Reactions and Reasons - Essay Example

Reactions and Reasons This piece is quite impressive due to the number of feelings and associations it triggers by its sounding and instrumentation. It is visibly divided into 3 sections, which structure perceptions regarding music. The first and the third parts dwell on the same idea; however, they represent it differently. In this way these two sections are not perceived as identical. The second section of the piece is aimed at opposing the fist and the last sections. A number of binary oppositions characterize the differences between the second and two other sections of the piece. All of them create unforgettable atmosphere of the piece and help to reveal the meaning each part displays. From the very beginning the piece engages listeners by its full and brings sounding. This piece is composed for the orchestra; the music has rich texture and polyphony, which is visible from the first chords. The first impression of the music is that the part 0:00-0:51 has slight oriental tints in its sounding, as they have elements of pentatonic scale in string arpeggios. Such a confident beginning (forte, allegro), reminds of an overture – an introduction to opera or ballet. High contrasts in pitch, switches from major to minor element in music and rich instrumentation associates this piece with parade or celebration where many people are involved. It contains a controversy; reiteration of major arpeggios in minor in this part creates ambiguous and tensed feelings as music is unstable and highly changeable. The next 0:56-1:34 part becomes even more tensed. It is nervous, fast and categorical. It challenges the initial parade-like associations and adds more controversy to the overall impression about the piece. It does not sound oriental; it is serious, but it ends with the unexpected turn at 1:32, which makes music calmer and more lyrical. It is not as loud as other parts; it is played in lower register with less stress on the violin in the leading role. Lower and slower sounding makes it lyrical and dreamy. It is not too slow and has a stable rhythm, which makes it possible to imagine people dancing. At 2:12 point and further, music undergoes the change to the high tempo and high register again. 2:30-3-10 part, and especially 2:50-3:10, is a culmination is this section. Music becomes faster and more complicated. It develops the mentions motifs of tension further making the sound more expressive and instable. It is notable that dissonance is not exploited to render the tension and controversy. Despite obviously serious and “nervous” connotations of the piece, it remains harmonic and smooth in its flow. At this point I move from celebrations present in the beginning and imagine a hurricane. It is uncontrollable, destructive and fast, but it is a part of nature and it has its role as well. One more detail about associations regarding this whole section is that it is related to the night time. It is too rich and voluminous to fit the daylight. Ornamentations and contrasts add celebratory character to the section. After the culmination of the first section, there is a short transition between the first part and the second part at 3:10-3:27. The melody goes to lover register; it displays new descending movements and significant change in pitch. It moves to the lower register and becomes silent (piano). This transition is important for the perception of the whole piece because it clears mind and makes it ready for the second section of the piece. The second section lasts from 3:28 to 5:35. It is light and pleasant. I would title this section “Morning Glory” due to its transparent and airy sounding. It has no radical amplitudes; all elements harmoniously flow. It reminds of moment when the sky and the water in the morning are almost of the same color and it takes some time to draw a horizon between them from distance. There is nothing in the section that can break this harmony and calmness. It does not have the same rich ornamentation. Strings and wind instruments are not aggressive in this section when they take the lead. Overall, this section is very pleasant and relaxing. It omits any controversies keeping all elements in the same scale and good order. All this harmony from the second section is destroyed in a second at 5:36. This is the beginning of a new transition between the second and the last sections of the piece. It lasts for more than a minute till 6:50, and its function is to create tension before the last section of the piece, which begins at 6:51. This section is a warning; the gradual transformation from passiveness to expressiveness. I associate it with the abstract feeling of expectation; something is going to happen. The echoes from the first section are slightly noticeable; it gives a clear understanding of this part as a transition, not a separate movement. At 6:51 the melody bursts with the same initial loud and major chords. It sounds different and new after the second section. I would call it “Back to the Parade”; it renders the same mixed feelings and the atmosphere of celebration of the first part. However, this time this parade is going to succeed. At 7.27 dissonance is minimized; minor sounding disappears and the music becomes major. The tempo steadily increases, which gives impressions the right development and intensifies feeling. Ascending arpeggios make the music optimistic and joyful. The culmination takes place at 8:27 and lasts till the end of the piece. I would call it “Fireworks in the Sky”. It is loud and beautiful. It makes a logical end in itself and becomes a full stop for this piece. It is major, clear, rich and lively. All in all, this piece is diverse, but positive. If the first part is more negative due to aggressive and minor sounding; the last part is a happy end for the whole story. Out of all part I like the second section most of all. It embodies harmony and calmness, which trigger only pleasant emotions. This part is full of fresh air and bright light of the morning sun. It engages listeners by giving them a chance to experience extreme tranquility and harmony of internal and external worlds. Read More