Aaron Copland Aaron Copland was one of the most respected American classical composers of the twentieth century. By incorporating popular forms of American music such as jazz and folk into his compositions, he created pieces both exceptional and innovative. As a spokesman for the advancement of indigenous American music, Copland made great strides in liberating it from European influence. Today, twenty two years after his death, Copland’s life and work continue to inspire many of America’s young composers, which shows the true power of his musical skill. Though Copland began writing his music in the mid 1920s it was in 1935 with “El Salón México” that Copland began his most productive and popular years.
He has proven himself worthy of recognition to many people as he has won multiple awards for his contributions to Canada, or for his successful music. As a performing artist, Gordon Lightfoot is one of the most significant people in shaping Canada’s culture by spreading it through his lyrical folk music. Even from a young age his talent began to develop. Emerging from the folk scene in the 60’s, Gordon Lightfoot has grown to be one of Canada’s most iconic performing artists. Born November 17th, 1938, in Orilla, Ontario, Lightfoot’s talent was recognized by his mother and she encouraged him and groomed him to be a successful performer at a young age.
Roland Carter, one of the world’s greatest composer and CEO of MAR-VEL, made a great impact on African American music. Mr. Carter is known as a distinguished composer, conductor, pianist and most of all an educator. Carter is the Ruth S. Holmberg Professor of American Music in the Department of Music at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. In recognition of his stature, he has served on National Endowments for the Arts’ Heritage, Access and Choral Panels and received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Shaw University. For his outstanding contributions to American Music, Carter was given honorary membership in the nation’s largest music fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and elected to the charter class of Signature Sinfonians.
Ball State University: MUHI 100 John Williams: America’s Composer Jason Porter 12/7/2014 Abstract In 1932, many Americans were finding themselves as a victim of the Great Depression and chose to elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt as the new president. But on February 8, 1932, one lucky set of parents were able to welcome their son John Towner Williams to the world. John Williams might sound like a familiar name to you, and that’s for good reason. Williams is one of the best-known and awarded composers in US history. Having composed scores for the films Jaws, E.T., Schindler’s List, the Star Wars trilogy, and Superman, Williams has become almost a household name for Americans and has made his name as easy to think of as the likes of John Phillips Sousa, Lenard Bernstein, and Aaron Copland.
Of all the composers in the world through the ages, one stands out as the best of all time: Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach is considered to be the greatest Lutheran composer ever. He once said, "Any devout man could do as much as I have done, if he worked as hard" (Anghoff, 147). Bach had been raised a Lutheran, in the tradition of hard work, love of God, strong faith, and respect for the music and traditions of the Lutheran church. Bach was born in 1685 in Einsach, Germany.
A Brief Account of the Timpani, its Place in History, and Joseph Haydn’s use of the Instrument in his Paukenmesse The timpani have historically been the most popular and commonly used percussion instrument in the history of percussion instruments. They have been around for centuries and have adapted quite a bit throughout the years, leaving many unable to recognize the instrument in its earliest form. Nonetheless, it serves as a staple for all musical ensembles from orchestra and concert band to percussion ensemble and solo work. Using Haydn’s Paukenmesse as an example, this paper will examine the development of the timpani and its role in music of the Classical period. The timpani have many different names branching from different countries: English: Kettledrums (plural), Kettledrum (singular) German: Pauken (plural), Pauke (singular) Italian: Timpani (plural), Timpano (singular) Latin: Tympani (plural), Tympano (singular) Spanish: Timbales (plural) Timbale (singular) French: Timbales (plural), Timbale (singular) The timpani (before they were given this name) originated from the Dong Son culture located in modern-day northern Vietnam around 300 B.C.
Hamidi Brown Jazz History 2/24/13 Swing Era It never occurred to me that so many great influential musicians emerged during the swing era. Coleman Hawkins was the first musician I read about, His recording of “Body and Soul” emerged him to the forefront of national jazz, as referred to on (p.259). Hawkins worked in Europe with Benny Carter, Django Reinhardt, and others before he returned to the US. Soon after Hawkins was finish recording “Body and Soul” World War II began. Some of Hawkins ideas were seen as transitional, but many Americans loved his double time outburst over the chorus pattern, usually performed by Louis Armstrong 20 years earlier.
Elvis Presley, born a poor boy in Tupelo Mississippi on January 8 1935 and died as the undisputed King of Rock and Roll on August 16, 1977. He was the second of two twin boys born to Gladys and Veron Presley. His twin did not live as he was stillborn, but Elvis lived life big enough for both. Against all odds Elvis became the pivotal point in changing the future of music. His father spent time in jail for check forgery, leaving Elvis and his mother to make it on their own.
Presley is regarded as one of the most important figures of 20th-century popular culture. He had a versatile voice and unusually wide success encompassing many genres, including country, pop ballads, gospel, and blues. He is the best-selling solo artist in the history of popular music. [1][2][3][4] Nominated for 14 competitive Grammys, he won three, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36. He has been inducted into multiple music halls of
Elena Kim Mr. Fowers Choraliers 6 October 2014 Johannes Brahms A remarkable man, Johannes Brahms, born in Hamburg, Germany on May 7th of 1833. Johannes was a many of many talents, a German composer for choirs and symphonies, as well as, being a professional pianist. Many composers alive today, consider Brahms as on the leading composers of the Romantic era, the time period when literary, artistic, and intellectual movements started spreading like wildfire all throughout Europe. To be on the leaders of music in that time period was highly significant, since all of the competition of other leading composers, such as Wolfgang Mozart, Joseph Haydn, and many other alive in this era. Johannes Brahms began his piano lessons at the age