English Blog 3

http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=stradivaris-violin-secret-his-talen-09-12-09

This is an article talking about the secret of the world famous instrument builder in history Stradivari’s violin. How does Stradivari makes an amazing violin in his century which can not take advantage of the modern technology but still stand on the no.1 whatever in which period.

First let’s talk about the construction of violin and the principal of the sound making. A typical violin consists of the soundboard, maple ribs and back, endblocks, a neck, a bridge, a soundpost, four strings, and various fittings, optionally contains a chinrest, which may attach at the left of the tailpiece. Its hourglass-like shape and the arching of its top and back is the most distinctive feature of itself. The hourglass shape comprises two upper bouts, two lower bouts, and for providing clearance for the bow,two concave C-bouts at the waist.

Then let’s talk about the secret of violin’s soar and beautiful sound. The voice of a violin depends on its shape, the material which is the special wood it is made from, the graduation of both the top and back, and the varnish which on its outside surface. In this article, there is a point that there is a relationship between the sound of the instrument and the vanish which how to coat on the violin. Different vanish makes different sound. The varnish and especially the material of the wood going to improve with age, making the fixed supply of old violins much valuable. that is the same idea of the article which I choose too.

I like this article so much, not only that I can learn a lot of knowledge of instrument, and also it’s a good way to understand every instrument’s how to make a good sound which is so important to me

Genre in music by composers in different era

Through the history of music, the time can be divided into six period which are:

The Medieval Period

The Renaissance Period

The Baroque Period

The Classical Period

The Romantic Period

20th Century and Contemporary Period

The Reason that be divided like above by musicologist is based on the music style in generally, Let's talk about more detail.

The Medieval Period is around 475 to 1400. Medieval music encompasses Europeans music written during the Meddle Ages. This era begins with the fall of the Roman Empire and ends in approximately the middle of the fifteenth century. Establishing the end of the medieval era and the beginning of the Renaissance is difficult; the usage in this article is the one usually adopted by musicologists. Medieval music was both sacred and secular.During the earlier medieval period, the liturgical genre, predominantly Gregorian chant, was monophonic. Polyphonic genres started to develop during the high medieval era, becoming prevalent by the later thirteenth and early fourteenth century. There are some famous composer in that period, such as Giovanni Gabrieli and Guillaume de Machaut.

The Renaissance Period is around 1400 to 1600. The most popular genre or style still identical to the Medieval Period - The Vocal. But there are some improvement compared with Medieval Period, some composer starting compose a vocal music with accompaniment. That not happened before.

The Baroque Period & Classical Period. Through 1750 to 1820, there are too many things such as genre, style got a huge change in this two period. For now, most famous composers that we known widely are come from that two period. The big different between baroque and the last period is there is a new style of music born - suite. Originally started by J.S.Bach. Comparing with Renaissance music, baroque music style actually is the same at most aspect, only difference is the techniques. As we know, W.A.Mozart is the paramount people that his works are a good transition from Baroque to Classical. Most classical composer are work for church and compose from court, only Mozart do not wants that, what his dream is to chase the freelance. Also Beethoven as well as Mozart.

The Romantic Period is around 1820 to 1900, it is a real new world comes for people that live through 1800 to 1900. Some famous composer such as Chopin, R.Wagner, List and so on. In this period, the main characteristics are got big change. Personal expression of emotion is the most important. Emphasis on lyrical in vocal part, gigantic orchestration and nationalism.

Last, 20th Century and Contemporary Period is beyond 1900. Form and style are more open than before, no more constrain. For example, the soundtrack of movie picture is a great instance for this period.

What music means to me

The word Music has so many meanings that it is hard to use a really appropriate word to define it,indeed, music means a lot to me.

Before I became a musician, I was not major in music. In that moment, music means totally nothing to me. It was just like a part of the world which had no relationship with me. What I had to pay attention to was the test in regular school.

Later on, luckily, I had the chance to meet with the trombone. I was obsessed by that sound of it. Meanwhile, that was the start between me and music. When I was playing, there was always something new I could learn and feel. The more I played the more I got. It is like there is a magical things concealed in the music, and when you won its trust, the miracle will come out,and every audience will feel that from you.

When I understand that, music becomes my friend. We are not unrelated any more. sometimes, music gives me encouragement. When I am sad, music can use its magic to heal my heart. I can't live without music! I can say, music truly means a lot to me.

I think I will success thereafter, because music always with me