Music: An appreciation Session #1 Ram V1 October 9, 2018

Contents General introduction A musical introduction Some general background matters Why music ? Which music ? How music ? Essentials of music The vital fundamentals to appreciate music The various genres Its basis for a wholesome experience Questions & Answers

General introduction A little about you all—the group and the individuals Some things about me Why me for this course ? Some general expectations A gentle introduction to the listening approach Of me about you [interactive and best listening] Of you about these sessions [informed listening to enjoy music as it is] Q & A

Contents General introduction A musical introduction Some general background matters Why music ? Which music ? How music ? Essentials of music The vital fundamentals to appreciate music The various genres Its basis for a wholesome experience Questions & Answers

A musical introduction What better way to start the sessions than by listening to some music. Just listen; throw yourself in to the strains of the different music that will be played. Follow, if you can; don’t worry, if you can’t. But just listen. We have the following to begin with: A whole new world Marino waltz

A musical introduction What did you listen ? Can you describe ? What are the key points you picked up from among the many ?

Contents General introduction A musical introduction Some general background matters Why music ? Which music ? How music ? Essentials of music The vital fundamentals to appreciate music The various genres Its basis for a wholesome experience Questions & Answers

Some general background matters Did you know there are amusical people ? Speech makes sense with a certain poise and pace, [Antony’s speech, MLK’s speech;] there is a certain rhythm (time) associated with it, especially when it is repetitive; there is a tonal quality (modulation). Sound->Organized Sound->Music->Sound Music is the organization of sound to create beauty of form and expression of emotion.

Some general background matters

Contents General introduction A musical introduction Some general background matters Why music ? Which music ? How music ? Essentials of music The vital fundamentals to appreciate music The various genres Its basis for a wholesome experience Questions & Answers

Why music ? Objective: Enhanced individual and collective effectiveness in addressing tactical and strategic matters through refined perspectives and outlooks. One of the highly developed aspects of human intelligence that caters to the subjective through an objective approach, perfected by human beings—through the faculty of hearing->listening->informed listening, to appreciate the sublime and the beautiful, often subjectively and occasionally objectively.

Contents General introduction A musical introduction Some general background matters Why music ? Which music ? How music ? Essentials of music The vital fundamentals to appreciate music The various genres Its basis for a wholesome experience Questions & Answers

Which music ? Essentially any music that moves, impacts, relieves, engages, and most importantly improvised and spontaneous. Indian music: “One of the great characteristics of the Music of India to my mind is its flexibility and freedom. While giving due consideration to traditions stemming from the past, Indian Music is free and improvised so that all powers of imagination in the musician are brought into play. In this way the Music of India is always creative, never a reproduction of what is written or played, as sometimes happens with the Music of Western countries. – Leopold Stakoswki, English conductor of Polish and Irish descent.

Which music ? Let us listen to a couple more What did you listen ? Yesterday once more How to name it ? What did you listen ? Can you describe ? What are the key points you picked up from among the many ?

Contents General introduction A musical introduction Some general background matters Why music ? Which music ? How music ? Essentials of music The vital fundamentals to appreciate music The various genres Its basis for a wholesome experience For your listening and learning pleasure Questions & Answers

How music ? Vocal Instrumental Solo / Ensemble Orchestra Fusion

Contents General introduction A musical introduction Some general background matters Why music ? Which music ? How music ? Essentials of music The vital fundamentals to appreciate music The various genres Its basis for a wholesome experience For your listening and learning pleasure Questions & Answers

Essentials of music Clarity of purpose about why music for me ? The need to settle down. The willingness to lend the ears. It boils down to hearing, listening, informed listening, and enjoying.

Contents General introduction A musical introduction Some general background matters Why music ? Which music ? How music ? Essentials of music The vital fundamentals to appreciate music The various genres Its basis for a wholesome experience For your listening and learning pleasure Questions & Answers

The vital fundamentals to appreciate music Music elements – notes, scales, tunes, time measures, musical forms, patterns (notes and beats), performance aspects How much knowledge about music is good, and good enough ?

The vital fundamentals to appreciate music—the various genres Classical music—a) Hindustani music, b) Carnatic music Light classical music. Folk music. Popular music. Film music, Interaction with non-Indian music. ... Jazz and blues. Western classical music. Patriotic music.

The vital fundamentals to appreciate music—the various genres Let us listen to this piece Tamizh composition (don’t worry about lyrics) What did you listen ? Can you describe ? What are the key points you picked up from among the many ?

The vital fundamentals to appreciate music—its basis for wholesome experience It is here that the three vital organs/faculties take part: brain/ears, the capacities to feel/think, and synthesize elements into a whole come into play. The key is knowledge about ‘what is going on ?’

The vital fundamentals to appreciate music—more listening Hindustani classical, instrumental Western classical, instrumental (a symphony) What did you listen ? Can you describe ? What are the key points you picked up from among the many ?

Contents General introduction A musical introduction Some general background matters Why music ? Which music ? How music ? Essentials of music The vital fundamentals to appreciate music The various genres Its basis for a wholesome experience Questions & Answers

Questions and answers

Some more, if time permits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4X8n_DX9G0 Mozart Symphony 25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTc1mDieQI8&t=1198s Mozart Symphony 40 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF5kr251BRs Joseph Haydn Symphony 94 “Surprise” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V7oujd9djk Brandenburg Concerto 5 by J S Bach