This piece is from a Mass written by Guillaume Dufay in the 15th Century.  For more information about the piece, click HERE.

Please post your critiques by 5:00pm on Monday, December 3rd 2007.

Written by Igor Stravinsky in 1913

Some useful links on the background of this piece:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rite_of_Spring

http://library.thinkquest.org/21702/lite/rite.html

http://www.classicalnotes.net/classics/rite.html 

Please post you critiques by 5:oopm on Wednesday, November 7th.

From Wikipedia:

VII- ________

Strings without double-bass, two pianos, flute, and glass harmonica: This is one of the more musically rich movements. The melody is played by the flute, backed by the strings, on top of tumultuous, glissando like runs in the piano. The first piano plays a descending ten-on-one ostinato, while the second plays a six-on-one. These figures, plus the occasional glissando from the harmonica—often played on celesta or glockenspiel—are evocative of a peaceful, dimly-lit ________.

Please post your critiques by Friday, Oct. 27th 2007 at 5pm.

Queen of the Night Aria from “The Magic Flute” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Please post your critiques by Friday, Oct. 5th 2007 at 5pm.

Please post your critique by Monday, September 24th 2007 at 5:00pm.

by Aaron Copland (1900-1990)

For some historical background on this piece, click on the link below:

http://memory.loc.gov/cocoon/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.200000006/default.html

Due on Wednesday, June 20th by 5:00pm.

By J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

Please post your critiques by Friday, May 25th 2007 at 11:59pm.

Now that we have listened three times, please write a critique of the music, remembering the elements of successful critique that we discussed in class.

Your critiques are due by Friday, May 18th at 11:59pm.

German: Walkürenritt is the popular term for the beginning of Act III of Die Walküre by Richard Wagner. It is probably Wagner’s best-known piece after the Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin. It stands out in part because of its references in popular culture, where it is used to represent stereotypical Grand Opera.

In the opera-house, the Ride, which takes around eight minutes, begins in the prelude to the Act, building up successive layers of accompaniment until the curtain rises to reveal a mountain peak where four of the eight Valkyrie sisters of Brünnhilde have gathered in preparation for the transportation of fallen heroes to Valhalla. As they are joined by the other four, the familiar tune is carried by the orchestra, while, above it, the Valkyries greet each other and sing their battle-cry. Apart from the song of the Rhinemaidens in Das Rheingold, it is the only ensemble piece in the first three operas of Wagner’s Ring cycle. Outside the opera-house, it is usually heard in a purely instrumental version, which may be as short as three minutes.

From Wikipedia

Please post your critiques by Friday, April 13th at 7:06pm.

The Marriage of Figaro was based on a subversive political play by French playwright Beaumarchais, which was said to have ushered in the French Revolution. As a comic opera it is innovative in both music and content, and it was an instant success. There were so many encores on its first three nights that the emporer had to issue an order restricting the number of times the audience could request a replay. From the very first scurrying bars of the overture, we know that this, perhaps Mozart’s greatest and most entertaining opera, is going to be full of action and intrigue. There is no moment of rest or repose, as the music pursues its dizzy course, and Mozart prepares us to live out one crazy day in the life of Figaro, one of opera’s great larger-than-life characters.

from Mozart: Musical Masterpieces - MMV

Your critique is due on Monday, April 2nd 2007 by 5:00pm.