Through the Ages, Classical Music has been
a foundational introduction to learning notes and instruments while gaining a
diverse palate. Composers have their own unique style that adds charming sounds
to the Musical set. From a young age we are exposed to several genres that have
an impact on our lives. Classical Music especially is proven to hold a wide
array of benefits for their listeners. You may have heard of a few, yet the
complexity of Classical Music reaches further than only one or two adages.
Classical Music has long been associated with the tidings of serenity and tranquility. Many assume it is the elements of the instrument such as the piano or violin. Studies have shown Music’s ability to connect with our emotions and thoughts. When a piece is written, it is not based on what “sounds” good.
The cello, invented in the early part of the 16th century, is a significant instrument which had undergone various stages of development in human history. The music eras saw the evolution of the cello. Bach, during the Baroque era, made beautiful music without the accompaniment of the cello.
Tracing its roots to the traditions of western cultures, classical music has for a long time enthralled music fans since the 12th century. Classics owe their success in the golden age between 12th to 17th century to a few of its famous composers; the likes of Johanna Sebastian Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Though not like years gone by, classical music continues to still boast of a loyal following and still garners new fans to-date. For long-time classics’ lovers and new fans, looking to quench your thirst for great content of classical music or perhaps spicing up your playlist, read on to know where to find classics.
With the rise of alternative music genres such as jazz, pop music, and electronic, classical music took a back seat in the contemporary music industry. It’s almost unheard of to find a youthful person listening to classical music or merely displaying an interest in it these days. For this reason, many pundits have claimed classical music is in its death bed, which is a major misconception. Classical music remains very much alive, and people all over the world still hold a keen interest in the genre.
It is important when you go to hear an orchestra that you do so in a venue that enhances the sound of the music. There are some amazing concert halls and opera houses around the world that are really the best places you can go if you want to listen to an orchestral performance.
Musical instruments have changed dramatically over the years and there are so many different types of instruments that are still played today.Many Asian and African countries still use old traditional instruments today, but you seldom see them out of their own environments. However, there are some modern instruments that are popular all over the world and we look at some of the favorites here.
Whether you’re a newcomer to the modern
classical music scene or already a die-hard fan, it’s worth knowing which are
the best places in the world to experience a concert in real life. Nothing
beats hearing an orchestra perform Mozart or Bach just feet away from you, and
the atmosphere created by an excited crowd of aficionados adds an extra level
of elation.
Wherever you are in the world, Europe,
America, Australia or beyond, such is the reach of classical music that you
will be able to find somewhere near you perfectly suited to a live concert.
Here, we’ve put together a list of the most desirable destinations across the
globe.
Sydney Opera House, Australia
Perhaps the most recognisable concert hall
in the world right now is the soaring outline of the Sydney Opera House. Conceptualised
by Danish designer Jørn Utzon, the venue was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth
II in 1973 and almost immediately became a global icon. Love it or hate it,
there’s no denying that this building has become one of the most famous in the
modern world. It’s home to Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the main Concert Hall
hosts the Sydney Opera House Grand Organ, which boasts over 10, 000 pipes.
Carnegie Hall, New York, USA
Carnegie Hall may not be as visually impressive
as the Australian building, but it certainly has a massive presence as a music
venue. Opened in 1891 and named after famed Scottish philanthropist Andrew
Carnegie, its purpose is to “bring the transformative power of music to the
widest possible audience”. It’s well known for its collection of world premiere
performances, including works by Strauss, Gershwin and Duke Ellington, often
with the composer conducting. A visit to this concert hall could result in a
once-in-a-lifetime experience, at one of the most celebrated musical venues in
the USA.
Royal Albert Hall, London, UK
A trip to London would not be complete without a peek inside the beautiful Royal Albert Hall. Opened in 1871 by Queen Victoria, the building is named after her husband, Prince Albert, who had died ten years previously. As a memorial it is magnificent, but as a music venue it is historic. Catering for much more than just classical music, the building has seen everything from the Eurovision Song Contest to Pink Floyd to the WWE within its walls, along with concerts from Classic FM, the BBC Proms and Classical Spectacular.
Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg, Russia
Opened in 1860, the Mariinsky Theatre has seen the likes of Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Mussorgsky performed on its stage through the years and has been home to both the Imperial Ballet and the Imperial Opera. Nowadays, it does a fantastic job of bringing the past and the present together in a magical, opulent setting, premiering new works alongside the celebrated old masters that form such a vital part of the theatre’s story. Its grand interior must be seen to be believed, and a night spent here will whisk you away into a fairytale of Russian antiquity.
Swan Lake at the Mariinsky Theatre
Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, Japan
This thoroughly modern and impressive piece
of architecture is located within the Tokyo Opera City Tower, the
seventh-tallest building in Japan’s capital city. Opened in 1997, it’s the
newest concert venue on this list but it definitely deserves its accolade of
‘must-see’. The oak interior that forms a pyramid-shaped roof is designed
specifically to enhance the acoustics and makes for an interesting environment
in which to sit. As a newer building, it is able to utilise the latest
advancements in technology to create the ultimate listening experience, with
such complete silence created inside that each rustle of the audience can be
heard.
Unless you’re a hardcore traveller, it’s unlikely that you’ll experience every one of these classical music venues in a lifetime. However, this is where the power of the internet comes into play. Whether I’m on the road or sat at home, I turn to my phone or tablet for entertainment; I do the daily crossword on The Guardian, play a few hands at Skyvegas and check in with my opponents on WordsWithFriends. Lately, I’ve also been using my handheld devices to get my classical music fix. The release of the BBC’s new Sounds app means that I can access concerts and broadcasts that I might have missed, whereas Idagio gives me a whole new world of curated playlists and accessible classics to listen to at my own pace.Whilst you don’t have to visit a world-class music venue to enjoy listening to Brahms, Beethoven or Vivaldi, it certainly does enhance the experience. You can use internet players and apps to keep you topped up in between, but I can wholeheartedly recommend attending ‘the real thing’ at your nearest concert hall to understand the full potency of those classic pieces of music.
Every musical instrument falls into the orchestral groups of instruments. If you look at an orchestra from the front, the musicians are sitting in a certain position defined by what instruments that they are playing.
Having an interest learn how to play an instrument is fun. The act of playing an instrument is beautiful and a skill that you can use all your life. It does take a lot of discipline though and commitment from the student to make them a master of their chosen instrument. For a classical instrument, you will need to understand and act on the following fundamental principles.
Principles of Classical Instruments
No matter the thought and pressure, keep in mind that you alone can best teach yourself. Having this understanding helps encourage yourself to become better at it. Make the learning process fun. When you enjoy what you do, it makes it easier to improve your skills.
Switch on your brain as you practice, and your improvement of the instrument will double. Learn to focus as you play the instrument, when you develop the ability to concentrate, you will get better at being focused.
Any problem you encounter in the process of learning should be your focus point until you overcome the mistake. Play the problematic tune more slowly until you do not find it difficult anymore. After that, try increasing the tempo and use the help of a metronome to mark time.
How to Build Your Skills
Jazz
Always try to play the instrument as correctly as you can. So, don’t start by playing fast. You will make a lot of mistakes if you do that. Try playing slowly repeatedly until you are better at it, and then increase the tempo. Create time to practice every day and make use of every available opportunity to work on playing the instrument. You can choose any time of the day for practice. You need to have a special place for practice. Find a place that will help you concentrate, and avoid the distractions that come from TV, radio and several other sources.
You should understand that learning an instrument is a long process. Prepare your mind for this and learn to play with patience. Initially, as you begin learning by playing slowly, it may not sound musical to your ears. Don’t worry – your effort will pay off in the long run if you dot quit. The more you play, the more you begin to hear the music in the note you play.
You can you can play a melody while practicing. Think of a famous childhood song and try it on the 12 keys. If you wish to learn jazz, then you have to understand scales, patterns, chords, and be good in all the 12 keys. Listening to talented and skilled instrumentalists is important too. Get a record of their best performance related to your area of interest and pay attention so that you can improve in their areas of weakness. The idea of ‘practice makes perfect’ is not true in the actual sense. When you practice, your focus should be on becoming better in the art. Then keep assessing your performance, and you will improve the way you play music.
Playing an instrument can bring you such joy and delight to a person’s life, as well as increase intelligence and help with focus and work ethic. We hope these ideas can help you in your journey.
Many people love the idea of classical music and listen to it at home because there are so many great benefits to listening to it. Many find that string quartets are a great option when it comes to classical music. Here are a few of the best quartets to see live in the States this year.
Belcea String Quartet
Arnold Schoenberg and his band were got all the fame in Germany for not following the traditional rules for composition of songs. Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, however, were working tirelessly and secretly testing some new styles which were revolutionary in the history of music. Later, these styles were named Impressionism.
It involves some sounds purely made to play on its own without the need to go with other sounds. The quartet composed by Debussy gives the listener the feeling of being lifted the sky, while that of Ravel makes some unexpected twists even with all the music rules intact. However, Belcea Quartet has a touch of French in it and is a masterpiece no one can afford to miss.
Lindsay String Quartet
These quartets represent the height of Haydn’s music writing career which should have fetched him the title “Father of String Instrument” just as he was named “Father of Symphony”. He composed the Second Quartet, very fascinating that it was given the term “Fifths” taken from the musical intervals contained in the first movement themes.
The third quarter is a variant of the song “God Save Emperor Franz” which later became the national anthem of Austria and nicknamed “Emperor”, while the fourth quarter was named “Sunrise” and introduced by an ascending violin line. The sixth quartet has no tag but is the most creative of the quartets. It has a “fantasia” that is slow and has various surprising movements. Today, the Lindsay are the best interpreters of Haydn’s music, and their performance attests to that.
Takacs String Quartet
The five last quartets composed by Beethoven were finished before he passed away. All his quartets are great works of outstanding creativity of the man himself. The music deviates from the rules, yet they are deep and sensational. Most of his work is influenced by Bach, and it is quite noticeable, especially “Grosse Fuge and “Op 131”. Beethoven artistry is deeply felt in the Takacs Quartet. The Emerson Quartet which shows the same skill cannot compare regarding depth of feeling.
Emerson String Quartet
Tchaikovsky was a student when he wrote the string quartet which was published in 1940 as his first work. The second movement lyric is amazing and, today, many instrumentalists feature it during concerts as Andante Cantabile on cello and strings. Equally amazing are the other movements as they burn with intensity into the heart of listeners, and the last movement gives the work a great conclusion.
There are many great quartets all around the world, these are just a few of the best ones that you can see this year. We hope you enjoy your show and the work of these great guys.
The violin is one of the most popularly used stringed musical instruments. It is played with a bow just like a guitar. Sting musical instruments played with a bow dates back to ancient times. Although there is no detailed information on its origin, a violin (which is bigger than a violoncello and viola) can be said to date back to the middle of the 16th century in Italy. Andrea Amati born in 1500 and died in 1577 is said to be the maker of the first violin and the owner of the Cremona school of violin making.
The process of joining an orchestra is not as difficult as most people make it seem. You can master your skills and join an orchestra. It does not require knowledge of rocket science to do this. Read through to have an idea of what it takes to join an orchestra.
A string quartet is essentially a music group or musical ensemble comprising of four string players, generally two playing violins, one playing a viola and the fourth playing the cello. The string quartet is widely acknowledged as among the most prominent chamber classical music ensembles. The outer movements of the quartet can be fast while the inner movements may comprise a slow movement and a minuet or some form of dance movement.
Renowned for its chamber music concerts, the Portland String Quartet (PSO) has contributed enormously to the local and international classical music niche. Starting as the Portland Symphony String Quartet (PSSQ), its members have progressed to become key members in the Portland Symphony Orchestra. Where many of them also created studios for teaching, positions for school music, and organize chamber music events which render full-time service to Maine. Since it was established in 1969, with Maestro Paul Vermel leading the group when it first began, it has served as a model for symphonies its size.
From New York to Massachusetts, America has some great schools to study classical music. Below are some top schools for music performance and composition in the U.S. They each offer great music courses, have an accomplished faculty and numerous performance opportunities.
No matter the thought and pressure, keep in mind that you alone can best teach yourself. Having this understanding helps encourage yourself to become better at it. Make the learning process fun. When you enjoy what you do, it makes it easier to improve your skills.
Arnold Schoenberg and his band were got all the fame in Germany for not following the traditional rules for composition of songs. Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, however, were working tirelessly and secretly testing some new styles which were revolutionary in the history of music. Later, these styles were named Impressionism.
These 
The five last quartets composed by Beethoven were finished before he passed away. All his quartets are great works of outstanding creativity of the man himself. The music deviates from the rules, yet they are deep and sensational. Most of his work is influenced by Bach, and it is quite noticeable, especially “Grosse Fuge and “Op 131”. Beethoven artistry is deeply felt in the Takacs Quartet. The Emerson Quartet which shows the same skill cannot compare regarding depth of feeling.
