The Harmony and Cultural Values of Classical Music
The harmony created by musical instruments is fundamental to shifting the preference of the listener positively or negatively. The musical sounds and words used in developing the music form the culture relied upon by the artists dealing in the practice. Classical music, my choice of culture, originated from the traditional art practiced by people of western descent. Despite the passage of time from the time of invention to the current times, classical music retained a culture of moral and ethical representation of ideas throughout the tune. A comparison between the culture and others in society today, such as the hip-hop culture, reveals two distinct ideologies with one marred with violence and promotion of aggressive practices. Such cultures tend to mislead the traits of the young generation, which copies most of the attributes seen in the media. I identify with the classical music culture due to the promotion of moral and ethical ideologies, which are imperative in the current generation.
The Focus on Message Delivery in Classical Music
In classical music culture, the focus is on message delivery in the most audible format possible. For example, classical music does not incorporate noisy sounds from the instruments (Holmes 56). The voice of the singer is always at the top with the accompanying tools reinforcing the smooth harmony of the singer. The music is slow and audible, hence fit for a variety of audience. My preference of the culture emanates from the clarity of the messages presented in the artistic works. For example, some of the cultures in the music industry tend to use vulgar language that is not fit for all persons. In the song, Old Money by Lana Del Rey, the coordination of the instruments is eloquent, and the diction is clear (Alaa). Therefore, the culture upholds the cultural values by using ethical words that are acceptable to the entire community. I support cultures that motivate the young generation to moral values instead of wrong words and actions as evident in cultures such as hip-hop.
The Use of Sonata Form in Classical Music
The classical music culture uses the sonata form in the implementation of the design. The sonata incorporates a single soloist with the reinforcement of the piano. The plan is unique to the western culture without influence from other cultures with different backgrounds. The maintenance of the discipline over the years communicates the value of maintaining the lifestyle without changes that might dilute the practice. For example, the song by Lana Del Rey hit the airwaves in the year 2014. However, the song uses the same sonata as the original version of the song played in 1968. Therefore, the discipline of the song applies in both the message communicated as well as the maintenance of the traditional aspects of the culture. The concept captivates my mind intensely from the fact that the music appreciates the traditional values behind the invention of the music. Currently, modernization is the primary reason behind the loss of cultural values (Zonggui 202). My appreciation of the culture is through the maintenance of the original values making the music very entertaining to listen.
The Importance of Homophonic Culture in Classical Music
Homophonic culture in classical music allows the audience to relate well with the rising and falling intonations (Hoffer 110). At one point, the tone in the music is high while the other moments characterize low tones. Accurately, the rising and falling intonation appear in successive intervals creating a rhythmical tune. Without the high and low tones, the music would fall short of the expectation of the crowd. The song, Old Money by Lana Del Rey, starts on a low sound that rises as the music progresses. The change in tone communicates to the audience that summary of life. I can relate to the fact that life is full of challenges, which represent the low tone. The solution to the problems present the high tones characterized as happy moments. However, the culture reminds the audience that the challenges and successes make life worth living. Some cultures fail to observe tonal variation leading to the composition of songs with a constant tone, which tends to be boring.
The Coordination and Unity in Classical Music Culture
Every culture possesses a distinct quality that differentiates it from the others. However, some cultures end up borrowing tips from other regions diluting the originality. The amount of coordination in classical music requires professional usage of instruments such as symphony and serenade for quality output (Sly 157). Despite the invention of modern musical instruments that can produce similar sounds, such as the piano, the artists invest in the original instruments. Coordinating the entire group is tiresome. However, the output is worth the product. The classical culture seeks to communicate the value of working in unity. As much as the artists can produce the song with a limited number of artists, the songs sound better with many performers in the instruments section. Lana Del Rey is a soloist; however, many artists boost the song from the instruments section. I enjoy the coordination of the team from the perception that unity produces better results as opposed to working individually. The classical musical culture promotes integration in society and discourages negative attributes such as jealousy and hatred.
The Moral and Ethical Aspects of Classical Music
The society today faces so many challenges especially in bringing up the young children. The youngsters tend to copy attributes seen in the media through dress codes, languages spoken, and lifestyles. Desirable cultures in these generations are those that instill positive behaviors in the young people. Such practices include the use of decent language, proper dressing, and respect for the elderly. The classical music culture possesses such attributes making it my best. For example, the song uses a smooth rhythm with a clear message as demonstrated by the audible words. Despite the technological invention of musical instruments, the culture retains originality through the instrumentation part. Therefore, the culture holds a firm stand in maintaining the values and ensuring that the modernization processes do not alter the originality of the art. Thus, the ethical and moral aspects promoted by the culture in classical music are highly desirable. The entire generation would enjoy the art and learn many values that are important for a moral population.
Works Cited
Alaa, Mahmoud. "Lana Del Rey - Old Money [Ultraviolence Album]." YouTube, 17 June 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaAPzg_YbQ.
Hoffer, Charles R. Music listening today. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Schirmer, 2009. Print.
Holmes, Thom. The Routledge Guide to Music Technology. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2013. Print.
Sly, Gordon Cameron, ed. Keys to the drama: nine perspectives on sonata forms. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2009.
Zonggui, Li. Between tradition and modernity : philosophical reflections on the modernization of Chinese culture. Oxford: Chartridge Books Oxford, 2014. Print.
