Giovanni Battista Viotti
Our calling is to cultivate passion for life, and to appreciate those who devoted their whole lives to this truthfully, and left behind the most immortal legacies. Giovanni Battista Viotti was one of them; he joined the line of the predecessors and the successors of this path, the large crowd of the loveliest men and women of the world. Those who should always be remembered for how they lived and how they chose to be earthly forgotten.
Viotti from Fontanetto Po called the world with the delightful songs of his violin, and in Turin learned self-devotion from his teacher, Pugnani, and in other places of the world talked in music with the people, the kings, and the churchmen.
In the history of humankind, music, and violin, he moved the known borders of evolution, perception, and growth, with no feeling of exhaustion, although he was harassed a lot. He carried the literature and art of violin from the ancient dominance of Italy to France and Germany, and never hesitated in nurturing and nourishing it with his genius. Viotti stepped in a path that headed to a mythical world of heavenly sounds, where he got to know Corelli, Tartini, and Somis, and his students Leclair, Giardini, Guillemain, and Pugnani, and learned all he had to.
Jean-Philippe Rameau, Louis-Claude Daquin, Francois Couperin, Carl Philipp Emanuel and Johann Christian Bach, Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart, Chiabrano, Spohr, the revolution of France, Mary Antoinette, Viotti in directing the Italian Opera, his debut in Concert Spirituel, his sincere actions for the opera, yet failure and disappointment, Leonard-Alexis Autie, and his collaboration with Viotti, guillotine, fear and horror, Solomon and his invitations of Papa Haydn, London, Hanover square, Philharmonic Society, Baillot, Kreutzer, Libon, , Violin Concertos of Viotti, his famous violin “Viotti Strad”, brilliant and devoting Stradivarius, the 150-year obscurity of Viotti and his compositions in the musical world, the rediscovery and recording of his compositions by Guido Rimonda, and the passing years and the changing times from March 3, 1824 to March 3, 2024 and the anniversary of his 200th year of death, all keep one in awe.
How forgetful we are! And how shallowly we look at people and see our personal benefits! To those who still think of clarity, honesty, sincerity, and escaping the earthly whirlpools of mankind I suggest to read this article. Let’s read it, think about it, and tread the holy path of honesty.
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Postmodern and Music
It is not a crime to bring in something new; we are always seeking a way to get updated. We even update our communication systems every now and again. Since the 13th century, the word “modernity” has been appearing on the path of the music and despite of being disapproved from time to time, modernism has eventually overcome the old and has replaced the new clarity. When Bach explored a new system of tuning which made it possible for a composer to write in all twenty-four keys not just in the simple ones, he made a modern act; Beethoven opened a new path for music by using his unique style in his compositions; Wagner took further steps and Debussy and Ravel introduced new ways in music; Stravinsky, Hindemith, Bartok, Schoenberg, and in the other fields of thought, Einstein, Picasso, Kandinsky, etc. played a major role in this insightful transformation. This extensive move has ended to “postmodernism” and “minimalism” and will continue to extend until the end of the presence of the innovative mankind.
Here in this article, we will discuss the progress of this historical movement. Although it does not allow an extensive study of every aspect of modernism, it should not be an excuse for disregarding the history of modernism in music.
Messiaen, Stockhausen, Webern, Boulez, Penderecki, Lutosiaeski, Ligeti, Henze, Dallapiccola, Sessions, Bloch, Cage, Finney, Alban Berg, Britten, Tippett, Davies, Crumb, Birtwistle, Maw, Sallinen, Pärt, Schnittke, Shostakovich, Satie, Cocteau, Riley, Reich, Glass, Adams, Chadwick, and Ives are some of the significant figures of this movement; time was short to discuss many others in this article.
“Expressionism & Music”, “Alban Berg & Wozzeck”, “Anton Webern”, and “Shostakovich and Modernism” are other articles you may find at SOL PHILHARMONIC’s website to gain additional information about modern music.
Those who bring in the new and think differently should always be welcomed.
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Presentation Slides: "Basics of Classical Music" Masterclass, 2023
Here we will review all the elements of sound and music, as well as the evolution of Music over the time of Middle Ages through the Classical period, as it was covered at the masterclass on 4 & 5 September 2023 by Bahman Mehabadi.
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Slides in English:
Art and Classicism
This article aims to introduce Classicism through discussing its deep influences on music, literature, and other fields of art, and also through studying the social, economic, and political context of its time. The important role of the civilization of Greece and Rome, and the return to the mythical history of their time, along with the humanist look at the different subjects, and the indisputable innovation of the artists, have made the times of Classicism movement into one of the most important periods in the history of art and mankind. I hope by reading the article the readers find joy and clarifying answers to their questions.
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Baroque and Dissidence
This article, with a brief look at the artistic styles and techniques of the Baroque period, gives descriptions of its social context, the influential figures in art, and the formation of its major trends. The article takes the readers to a historical journey around 1750’s and shows the delightful attractions of the Baroque to them. Throughout this journey, it is with such a divine and memorable joy to hear the magical music of the Baroque and to study and comprehend all the grandeur and elegance; while getting familiar with the Baroque ideas in different fields of art, and focusing on music in particular, gaining an understanding of rhythm, melody, harmony and basso continuo in Baroque music, as well as studying the role of Italy once as the provenance of and the other time as the fertile ground for Baroque to flourish. Read the article and note the admirable genius of the Baroque artists.
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A Passionate Look at Music in Iran
This article is a concise exploration into the music of Iran and its history. The main parts of the discussion are linked together like golden links of a chain: why and how the myths were formed about this music, the great Persian poems, the renowned musicians of the past centuries, the profound and spiritual progress of this type of music to the present day, in addition to the names of the prominent thinkers and intellectuals of it. And will take us to the oriental and antique world of those thinkers who believed that “at the point where the historians fail to write, artists start out.”
This article has been published in the Art Quarterly, No. 30, winter & spring 1996; identified by National Library of Iran Registration Number: 75-13273.
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COVID-19 will reshape the world
The history of the world from the beginning to this very first years of the third millennium has proved numerous ups and downs which are known to the most.
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Religious Choral
By taking a look at the religious music of Bach’s time, such as Chorales, Contatas, and Oratorios, we’ll review a part of the music history related to the 17th and 18th century. The audio sample is also provided to facilitate the better comprehension of the discussion.
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Palestrina and the Renaissance Mass
“Palestrina and the Renaissance Mass” takes us back to the 16th century; whose special aspects were the atmosphere of those years, Palestrina’s music, Counter-Reformation, Council of Trent, and the efforts for preserving Catholic Church’s power; as well as a review over the Missa Papae Marcelli (Pope Marcellus Mass) and its texts, attached with the Kyrie score and the glorious music of the Mass.
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Josquin des Prez and the Renaissance Motet
Here we point to his birth, his life and his contemporaries. Then we will have a glance at his works, including masses, motets, and secular vocal music, and will analyze one of his motets: “Ave Maria … Virgo serena”
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Renaissance Sacred Music
First we briefly discuss Renaissance sacred music and its significance; then its motets and masses, which were two most commonly used settings of multi-section music. The article continues with more details.
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Gregorian Chant
Here we briefly discuss Gregorian Chants; where they originated from, where they were led to, how they were named, and how related they are with modern scales. In the end, we analyze Alleluia which is one of the simplest of Gregorian Chants.
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Carl Orff
In this article, after a brief review on Carl Orff’s life, we study his discoveries and perceptions in music, and in music education for children, then we get to know his approach to music education. His personal life and his music is better understood through other discussions of the article.
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Marvels of Violin
A review of the history of the violin, the developments of this instrument over centuries, and its construction, are the first topics of this article. The mechanism of the string instruments, playing the violin, its strings, and the development that Spohr made in violin holding, along with a few points about the left and right hand fingers are the next topics, respectively. The Bowing and the world’s common terms come in the third part. This article includes many illustrations, notes and various examples to assist the clear explanation of each topic.
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Tehran Symphony Orchestra
“Tehran Symphonic Orchestra from the beginning to the present day”,” its ups and downs”,” the understanding and misunderstanding of the academic aspect of music in Iranian community especially in Tehran”,” the numerous orchestra conductors and the members of the artistic committee”, and” studying a few of the issues which music and art had to deal with” are the different parts of this article which give good information about the eight decades of the presence of the global music in Iran and Tehran to the enthusiast reader.
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Hajibeyov and Koroglu Opera
Koroglu is an opera by Uzeyir Hajibeyov. History of opera in Azerbaijan, epic of Koroglu comparing the libretto opera, the background of its composer also his role in music revolution, Arias and Opera, Azerbaijani music by itself with musicians’ viewpoints on this matter are main topics of this article.
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Musical instrument, style and form in ancient Italy
The musical instrument, musical style and musical form in ancient Italy may be known as three important elements when talking about academic music. The history of Italian music in the common practice period which includes the 17th & 18th centuries and the reformation of the instrumental structure as well as musical forms also what has been caused the slump or motion into the flow, will be reviewed in this article.
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Pietro Rovelli
Pietro Rovelli; the composer of 12 caprices for violin was born in Bergamo, Italy. He is known as those composers who have articles about the structure of violin -itself- and the bow beside of his oeuvres. Indeed, a brief study of professor Edmund Singer’s education and activities also his role in Rovelli’s life is bold, here.
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Aminoullah(Andre) Hossein
Aminoullah Hossein is one of the most famous Iranian composers in the nineteenth century. His life, his works and his philosophy are main topics of this article.
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Music in Azerbaijan narrated by Ali Salimi
Ali Salimi is known as one of the best composers and music players in Azerbaijan. The story of his life, his interpretation of Azerbaijani Music and its technical aspects are reviewed in this article.
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Giuseppe Tartini
Tartini’s life and works, Devil’s Trill and its story, the history of classic violin also its technical progress and immaterial aspects during Baroque time will be reviewed through this paper.
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Arcangelo Corelli
This article reviews Corelli’s life, the effect of his philosophy also his works on classical music; mainly due to composing style, technics and playing aspects. The study of history of sonata, common forms of classical music of the time also his leaders are pointed here.
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Rodolphe Kreutzer
This article will talk about his life, his works & his efforts to develop artistic progress. The French revolution and its consequences during his life time, known as the dedicatee of Beethoven violin Sonata and the 42 etudes and caprices as his best known works are also highlighted here.
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Suite
Through this paper, the history of suite as well as its essential movements have been discussed. Academic meaning of some terms like Partita, Overture and Sinfonia in regard of Bach are considered based on documented references, too.
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Niccolò Paganini
Here we briefly discuss Gregorian Chants; where they originated from, where they were led to, how they were named, and how related they are with modern scales. In the end, we analyze Alleluia which is one of the simplest of Gregorian Chants.
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What Should Be Heard From Classical Music World
Through this list and by recommending some pieces, we are going to make the possibility to be more familiar with classical music.
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Antonio Vivaldi
This is an article to review the different aspects of Vivaldi’s life and his works. Ospedale Conservatory, Venice school, the importance of concerto in his works also getting back to his unforgettable masterpieces are the others issues to consider.
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How to Practice?
By presenting of some recommendations to practice, this article considers some other issues regarding on metronome, tempo, sonority and scales.
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Violin Brands
In this article, we are reviewing some of the most famous Violin brands and will talk about great artists such Andrea Amati, Antonio Stradivari, Gasparo da Salò, Girolamo and Andrea Guarneri.
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Requiem Mass in D Minor by Mozart
The Requiem Mass in D minor as one of the most important religious composition is the subject of this article. Fourteen movements, also the third part of its structure named “Day of Warth”- Dies Irae- are main points which are highlighted.
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Expressionism & Music
Vienna School by presenting Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg & Anton Webern who had great success to change the history of music based on the requirements of 20th century, plays an important role in contemporary history of music.
In between, Arnold Schoenberg; as a leader and by introducing the twelve tone system presented a new idea named “Serialism” and made new frontiers when he introduced the principles of Dodecaphonism.
Certainly, Schoenberg like some other revolutionists, like Picasso and Einstein, changed dominant rules, closed the tonality page and led the world of music toward new doors.
In the other word, Expressionism and Vienna School supplemented each other to improve so that expressionist is the king of our century.
Being loaded by different ideas that came from painting especially the effect of Kandinsky are other issues to review, here.
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Alban Berg and Wozzeck
Berg’s biography as well as his works and his thoughts are reviewing in this article. Wozzeck as one of masterpieces of expressionism has been analyzed, too.
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Anton Webern
Anton Weber; the third thinker of Vienna School is a modernist whose thoughts and life is the main subject of this article. The briefness, Atonalism and Serialism and expressionism in his expression have been considered in this article.
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Shostakovich and Modernism (the 13th Quartet)
The quartet number 13 and the role of Arnold Schoenberg to present serial technique and its effect to compose modern works in Tonal and Atonal music, string quartets in relaties, also the modernism in other composers’ works are some issues which have been reviewed, here.