Questions tagged [history]
For questions about how music has developed and changed over time or for questions about concepts and ideas of a historic period of music. Do not use just because the subject of the question is a historic figure or piece.
470
questions
8
votes
3
answers
973
views
In terms of range, what does "eingestrichen" refer to?
I'm trying to read an old handwritten German document from 1835 which describes the range of the newly invented tuba.
It says:
die Bass-Tuba hingegen 4 reine Octaven durch die chromatische Scala, ...
- 979
4
votes
0
answers
75
views
What is the origin of this stock phrase to end a piece in a humorous way? [duplicate]
This phrase is often used for comedic effect:
The melody is characterized by the movement in half steps around the dominant. But it is recognizable by its rhythm alone.
For example, it is used by ...
- 171
3
votes
1
answer
125
views
Is there a historical connection between the charango and the jarana jarocha?
Context: Charango, Jarana jarocha
The Andean charango and the jarana jarocha (jarocho means "from Veracruz, Mexico") both usually have five courses of strings. The middle course has two ...
- 193
10
votes
8
answers
467
views
To what extent does musical notation constrain human musical creation?
I am interested in the question of how musical notation has influenced human musical creation, especially in a "restrictive" way.
In particular, are there some kind of musics which are not ...
- 221
1
vote
0
answers
99
views
Was Bernstein's interpretation of Mahler's 9th Symphony correct?
During his fifth Norton lecture at Harvard University, Leonard Bernstein famously speculated that Mahler's ninth symphony was symbolically prophesying his own death, the death of tonality (the advent ...
- 335
2
votes
0
answers
113
views
Why the similarity between these sections from Tchaikovsky and Saint-Saëns?
I noticed that part of Saint-Saëns' Africa (1891) sounds very similar to Tchaikovsky's Concert Fantasia (1884), and was wondering whether they were friends/contemporaries during their lives so would ...
- 121
8
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Were there any automatic timekeeping devices prior to the metronome used for setting and maintaining tempo (BPM) and pulse?
I know there's a decent amount of science that goes into creating a device that can set and maintain time, so this may be a very simple question with "no" being the answer, but I'm just ...
- 994
3
votes
1
answer
328
views
ii-ii6-I progression
I've heard this progression many times and in many ways over the course of my life, but I can't seem to assign a name to it or find out any further information about it or its history. It goes as ...
- 31
2
votes
2
answers
57
views
When to use sixth in continuo according to Bianciardi?
From Bianciardi's Breve Regola (http://www.bassus-generalis.org/bianciardi/bianciardi.html): "But because some notes don’t have a fifth above, a sixth
is used in its place; this happens in those ...
- 21
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How does one resolve the conflict between Renaissance theory of Cadences and the contradictions against it in Bach Chorales?
A level pupil.
Made the mistake of learning Renaissance cadence voicing way before starting A-level harmony course. There's a conflict of interest between the cadential progressions of the renaissance ...
4
votes
2
answers
201
views
What was the appropriate response if an Early Romantic era composer dedicated a composition to you?
What was the expectation of the recipient of a dedication during the early romantic era, if the recipient could perform it?
For example, when Schubert was 22 he composed his Piano Sonata No. 13 in A ...
- 1,832
0
votes
0
answers
44
views
History of Tetrachords [duplicate]
I posted a similar question not too long ago and it was suggested that I look into tetrachords and I quickly understood why, but now I have questions about tetrachords.
For what reason are diatonic ...
- 994
3
votes
0
answers
63
views
Style of Danza Del Viejo Boyero by Alberto Ginastera
I have struggled with understanding the style of this song, and I guess it is open to interpretation, but I was wondering whether to play it like an "old shepherd" as its name suggests, or a ...
- 103
0
votes
2
answers
119
views
I’m looking for information/references on how we developed the Major Mode (Scale/Key) [closed]
As the title says, I’m looking for some information on the history of how the Major Mode (Scale,Key) was developed/designed. I already know a little bit, that is, I am not completely new to the topic, ...
- 994
3
votes
0
answers
80
views
Why is the cavaquinho minhoto so different from other cavaquinhos?
For context: cavaquinho
The Brazilian cavaquinho, the cavaquinho de Lisboa, the Cabo Verde cavaquinho, the Madeiran braguinha and its descendant, the ukulele, all seem to have a fretboard that is ...
- 193