Topic 1: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
Beethoven’s symphony number 9 is asserted as the most famous and the most interesting because of the musical prowess that was affirmed. Hence the section intends to outline aspects of the ninth symphony that made it stand out from the rest.
First and foremost, Beethoven encompassed the words ‘Ode to Joy’ which he borrowed from Friedrich Schiller’s poem (Buch, 2014). The words were taken from Schiller’s poem because he was one of Beethoven’s favorite writers and he always wanted to use the words. The quote ‘Ode to joy’ is used in the symphony to affirm enlightenment or the ability of people to coexist. Beethoven employed the notion to predict a future where men will coexist regardless of their differences. Hence, they will be happy like children thus supporting each other.
Secondly, the murmuring of the low strings in the beginning before the loud violin signifies the beginning of something. The beginning seems to come from a void that may be related to happenings in the world. The calmness in childhood before the chaos of growing up and meeting many obstacles that alter the existence of a human being.
Thirdly, the lyrical slow movement witnessed in the symphony narrows down to love or something spiritual. It seems to pierce the body down to the soul hence reaching out for the soul or deeper existence. The technique has been widely copied today and it is part and parcel of Beethoven’s legacy. Eventually, the music enters the chorus where joy can be felt from the vocalists. Beethoven used the chorus to bring people back to life after the slow beginning and that seems to get to the audience more than anything else.
Thus, the legacy of the composer can be affirmed to be enlightenment, freedom, joy, and many other things (Buch, 2014). He was eager to create a world that is devoid of hate but only love, joy, and happiness. He used his art to preach freedom, joy, and happiness hence affirming the beauty of the new age where brothers will coexist as one.
Topic 2: Little Fugue in G minor.
The beginning of the fugue which is the exposition encompasses the main theme which is the subject. The exposition remains until the four voices outline the subject (Pierson & Tolman, 2019). Secondly, the subject is followed by the tonal answer affirmed using the D minor. The changes are made to make the subject fit better into the new changes which are affirmed. Thirdly, there is a countersubject that is directly derived from the subject in the long run. The countersubject is derived through inversion and that is why they almost sound similar.
Then, there is an episode when the exposition ends and the subject seems to be absent. Eventually, there is a shift from the original G minor to the Bb major subject which comes as middle entries. Tonal answer in this instance takes over the F major. Then, there is a stretto that comes with the countersubject and subject Bb major. That leads to episode 2 where there is the subject C minor alongside the stretto. The subject G minor defines the closing with other voices also coming informing the stretto in the long run. The first theme returns in the middle entries in the first episode and it changes from a G minor to a Bb major.
Topic 3: Discussions
First and foremost, composers wanted to break down the complexity of life through art. That can be seen through fugues which are kind of complicated because they encompass many themes and tones which must be asserted (Sessions, 2015). The main theme which is the subject is likely to come back all through the song but in different forms. The complexities involve seemed to appeal to the composers in the long run.
Secondly, the musical forms were also used to affirm emotions through the use of instruments. Operas were mainly used to conceptualize love and other types of strong emotions that humans go through. The composers would use the operas to affirm their emotions and reach out to anyone in the audience who is going through the same things. Thirdly, it is imperative to note that the sonata was developed for solo performers and their instruments. The musical form was also complicated but it attracted the attention of performers while ensuring that they had a good time.
There are musical forms today even though they are not as defined as they were in the past (Sessions, 2015). For example, strophic forms where the same chorus in music is repeated over and over. The musical form is not defined like it was in the past but many artists or musicians are using the technique. Moreover, there are aspects of fugues that are incorporated in musical forms today especially when there is a need to affirm emotions in the long run.
Topic 4: Discussions
Sonata forms encompassed three main parts which include the exposition, development, and recapitulation (Prip, 2020). The exposition is the first part of the song and it was normally slow before it picks up on the development and the recapitulation which is the climax. The exposition which is the beginning of the song can move from the original key to a new key. The development then wows audiences by going through many keys at the same time. Then, the recapitulation moves back to the original key in a slow-motion manner. Hence, the musical form was associated with many complexities because of the many keys which were involved in the long run.
Musical forms
Firstly, there is a strophic musical form where the chorus is sung to the same refrain. Any other verse can also be repeated a number of times thus it acquired the named verse repeating form. Others also refer to it as chorus repeating because the chorus may be repeated on a number of occasions. Secondly, there is the Rondo form which encompassed contrasting or alternating ideas (Clendinning & Marvin, 2016). There are many keys that are involved hence the song may take up very different forms. It may take the form of sonata where it begins from familiar ideas drifts to unfamiliar ones then goes back to the original. However, Rondo can assume any form as far as it starts with a key and later finishes with it in the long run. Thirdly, theme, and variation form begins with a certain theme only to shift to unfamiliar ones in the long run. The shift may take place in the middle of the song and further variations are asserted to make the song very different. Hence, the different song forms are also deep and rejuvenating just like the sonata.