Melody Journey through Different Musical Periods

The first piece I chose was Frederic Chopin’s Prelude in E-Minor (op. 28 no. 4). It was performed by Aldona Dvarionaite (2009). Chopin was a composer in the Romantic period. This is a sad piano piece. Chopin wrote primarily for the piano. The piece range was almost monotone in nature. The sound was in scale rising and lowering using the same melody throughout the piece. The tones were kept uniform repeating over and over again. I found this piece of music one dimensional.

It was dark and depressing in nature. It is not music that I would seek out to relax and enjoy.

Piece number two was composed by Johannes Brahms – OP. 49 No. 4 Wiegenlied / Lullaby written in the romantic period. This piece was performed by Das Slovakische Kammerochester (2007), I found this music comforting an familiar. Kammerochester performed this from the original composition on the violin. I played this music to my children and my grandchildren to relax them and put them to sleep, singing the lyrics, as my mother sang to me.

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The melody was rythmatic and soothing to my ears. Johannes Brahms repeated the same tones in the beginning, middle, ending.

I was able to discern both the violin and harp in the music, mimicking each other. The lullaby has so many precious memories for me, I cannot help feeling joy with this music. Moving on to the Classical Period I chose to listen to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Requiem, conducted by Karl Bohm (2007). This piece had much more depth in texture and tonality.

Mozart raised and lowered the power of the piece using both instrumental diversity and note volume to emphasize the piece. Listening to this piece brought me memories of going to the cathedral with my Grandmother.

The entire mass was sung in Latin, so it was the music that led you to understanding the mass. The beginning of the piece was sad changing the tone to almost a jubilation or celebration of life. I enjoyed this piece immensely. My second classical selection is Ludwig Von Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, performed by Elisso Bolkvadeze (2010). This is a piano piece with complexity in the melody I find myself feeling melancholy. I cannot help but feel that there was deep sorrow in the person who wrote this music. It is almost that the person was lost amidst his sorrow.

The melody repeats itself but is different though out the performance. I almost wanted to find this person and hug them to remove such pain from their life. I was strangely mesmerize, unsure whether to enjoy the music or turn away from the pain. From the Baroque Period I selected one of my favorite pieces, Sebastian Bach Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 (2011). There is a complexity in Bach’s compositions that I have not heard in the other composures. I felt energized and excited by this rendition. Bach uses Texture, tonality, melody, and complexity in this piece.

The range of emotions changes from moment to moment. It is whimsical at one moment, changing veracity in a moment notice. One does not have to do anything but allow themselves to get lost in the music. There are distinct differences in styles, each with their own merits and shortcomings. In order to appreciate music, one only needs to listen, and let the emotions go through them. I may have my preferences to what I enjoy, but a person needs to make that decision on their own. Music would not be what it is today, if we did not have artist with the imagination and passion to bring it to the public.

Written by Ethan Brown

Updated: Jan 18, 2024

Keep in mind: this is only a sample!

Updated: Jan 18, 2024