Answer

Short Analytical Essays on Various Musical Pieces

The evolution of music has brought about different appreciations of music across different generations. Each genre has assimilated into cultural norms and is still appreciated to this day through listening to classics or adaptations by other composers. This paper analyses musical pieces between 1750 and 1850 with adaptations of the music from the 20^th Century.

Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade for Strings)

The Serenade for Strings is a classical symphony composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, an archbishop born in Salzburg, Austria, in 1756 and died in 1791. During his travels, Mozart was captivated by the music, hence, composing the symphony with the inclusion of certain instruments, namely, clarinets, basset horns, double bass, horns, bassoons, and oboes. As far as history is concerned, the reason behind the composition of the Serenade for Strings is not known. The perfect blend of the composition between the four movements of the symphony presents the audience with a nostalgic affair, especially the violins that bring about a feeling of relaxation and focus.

Haydn: The Emperor Op. 76, No. 3 Quartet

Born in Rohrau, Austria, in 1732, Joseph Haydn was obsessed with music from a young age. Haydn was engrossed with music during his church school years. He moved on to be a musical director in Vienna, Austria, where he died in 1809. During his career, Haydn is famously known for his composition of The Emperor Op. 76, No. 3 Quartet in a classical genre to be played as chamber music. The inspiration of blending violins, violas, and cello into this symphony came about during his travels in England in 1790, where he was enthralled by the English anthem and sought to compose one similar for his country, Austria. The development of the string quartet brings out a wonderfully peaceful music piece that resonates with sympathy to the audience and all who listen to it.

Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor

Born into an Austrian musical family in 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven rose in his career as a composer and pianist with remarkable compositions like the Symphony No. 5 in C minor. This musical piece falls under the classical-sonata genre as an orchestral performance. In the initial composition, Beethoven incorporated flutes, bassoons, trombones, clarinets, oboes, trumpets, horns, and a timpani that were played in perfect harmony to show the transitions between the four movements of the  Symphony No. 5 in C minor. The trombones are known in the musical piece as the alternation that brings about the distinct voices; alto, tenor, and bass in the fourth movement. Beethoven, before he died in 1827, the Symphony No. 5 in C minor came from his enthusiasm around the French Revolution, where he incorporated ideals of freedom in the intonations and four-note motifs. This classical masterpiece is known to this day for its electrifying passionate sensation that it brings to the audience. For such an exemplary piece, the composition is explosively passionate.

Beethoven: Piano Sonata in C sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2, Moonlight

The Piano Sonata in C sharp minor is yet another Beethoven classic composed in the fantasy sonata genre. The Piano Sonata in C sharp minor is nicknamed Moonlight after a German poet famed for his fondness of romance literature; Ludwig Rellstab, in the 1830s, reviewed the first movement of the musical piece to floating boats in the moonlight on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. Beethoven incorporates the piano in the musical piece to evoke emotion in the audience. The Piano Sonata in C sharp minor is a masterpiece composition that brings about peace and bliss.

Mozart: Don Giovanni, Finale

Mozart’s Don Giovanni is an opera buffa composition that follows the story of Don Juan, as he lusts over women to his definite demise. The composition employs a cast who takes the audience through each character, with a bellowing vocal performance from Don Juan with background music that infuses flutes, oboes, clarinets, a timpani, trombones, trumpets, and horns. Bringing about the theme of a human tragedy, the musical piece presents an artistically captivating performance of a low-life womanizer and his definite demise.

Billy Joel This Night (Quotes Beethoven’s Piano Sonata op.13)

Billy Joel is known for various adaptations of classical music into his records. With his bellowing voice as a musician, Billy Joel fuses Beethoven’s Quotes Beethoven’s Piano Sonata op.13 in his song This Night that falls under the pop-rock, doo-wop, and crossover genres. Billy Joel wrote This Night after dating a supermodel before his marriage to his second wife.  Beethoven’s classical sonata instrumentation is heard in the song’s chorus, where listeners can hear the solo piano blend with the melody and harmony of Billy Joel’s voice. Billy Joel’s adaptation of Beethoven’s classical sonata in his music shows the evolution of music to highlight harmonies, vocal arrangements, and infused classical music, which is amazingly unique.   

Walter Murphy – A Fifth Symphony of Beethoven (The dance mix)

Born in 1952, Walter Murphy is famously known for his adaptation of Beethoven’s Fifth symphony into a disco instrumental hailed as a masterpiece blend of classical and 80’s music. As a record producer, keyboardist, and songwriter, Murphy adapts music to infuse rock music and classical music during his college days. This was the inception of the Symphony Of Beethoven as a disco dance mix. In the dance mix, listeners can hear the incorporated dance beats that fuse with the Fifth Symphony, including flutes, trumpets, horns, clarinets, bassoons, oboes, and timpani. This music piece is a sensational collaboration of classical music with 70s disco tech that rivals new age music to the day.

Conclusion

Apart from vocals, music pieces can occur with the use of instrumentation that evokes emotion. As artists come up with new genres of music, the infusion of classical music into new-age genres blends perfectly while preserving the culture of music.