Music Appreciation

Class Basics

• Goal: Develop an appreciation for music.• Understand historical context of music.• Understand the basics of the music we are

listening to.• Expose ourselves to a wide variety of genres,

from classical music to classic rock to blues to jazz, etc.

Ludwig van Beethoven• Born December 16th, 1770(?)

In Bonn, Germany• Baptized December 17th, 1770• 9 symphonies, 5 piano

concertos, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, 1 opera (“Fidelio”) and other works as well

• Virtuoso Pianist• Began to lose his hearing in

1800 – experienced a “ringing” sensation in his ear and was almost completely deaf at the time of his death

• Famous for his temperamental personality

• Died March 26th, 1827

Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”)• Composed and completed by Beethoven in

1808• Completed while working in the countryside –

was simultaneously working on the fiery Symphony No. 5

• Uses explicit programmatic content – Music, notes meant to create a narrative and imagery for the listener

• Premiered along with Symphony No. 5 on December 8th, 1808 in Vienna’s Theater an der Wien

• Beethoven was a nature lover who often took long walks in the woods, worked in secluded places

• Piccolo, flutes(4th movement only), oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, trumpets (3rd, 4th, 5th only), trombones (4th and 5th only), timpani (4th only), and strings

• Listening: 1st Movement (Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande – Awakening of cheerful feelings upon arrival in the countryside) Allegro ma non troppo

• Listen for motifs (short succession of notes in a melodic formula) meant to replicate patterns in nature