It’s not what you say; it’s how you say it. Several assignments from the online
ID: 3443058 • Letter: I
Question
It’s not what you say; it’s how you say it.
Several assignments from the online text focus on “The Building Blocks of Sound.” While these sorts of preliminaries are necessary, it’s important to realize that there’s a big difference between making sounds and making music. Making sounds can be explained by an understanding of physics. Making music, on the other hand, is a product of the experiences, perspective, and unique abilities of individual composers, performers, and ensembles. This discussion is based on what an artist can communicate through the manner in which they perform. For example, check out these videos:
#1- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGvW6jHUHiY
#2- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKAwPA14Ni4
#3- https://vimeo.com/5446117
Obviously, these three recordings represent very different perspectives by three very different artists and ensembles on the Star Spangled Banner. While the musical content is very similar (in some ways identical), the performers play the piece in drastically different ways. Musicians call this application of a performing style to a musical composition “performance practice.”
Discussion Questions: How do these performances differ? What do the musical choices that the performers made tell you about them as human beings and musicians? What do these respective performances say about the society, culture, or a specific historical era in which performers may (or may not) have lived? Do the choices these performers make have the power to change the meaning of the piece itself?
Explanation / Answer
Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. Also, I recommend that you include material from your classwork or your personal views to enhance this response.
(Answer)
How do these performances differ?
The performance by the US Marine Band (link1) sounds very presidential indeed. The piece has no improvised nuances and sticks to a traditional tone.
Hendrix on the other hand (L2) engulfs the audience with the performance that is quintessential to the early 70’s hippie era. He takes certain liberties and adds his own charms and quirks to the anthem.
Marvin Gaye (L3) on the other hand is not just a composition. He sings the anthem with a soulful voice that is still popular even today. The music is upbeat and popular and very different from the previous two performances.
What do the musical choices that the performers made tell you about them as human beings and musicians?
(L1) Entails a certain characteristic of honour. It is something that is reminiscent of what a veteran would stand up for with respect and pride. It is something that would perhaps be played at Carnegie Hall or at the promenade. The people performing this piece clearly have an air of upholding tradition.
(L2) Hendrix probably emulated the mood of the audience and what that generation stood for. Freedom, peace and equality were among the prime ideals that the people of the 70’s stood for. The freedom to be different is one of the highlights of this performance and the performer.
(L3) Marvin Gaye showcases his showmanship through this performance. His soulful voice helps convey the emotions behind the words and his vibrato makes an impact on the tone of the anthem.
What do these respective performances say about the society, culture, or a specific historical era in which performers may (or may not) have lived?
(L1) Is tradition and classical. It speaks of a cultured society that represents its love for the nation through an impeccable arrangement of classical instruments. It is clearly upper class and a very clean performance.
(L2) Hendrix’ performance is more laid-back. His musical style is representative of an era where the space program was popular along with “flower-power”, colours, tie-dye and LSD. The audience seems to enjoy that the anthem is played so differently. This makes Hendrix come across as an accommodating individual.
(L3) Marvin Gaye may have a soulful voice but the piece is very pop indeed. It is something that tries to cater to the general and large audience of the younger generation. Gaye’s performance is inclusive of the modern audience.
Do the choices these performers make have the power to change the meaning of the piece itself?
If one were to consider only the composition and not the lyrics of the anthem, the difference in the pieces becomes quite apparent. The tone, mood and the message that is conveyed, becomes varied.
(L1) This is a fairly subtle performance with certain instrument enabling higher pitches and tones sporadically. Even this classical piece is far from a flat-lined performance so to say.
It is clearly a piece that is meant to evoke strong emotions and it is conveyed as such.
(L2) Conveys an emotion of empathy. It is more like a common emotion that is shared among the audience while the song is being played. The meaning this piece conveys is a feeling of oneness.
(L3) This piece is entirely for a general audience. With so many variations in Marvin Gaye’s voice, each member of the audience can interpret the mood in their own way. It inculcates a feeling of uniqueness and has a different meaning that the piece played by Hendrix.
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