M04 Journal - If it's not Baroque...
Instructions
Please choose ONE of the two prompts to answer. You are not required to address both.
You may select
... [Show More] based on your own interest; all that is asked is that you engage your mind and respond with insight and complete thought. Tip: The “Featured Listening” sections in your textbook may help you to apply musical terms accurately as you analyze and reflect on these prompts.
Prompt 1 (Historical):
Review the letter provided by ABC Classic “John Bell reads Beethoven’s Heiligenstadt Testament” (Links to an external site.). You may choose to listen to a reading of the contents and/or read the letter only. Then answer the following questions:
• What is the Heiligenstadt Testament? Why did Beethoven write this letter?
• Consider the actions of Beethoven: how were his choices influenced by the historical era in which he lived? (hint: check the date of the letter)
• What would you have done under these circumstances if this became your problem? How would your actions be different if this happened during Beethoven’s historical period versus today?
Prompt 2 (Influence upon Culture):
In Chapter 6, we learned that Opera was birthed in the Baroque era. In Chapter 14, the culture of vocal music is further explored in the Classical era by Mozart, Haydn and in one instance, Beethoven. Review these portions of the textbook and the following website. Use their contents, and other resources, to explore how music influences culture.
Toledo Opera’s “About Opera” Overview (Links to an external site.)
• Could the “story” of the opera be communicated through non-verbal methods? Explain.
• What role does instrumental music provide in an opera?
• Describe other ways that the storyline is creatively supported in opera. How do these things, along with musical components, create a sense of culture?
(Tip: it may be helpful to familiarize yourself with an academic definition of culture if you are unsure. Review CliffNotes: Culture and Society Defined (Links to an external site.) if needed.)
The Heiligenstadt Testament [Show Less]