The Evolution Of The Piano Music Essay

The Evolution Of The Piano Music Essay Since the dawn of man music has been played, enjoyed and practiced, and through its practice the instruments used have changed greatly. Throughout the years the piano has changed greatly and as a result many different types have been created, with the creation of new pianos famous artists have chosen to use them for their styles of music, pianos have been used in many genres of music as a result of their various types and the sound produced. The first instrument that relates to the piano is called the Dulcimer, it is considered to be the ancestor to early versions of the piano due to its similar qualities. The dulcimer is played by striking hammers on a series of strings tuned over a flat soundboard. The first actual piano was called the clavichord the first models were build around 1400 but wasnt made popular until three centuries later in the music of Bach when a key is pressed, a vertical brass strip is lifted toward a pair of strings. The virginal which is a small Harpsichord (or instrument whose strings are plucked) was the next advent in the piano; it was louder than the clavichord but lacked u buts dynamic variety. Although originally created in Italy the Spinet was perfected in Britain around the late seventeenth century, the jack mechanism plucks the strings just as the virginal, but the wind shape permits longer strings, increasing the size and expanding the range to as much as five octaves. First created in the fifteenth century, the Harpsichord reached its peak in the period of Bach and Handel. The Harpsichord has longer strings and sounds louder than the clavichord although it has the shape of the modern grand piano. Around 1709, Bartolommeo Cristofori built several instruments in the harpsichord shape but with hammer mechanisms surprisingly like the modern piano action. Because players could control soft and loud which was impossible on plucked keyboard instruments, Cristofori named this instrument the Pianoforte. During the time of Beethoven around the eighteenth century piano builders began to extend the keyboard. Two other important developments were the escapement action for faster repetition of notes and the damper and soft pedals. Pedals were often added to produce exotic effects. During the eighteenth century, many builders tried to apply the upright from to the pianoforte. In 1800 the first satisfactory uprights were invented. The square grand piano was originally designed by German builders around the seventeenth century, they tried to apply the cristoforis pianoforte to the traditional rectangular shape of the clavichord. The Square piano was popular until the late eighteen hundreds an d early nineteen hundreds. During the nineteenth century the piano continued to become more powerful and responsive. Some of the greater improvements were the double-repetition action of the Sebastien Erard which allows very rapid repetition; and the full cast-iron frame developed by Alphaeus Babcock. These developments are the basis for todays modern pianos. The pianos of today incorporate the best qualities of early instruments. Cross stringing which is a way to achieve greater richness of tone by passing more strings over the center of the soundboard. The sostentenuto or middle pedal was introduced in the late nineteenth century, permitting greater musical coloring. The Baroque period, or the time between 1600 and 1700 where new styles if art and architecture flourished in Europe, there where several great musical artists who became known as famous composers. Several of the composers where George Fredric Handel, Antonio Vivaldi and Johann Sebastian Bach. George Fredric Handel was born the son of a barber; Handel ditched a career in law to pursue his love for music. Skilled at the organ, he wrote several church pieces before he acquired a job from prince Ernst of Hanover as a court musician. Not much is known Antonio Vivaldi. But it is know that he wrote many pieces for the church, about 640 all together. He also taught music at several schools. But near the end of his life he lost support and contacts and died an poor man. Johann Sebastian Bach came from a long line of musicians but was the first to become famous outside of his home town. Bach was extremely particular about his music. Often times he would destroy his compositions that he didnt f ind worthy, because of this many of his pieces been lost. His work was very unique, and his use of intertwining melodies and the fugue are trademarks of his genius. During the classical age many advancements where made in the art of music and as these advancements where made new great composers rose to take advantage of them. Joseph Haydn began his career in music at a very young age he had a wonderful singing voice. Eventually his voice broke and his singing career ended, afterwards he switched his focus into composing music. In 1790 he moved to Vienna which he made into the nexus of classical music and taught young composers such as Mozart and Beethoven. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is considered to be the prince of classical music. Has countless pieces of literature, movies, musicals and plays dedicated to him. He wrote his first symphony at the age of 5 he toured Europe with his father and sister as a novelty act but eventually he grew up and the novelty was gone. From there forward his natural skill at music carried him and as a student of Haydn and Mozart he blossomed into a top notch opera writer, which was his only source of income for many years. His later teaching career was not enough to support him and he died a poor man. Ludwig von Beethoven was not near as talented as Mozart but became known as another child prodigy. At the age of 14 he was given the role of assistant teacher and organist. He received tutoring from both Haydn and Mozart. Although he had a good childhood at the age of 19 his life quickly took a turn for the worse with the death of his mother, he was then left with the role of supporting his entire family. As a result of his troubled youth he became a very disturbed and angry person, this was portrayed in his music which was fiery and emotional. Felix Mendelssohn was born into a rich and musically talented family and as a result was introduced into music at a young age. He was very talented and his music was very popular at there time of writing. His piano concerto in G minor And My Heart will go on is considered to be the most played concerto of all time. His music for the play A Midsummer nights Dream in addition to its popularity during its time is still played at modern weddings. Mendelssohn often played pieces by Bach and is credited with bringing back popularity to his music. Johannes Brahms lived during the romantic age but wrote classical music. At the beginning of his carreer he played mostly in bars and as a result he gained the knowledge of many dance tunes. Once Mendelssohn graduated from playing in bars and brothels he started serious composing he was considered a genius for h is music. During the romantic era many changes where made to the way the piano was used. Frederic Chopin was one of those artists, his pieces for the piano the piano where groundbreaking and pushed the limits of what the piano was thought to be capable of. Is innovations completely changed how the piano was treated in music. Franz Lizt was another is considered to be one of the most talented pianists the world has ever seen. His concerts where often completely sold out. Because of the way he played he often has a second piano prepared incase he broke the first one. The piano in its various forms have been used throughout time as entertainment for many cultures. As a result of its popularity and interest from innovative artists it has changed greatly, and more modern variations are used in many genres of music.

AFrican American equality Essay

From the time our country was founded, many African Americans lived a life of hardship merely because the color of their skin. In many instances they were treated as animals, being sold and traded in shackles and chains. At the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence when the country was founded, most African Americans worked as slaves. Working conditions for slaves were inhumane, who were often forced to work long hours in the sweltering summer heat. In 1865, the ratification of the 13th amendment made slavery illegal everywhere in the United States. However, this was not the end of inequality and segregation for African Americans. The racism in the south did not stop just because slavery ended. For decades after the end of slavery, laws such as the Jim Crow laws significantly limited African American’s rights and freedoms. In addition, share-cropping allowed servitude to continue only in a different form. Former slaves were now financially bound to their land. These laws significantly disheartened American Americans right and fight for equality – a battle that did not really get started until the civil rights era. In one of the greatest moments in American history when MLK gave his speech on the inequality of races. In one line he said â€Å"the negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of prosperity†. This meant that even though there was a great economic boom the blacks were not sharing the wealth. Instead of blacks sharing the great wealth of this time they were left out of the boat by being ineligible force retain perks that the white man had been innate to. In an truly inspiring line of his speech MLK says â€Å"the negro community must not lead to distrust all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny†. This says that not all the white men are prejudice which would be just as stereotypical as anything else done against blacks at the time. This is truly encouraging saying that blacks have been persecuted for hundreds of years and some still find ways to show some remorse toward them. In one of the most famous lines of the speech MLK says â€Å"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident:that all men are created equal†. He means that he hopes one day that all men with see each other not on the basis of skin color but by the content of the character which is perfectly expressed in â€Å"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. † Martin Luther king speech expresses the inequality blacks felt. The civil rights movement took time and many brave people. However even after all the protest and laws passed to help equal the races the blacks still do not have the same freedoms as whites. Most blacks live inner cities and are not treated with dignity that they deserve in humans. They are constantly unfairly prosecuted by law enforcements and are scapegoated by many people of the root of the problem. However there has been a major increase in freedoms they have gained over time. Since MLK speech they have gained equality and it should be so far in the future that they are looked at as complete equals.

Simon from Lord of the Flies

In all humans, there is some form of evil. This theme is expressed throughout the novel of Lord of the Flies. The only character to realize this is Simon. In William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies, nature resembles the unfortunate events to come and the character, Simon, foreshadows these events. When Simon is introduced in the beginning of the story, he is fainting. Physical weakness becomes a hallmark of his character, from passing out to throwing up, to hallucinations and bloody noses.Although he might lack a strong physical appearance, he shows others he is intelligent by the large words he uses throughout the book. Simon is the main character who tries to hold on to civilization. He has a conversation with Ralph in the beginning of the book claiming that they will get rescued. This is the beginning of Simon starting to foreshadow events. Throughout the novel multiple instances occur where a kid will say that they will get rescued. Littluns are usually the ones that whi ne about they are hungry and thirsty and wanting to know when they are going to get rescued.Eventually they do get rescued but Simon is killed accidentally and never gets to leave the island. Simon is also the boys’ last hope of retaining civilization. Throughout the book the boys lose civilization and become savages. Simon, Ralph, and piggy try to maintain their selves and help others remain civilized. To me it seemed that Jack left Ralph’s Group and created his own group because he accepted savagery and didn’t want be part of civilization anymore. Eventually this change turns for the worst of the group and actually kills Simon.Simon is a nature boy. He is constantly in a clearing in the woods watching the stars and being alone. At one time that he goes to the clearing he encounters the â€Å"Lord of the Flies†, which begins to talk to him (143). This is one of his hallucinations, but he believes it to be real. The Lord of the Flies tells him that he wan ts to have fun with him soon, and he better tell Ralph and Piggy that the beast isn’t real and isn’t an actual object, but is actually the boys instead.The Lord of the Flies tells Simon this because it is actually Simon indirectly foreshadowing an event to happen that the beast inside them will kill themselves. After Simon’s talk to the Lord of the Flies he faints because of the humidity. Once he wakes up a storm forms in the distance and clouds begin to cover the sky. The weather is mimicking Simon’s actions to happen. Simon begins to travel to tell the boys that the beast isn’t real; meanwhile the boys are chanting and dancing around a fire.In all of the excitement Simon is mistaken as a beast and is jabbed with spears and eventually killed. While he is in the process of being murdered, a storm is raging with lightening and thunder booming in the background. In multiple instances, Simon is foreshadowing events. He has talks about his death before it happens and predicts that they will be rescued. The weather also foreshadowed events that happened such as a storm happening at the same time a death happened: two tragic, dark events. These corresponding events display Simon as a nature boy, one with the island.

The Heart Of Ancient Egypt Essay - 2118 Words

Abstract Doubtless, the heart was considered the key to the resurrection and eternal life in Ancient Egypt as it was the source of thinking and feelings. It was equal with its owner and that is the reason of leaving it inside the body after death. Moreover, heart was used as an amulet to provide the deceased with protection and to act instead of the original element in the hereafter because since the First Intermediate Period amulets taking the forms of human beings elements started to be used. Shaw, I. and Nicholson, P. (1995), The British Museum Dictionary of Ancient Egypt, Egypt, p.30. Ø £Ã˜ ¯Ã™Ë†Ã™â€žÃ™  Ø ¥Ã˜ ±Ã™â€¦Ã˜ §Ã™â€  (1995), Ø ¯Ã™Å Ã˜ §Ã™â€ Ã˜ © Ù…Ø µÃ˜ ± Ø §Ã™â€žÃ™â€šÃ˜ ¯Ã™Å Ã™â€¦Ã˜ ©, Ø ªÃ˜ ±Ã˜ ¬Ã™â€¦Ã˜ ©: Ø ¹Ã˜ ¨Ã˜ ¯ Ø §Ã™â€žÃ™â€¦Ã™â€ Ã˜ ¹Ã™â€¦ Ø £Ã˜ ¨Ã™Ë† Ø ¨Ã™Æ'Ø ± Ùˆ Ù…Ø ­Ã™â€¦Ã˜ ¯ Ø £Ã™â€ Ã™Ë†Ã˜ ± Ø ´Ã™Æ'Ø ±Ã™â€°, Ø §Ã™â€žÃ˜ ·Ã˜ ¨Ã˜ ¹Ã˜ © Ø §Ã™â€žÃ˜ £Ã™Ë†Ã™â€žÃ™â€°, Ø §Ã™â€žÃ™â€šÃ˜ §Ã™â€¡Ã˜ ±Ã˜ ©, Ø µ. 379 . The current research was dedicated to shed light on heart and its symbolism in Ancient Egyptian conception. To study the importance of heart in Ancient Egyptian religion. To focus on the representation of heart in both daily and funerary scenes like heart necklace which is represented either worn by the tomb owner or offered to him in Sheikh Abd El Qurna private tombs. To spot light on the religious symbolism of the different colors and numbers of heart in the scenes decorating the walls of Sheikh Abd El Qurna private tombs. To spot light on the specific locations of heart in scenes and their relation with Ancient Eg yptian conception as well as the chapters dedicated to speak about the protection of the heart in book of the Dead. The preliminary results indicated thatShow MoreRelatedHistorical Characteristics Of Ancient Egypt Essay1299 Words   |  6 Pagesmolded by the location of the civilization is Egypt. 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