Musical Meaning Blog - Music and Drama

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams; String Orchestra      This piece clearly demonstrates the idea of musical form and symmetry because of it being built around a Renaissance hymn melody which was composed by Thomas Tallis in the 16th century. Vaughan Williams structures the whole piece by presenting the theme which then leads into him transforming it by using different sections of the orchestra. Through the use of increasing texture and intensity he is able to expand the music outward and then later in the piece go back to a calm version of the theme which creates an arch like structure. With the use of musical idea introduced earlier in the piece which eventually return to a similar form later he is able create a sense of balance and symmetry through this type of organization. Rather than going from on in no specific order form one idea to another, this composer establishes a theme and then develops it and then is able to return back...

          Overture to The Wreckers   Composed by Ethel Smyth; BBC Symphony Orchestra           Ethel Smyth's Overture to The Wreckers  is connected to the topic of music and drama because the music has the feel that it is setting up a story before the audience actually sees anything on the stage. Since it comes from an opera, the job of the overture is to introduce emotion and tension which is obvious from the beginning. The orchestra moves between a powerful and intense part to a quieter part, which creates feelings of conflict and anticipation. The different emotional scenes unfold as a result of the contrast in parts. The suspense is built through the sound of the music alone, demonstration how drama can be present strictly through instrumental music.           The piece also holds a meaning due to the historical context of the composer. Ethel Smyth was a female composer who worked du...