Complete Name of Professor
There was a musical artist named Paul Hindemith. He was known of his musical compositions. Many people admired him because of his talent. His songs were played publicly, which started flared his popularity. He began creating more songs for his listeners. Time passed by, Hindemith was famous enough to handle a concert performing his own songs. But because of Nazism, which blighted much of Germany, his upcoming concert remained a dream because Germany officials did not allow him to play his songs.
But what could be more like a connection of the past and present, the role of music during the Nazism period became more revolutionary than it ever was. The music of Wagner was probably the sole music that brought revolutionary stint against Nazism. Jazz influenced music was banned at the time because the German government did not want to polarize their people (Erik 245). They wanted to have a single socio-cultural identity; thus, the only acceptable music at the time was the music of the classical greats Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven. Nevertheless, Wagner’s music, being discreet of its rebelling intent, paved the way to argue against the barbarism of the Nazi government (Kater 176). Why? Although his type of music is relatively patterned after the classic era music, his compositions were gloomy and sad with tones that describe suffering and hatred. It deviated from the norms of classical music, that is, thin and largely humorous just like the sonatas of Mozart and the concertos of Beethoven. His compositions were far more revealing of what the Nazi government is causing its people. Furthermore, the structure of his music is less repetitive – seemingly chronicling a storyline of endless struggle.
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b80Jw8MuZxo
Today’s music is largely influenced by the music of the Victorian Era wherein sentimental love songs started to crop up. During the Victorian Era, ballads became popular. The genre exemplified and emphasized harmonic and melodic arrangements, which turned out as a backbone of pop songs from the late 80s up until the present time. During the Victorian Era, people have become more attuned to avant gardism, which improvised music as a tool for self-expression. As a matter of fact, it was during this musical period that music is largely used in theatrical presentations. The emphasis of Victorian Era music is to provide complement for stage performances. Many stage performances during the Victorian Era focus on the themes of love and tragedy, which in turn became a popular thematic element for many royalty ballads.
Much of the music today are arranged like the royal ballads in the Victorian Era. Its influence streams from the principle that emotive elements of a song should be conveyed through harmony and melody. For instance, the music of Sam Smith entitled “Lay Me Down” sounds more like a ballad in the 1920s, specifically resembling the music of Stephen Foster. What is stressed in contemporary music is storytelling and how each story of the song is reinforced by musical elements – with its essential dynamics – in order to expressed the correct emotion. And this has been the pattern for many contemporary musical genres including pop, R&B, and jazz. This is the reason why I think the Victorian Era is the most influential music period to the music of today.
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM9DPfp7-Ck
Work Cited
Kater, Michael. Composers of the Nazi Era: Eight Portraits. New York: Oxford University
Press, 2000. Print.
Levi, Erik. Music in the Third Reich. New York: Palgrave McMillan, 1994. Print.
