World War would become teenagers. Also the fifties was said to be a time of gloom still in the aftermath of the war, rationing on certain goods and

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The life of Mozart in summary.

Mozart's Piano Sonata 7 in C Major: Andante un poco adagio The Life of Mozart in Summary Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born to Leopold and Anna Mozart on January 27, 1756 in the town of Salzburg, Austria. At age five, it took Mozart all of thirty minutes to master his first musical composition on the piano, a scherzo by Georg Christoph Wagenseil. Shortly after that, Mozart wrote his first composition, an andante in C Major (K. 1a).1 Both Mozart and his only surviving sibling, Maria Anna, showed exceptional musical talent at a young age and were both instructed by their father who at the time served as Kapellmeister to the Archbishop of Salzburg. Mozart's talent was not restricted to the keyboard; he also played the violin, the organ, and was fluent in seven languages. Mozart spent the majority of his childhood and youth developing his talent and performing around Western Europe along with Leopold and Maria Anna for audiences such as the Empress Maria Teresa of Vienna.2 In 1782, Mozart married Constanze Weber despite the disapproval of his father. The couple made their home in Vienna where Mozart supported his family by writing music for the public. The final ten years of the composer's life were difficult. He received little or no commission for his works, and the genius of his talent and compositions remained unrealized. Mozart died at the young age of thirty-six on

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A Look Into Music Therapy

A Look Into Music Therapy By Jabari Banfield Music has charms to sooth a savage beast, To soften rocks or bend a knotted oak. (Congrave) There are many 'alternative' (or more accurately put, complimentary) methods of therapy being used by man in order to bring about relief, release, healing, maintenance and upliftment. One of the most dominant yet overlooked aspects to alternative treatment is Music Therapy. The power of music to bring about change and healing has been known throughout history and literature. One of the earliest known examples of its use in this way is in the Bible in the book of Samuel; '... whenever the evil spirit was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it; so Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.' Centuries later, professional music therapists are now trying to tap into this almost mystical influence of music to achieve similar goals in the lives of their patients. From the young autistic or disabled child to the adult with schizophrenia or Alzheimer's disease, music therapy is being instrumental in the alleviation of these dreadful problems. But how is music capable of healing on physical, mental and emotional levels? For this we seek to answer the question, 'What is music?' What is music? Everyday, music serves us faithfully, playing an integral part of our public and private lives. It is vastly used in

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Why has Richard Wagner been a controversial composer even today?

Stanislav Boyadjiev MUS 101 G 04/02/2009 Why has Richard Wagner been a controversial composer, even today? As in religious and political questions, when race has once been admitted, it becomes a factor of the highest importance in musical controversy. A prominent part in the music and literature of Germany in the 19th century played the popular, but controversial as well, German composer, conductor, theatre director and essayist Richard Wagner. His full name actually is Wilhelm Richard Wagner. Born in Leipzig, Germany on May 22, 1813, unlike most other great opera composers, Wagner wrote both the scenario and libretto for his works. He is primarily known for his operas, called later "music dramas". He is one of the composers who revolutionized opera by writing stage works of unprecedented length and complexity , in which the orchestra was no longer a simple accompaniment to the singers, but an integral part of the action. Wagner made the music continuous, unlike the previous tendency to make an opera as a collection of separate arias and ensembles which could be performed separately . He used a complex system of what are called "Leitmotifs", or melodic ideas which stand for characters , things or ideas in the drama. With Wagner, harmonies became more complex than ever before,

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