Abstract This paper analyzes a song by Beatles, which appeared during the 1970s. The song contains some important messages, which are all tied to one central theme. The analysis also discusses such things as the impact of music, singer's tone and psychological significance of the song.
From the Paper "The song I have chosen for analysis is "Let it be" by Beatles. The song being one of the greatest hits of all times is more deeper in meaning than many songs being churned out these days. It contains messages of universal appeal and the soothing guitar beats add to the peaceful impact of the powerful lyrics. It is an interesting fact that this song was created in a time when the country was in the tight grips of meaningless chaos. The song is from the 70s decade when the hippie culture had a strong impact on the youth and people were living in turmoil as old beliefs had suddenly been crushed by more powerful new values. During these days of inner conflict and confusion, Beatles chose to create a song, which would instill peace and tranquility in the lives of its listeners. In this song, the tone is very gentle and soothing absolutely in tune with the real purpose of the song. The best thing about this song along with the gentle tone of the singers is the mellowed beats of different instruments. The music doesn?t interfere with the lyrics and is present only to support the gentle messages contained in the song. This is something, which makes it quite different from many other similar songs. The singers here appear to be more concerned about appropriate delivery of the message and thus concentrate more on lyrics than on their music-making skills."
From the Paper "The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between rock music of the 1960s and the use of drugs among Americans, particularly young Americans. The research indicates that the music and lyrics reflected the drug culture rather than directly contributing to its growth.
Many critics of rock music and American culture contend that rock 'n' roll of the late 1950s and the 1960s expressed the demands of a growing youth culture. The songs "helped youth develop a sense of generational unity". Mike Jahn believes that among these demands in the 1960s was the right to get stoned. Robbie Robertson of The Band believes that the 1960s brought about a change in lifestyles, and that the songwriters were "expressing the feelings of people, the people in the street" (Last Waltz). ... "
From the Paper "This paper will discuss the career and musical accomplishments of Duke Ellington, the renowned musician and showman who proved to the world that jazz could and should be considered as a serious form of music. Edward Kennedy Ellington, who was later to be known as "Duke," was born to a middle-class family in Washington, D.C. on April 29, 1899. Growing up in comfortable surroundings with plenty of love and attention, the young Ellington received much encouragement which helped him to embark on a creative career. In fact, "marked as a special child, he started on piano at seven and soon cultivated the poise, flair for leadership, and ducal charm that earned him his title" (Sales 78). The love and support he received in his early life gave Ellington an unshakable faith in himself. He soon developed a goal to become truly great at something; by the time (...)"
This paper analyzes the development of jazz in the United States: Early influences, Ragtime, Blues, New Orleans Jazz, Big Band Jazz and Bebop, Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbedke, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Mon
2,025 words (approx. 8.1 pages), 10 sources, 1991, $ 71.95
From the Paper "This paper will provide an analysis of the development of jazz in the United States. After a brief overview of the history of the art form, the paper will turn to an analysis of some of the major types of early jazz--ragtime, blues, New Orleans jazz, the Big Band, and Bebop. Finally, the paper will conclude with some of the personalities that made jazz such a vital and exciting art form: Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Charlie Parker, and Thelonious Monk.
During the 1920s, while European classical music was being "turned upside down" by such composers as Arnold Schoenberg and Igor Stravinsky, the United States was quietly, developing its own distinct and separate musical form with a decidedly unclassical name--jazz. At this point, jazz was not the product ... "
This paper discusses the censoring of music: PMRC, Dead Kennedys, N.W.A., 2 Live Crew controversy, warning labels and infringements on artists and creativity.
2,250 words (approx. 9 pages), 7 sources, 1991, $ 79.95
From the Paper "Musicians, recording companies and fans are all concerned with the issue of music censorship. These people are pitted against the government officials and community organizations who are seeking to stamp out what is considered to be "obscenity" in popular music. However, problems arise in seeking an adequate definition of obscenity as it applies to artistic works. The Supreme Court definition for obscenity in art was reached in the 1973 case entitled Miller versus California. In that case, it was decided that obscenity is a community issue and that it must be determined on the basis of local, as opposed to federal, standards. In addition, the Supreme Court decided that, in order for a product to be obscene, it must be "patently offensive... [and] it also must appeal to prurient interests and lack serious artistic merit""
From the Paper "This paper will discuss the history and development of Gregorian chant, a type of music which predominated in the services of the medieval church. The Gregorian chant flourished between the seventh and fourteenth centuries A.D., and there are about 3,000 chants which have survived to the present day. The study of these chants is important to musicologists because "the Gregorian repertory is the first in the West to be preserved complete" (Crocker 118).
Gregorian chant was always based on the use of a single melody line. Thus, the music of the chant was monophonic and lacking in harmony. Gregorian chant was also lacking in the use of instrumental accompaniment. Thus, the melody line was sung either by a solo singer or a choir singing in unison. Gregorian chant was also distinguished by the use of free rhythm. In other ..."
From the Paper "The music of Ludwig van Beethoven served as a pivot between the styles of the classical and romantic periods. In his early career, Beethoven worked primarily in the classical idiom. However, in his later work, Beethoven often "pushed the classical forms to their furthest extreme" (Ammer 34). According to Francis Claudon, Beethoven was not truly a romantic composer because he "never overstepped the boundaries of classical art" (Claudon 273). At the same time, Claudon claims that Beethoven was a "revolutionary" whose innovations paved the way toward the increased expressionism which was characteristic of romantic music (Ibid.). It is commonly known that Beethoven's personality had a strong influence on the composers of the romantic period. In this regard, it has been noted that Beethoven was "the object of a real cult after his death in 1827" (Ibid. 245). However ..."
A look at the brief biographies of Carl Orff, Zoltan Kodaly and Emile Jacques-Dalcroze, with a focus on their musical philosophies and approaches, their strengths and weaknesses and the impact on teaching music to children.
3,150 words (approx. 12.6 pages), 7 sources, 1993, $ 111.95
From the Paper "Carl Orff, Zoltan Kodaly, and Emile Jaques-Dalcroze brought new influences to the process of teaching music to elementary school children in this country. Their creative approaches dramatically changed how 20th C. classroom teachers thought about and went about the task of encouraging small children in their musical development. This research will provide brief biographies of these three music educators, outline their philosophies, teaching approaches and methodologies, and discuss their relative strengths and weaknesses as applied to teaching music to elementary school children.
Carl Orff was a German-born composer who lived from 1895 until 1982. He is known in music education circles for his innovative use of percussion and simple melodic instruments with children, but he did not originally set out to teach children..."
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin, a short story set in New York City's Harlem. Specifically, the the paper discusses the role the blues plays in the story. The paper shows that "Sonny's Blues" is about being lost, and trying to be found, within the context of being a black man in this society; and of finding oneself as so many black men have, through the blues?both as music, and as storytelling.
From the Paper "But if blacks recognize each other in the rarefied smoky atmosphere of the jazz clubs, black society at large often doesn"t even honor its own. It's sometimes impossible to earn a living as a musician--something the narrator warned Sonny about after their mother died. The narrator doesn"t even know who Charlie Parker is"perhaps the greatest jazz musician of all time. If blacks themselves can"t recognize the geniuses among them, what chance does Sonny have? "You"ll have to be patient with me. Now. Who's this Parker character?? the narrator asks Sonny, who becomes sullen and turns his back. ?He's just one of the greatest jazz musicians alive.? Sonny, too, will turn out to be a creative genius. For the black man, this means spontaneous improvisation: "Baldwin's bastardized characters must legitimize self through endless improvisation"[they] begin with memory, then bursts out into improvised song.? (Tsomondo, p. 197)"
Abstract This paper discusses the Romantic era of music which refers, in its broadest sense, to the hundred years of music from 1820 to 1920. Romanticism was the direct outcome of the French Revolution and believed in ideas of freedom and equal rights for all. The paper shows that romantic music was a reflection of massive changes that were taking place in all spheres of life in that period and, consequently, the events of that era had profound impact on the Romantic music. The paper also discusses two musicians who influenced romantic era music - Ludwig van Beethoven whose independence in style made him a model for future generation of Romantic composers; and Johannes Brahms, the man responsible for bringing Romanticism in music to an end.
From the Paper "Beethoven moved away from such restrictions and conventions of Classicism and some of his symphonies were large, sometimes as big as the size of an epic. But the emotional depth that they contained was truly matchless. Beethoven 's Second Symphony has been described as "full of summer air and summer flowers." The third Symphony and probably his favorite were initially dedicated to Napoleon, the French ruler, as Beethoven left that he could free Europe from the monarchy marks the beginning of the middle-period work."
Abstract A review of the manner in which hip hop's influence is evident in almost every corner of American culture, music, film, art, television, dance, fashion and language. It discusses some of the music's primary artists, their styles and their contribution to hip hop's success.
From the Paper "Many believe hip hop to be merely the voice of rap music, however, as Nelson George explains in his book ?Hip Hop America,? "hip hop also embraces deejaying, artistic graffiti, break dancing, and a certain street style and swagger" (Hip B4). Moreover, hip hop has become a part of the American landscape. This became evident in 1999, when Lauryn Hill was nominated for the most Grammy Awards ever as well as winning the most female artists awards and adorning the cover of Time magazine. When rap's popularity began to rise in the late 1970's with songs such as "Rapper's Delight" and "Apache" by the Sugarhill Gang and Grandmaster Flash's ?The Message,? most major record labels ignored the genre, believing it to be just a fad and trend and that it would soon pass. However, that is not what happened. Hip hop now permeates the fabric of Black culture and has had a tremendous impact on the entire country and has profoundly effected American society (Book 4E). At one point during the 1992 presidential campaign, Bill Clinton even involved Sistah Souljah in his campaign strategy (Book 4E). "
Abstract This paper discusses Napster, first started by college student Shawn Fanning in 1999, that facilitated the sharing of recorded songs over the Internet. It shows the way Napster operated until its shut down in September of 2002, due to multiple charges that the website violated copyright infringement. The paper then looks at the void left in the market by Napster and shows how other entrepreneurs are looking for legal ways to enter the market for digitized music files.
From the Paper "Anticipating the void left by Napster, various other individuals began working on alternatives that would still allow the swapping of music files without violating the law. Ian Clarke, a programmer in England, designed a program to facilitate untraceable files. His program would allow anything to be traded, including pornography. He said that those who made their money on copyrights should just find another way to make their living (Levy, 2000). He did not explain how anyone could profit from writing songs without copyright protection. In addition, what is untraceable now may well be traceable in the future, and it is unlikely that all nations of the world will do away with copyright law."
Abstract This paper discusses the use of satire, metaphor and simile in Gay's "The Beggar's Opera". It shows how Gay used his opera to satirize the society of his time, but that this satirization was not derogatory or moralistic enough to give much offense. It shows how Gay's entire cast of characters play the role of metaphor depicting social ills of the time.
From the Paper "In satirizing the conventions of opera and romance, the Beggar's Opera arranges a meeting of opposites. Macheath the criminal thus refers to himself as a "man of honor". Instead of the expected nobleman, this man of honor is a mere criminal, but he is more than that. Gay turns him into a metaphor for the hypocrisy of those who like to believe in their own heroics. Specifically, Macheath represents the aristocrat and the army officer. His affectations and efforts at romance later in the opera reflect this."
An examination of the current research on music and the workplace and exploration of the effects on performance of places that play music as opposed to places that don't, upon the worker.
1,400 words (approx. 5.6 pages), 6 sources, 2002, $ 53.95
Abstract To understand the question as to whether or not music has an effect upon performance in the workplace one must understand that music can and does have an effect (both positive and negative) upon the performance of anyone in any environment. Many studies have been completed that highlight the effects of music production upon the long-term educational process, of music listening and the types of music listened to on laboratory animals, adults, children, and even agricultural crops and house-plants. These studies have provided for a general consensus that music, the right music at the right volume, can help people relax, focus more intently upon their tasks, absorb material and information at a higher rate, and be, in general, more productive. The problem is, however, that what is and what is not conducive to work environments depends wholly upon the type of work being done, the personalities of the workers, and the level of flexibility offered by the employer in relation to the playing / listening to and of music while at work. What we can derive from these studies is that most businesses that do not require their workers to be in a constant state of intense communication that requires full attention for give and take in the conversation (i.e. phone service-related employees) that do provide for music in the workplace will find that workers are more prone to be productive. But, there is a caveat as stated previously - it depends upon the music itself and the relative receptiveness of the audience as to whether or not mass-music is appropriate or if individualized (i.e. headphones or speakers playing quietly at a desk) music playing is better. The wrong music / personality combination can result in negative results, greater levels of frustration and irritation, and lower levels of productivity.
Abstract This seven-page undergraduate paper examines and analyzes the influence of the legendary rock and roll group the Beatles on popular culture and music in terms of the pros and cons of their legacy.
