東京理科大学 A英3: Comparison & contrast with music・音楽の比較対照

Hello!

How are you? As I mentioned in our class today for your quick homework, here is something short you can do outside of class.

Homework
You will see here four short music files. Listen to each one - listen to them more than once, even as many times as you want or need.

You do not have to write a lot about them! You also do not have to know anything about the artists, or the musical genres. My guess is that you will have never heard any of this music before, or never have heard of any of these artists.

All you have to do is to listen to each piece of music, and make a short note about which one you liked the best, and why. That's all!

Let's begin! Here's the first file:

Here's the 2nd file:

Here's the 3rd file:

Here's the last file: 

I hope you enjoy this activity as homework. Take care!

Image: By NorCal Bosie - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3433053

Video files uploaded from YouTube. I do not own the rights to the compositions or the files. All rights reserved to the copyright holders. Uploaded for classroom purposes only.

東京理科大学 A英3: Final writing assignment support post (Part 1)・期末作文のサポートポスト (Part 1)

Hello!

How are you? Here is a Part 1 support post for students who are interested in writing comparison and contrast (比較対照) with music for the final writing assignment. 

Task preparation
Check out these four (4) video files. Select two (2) to write about. Listen to them as many times as you want or need. Compare and contrast them with each other. They are instrumental pieces of music only - there are no words or vocals. 

When writing your comparison and contrast, write about these points: 

In the introduction, show the titles of the pieces of music and who (or whose people) made them. What instruments (楽器) are the most they show? For example, piano, some brass, guitar, violins, and so forth. Find out when they were written, and if they come from albums - what the titles of the albums are. 

Then, show what the dynamics of sound are in the two pieces of music - for example, uptempo, quiet, calm then excited, and so on. 

After that, begin bringing in your understandings or ideas about each piece of music. What do you believe the artists are expressing through their works? What might the sounds give you feelings about? Even more - what kind of scenarios might each piece of music give you feelings about? What do you imagine as you see and think about them? 

Finally - which music did you like better? What qualities (質、優劣) did it have that made you like it more than the other piece of music? 

Now choose two (2) of the following pieces of music for your comparison and contrast: 

Nils Petter Molvaer, "A Small Realm"

Sereny Magyaros, "Az Ordog Ut" (traditional Hungarian dance)

Jeff Beck,"The Final Peace"

Moondog, "Dog Trot"

I hope these pieces of music give you ideas and feelings to try a different kind of writing for your final assignment. 

Take care! See you next week!

Image - by Tjako van Schie - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3108111

Video files uploaded from YouTube. I do not own the rights to the files or the musical compositions within them. All rights reserved to the copyright holders of the files and compositions respectively. 

電気通信大学 AWE II: Sample composition on writing on a piece of music・音楽のことの例え作文

Hello! 

How are you? In this post, I will show a sample composition on writing about a piece of music. This is further support for our 5th writing assignment on works of art and pieces of music.

If you would like to refresh yourself on the other supporting posts about this writing assignment, click here and here. 

Because space and time will only let me show one example, I will show an example about a piece of music. I choose an example about music because by comparison, writing about music may be at least a little more challenging - but there are things in this example that can be useful for writing about a work of art as well. 

I will note in each part of the writing what the purpose of the part is - what the introduction is, what part is about the instruments and dynamics of sound, what the music expresses to me, what kind of scenario or story comes to mind when I hear it, and a conclusion with a two-sided argument in it. 

Here is the example. This will be about the following piece of music - Frank Zappa's "Little Umbrellas":

Introduction
This short piece is called "Little Umbrellas," and it is by the American rock musician and classical composer Frank Zappa. It comes from his 1969 album Hot Rats. In my reaction and understanding about this music, I will show what I found interesting about it, what I feel he was trying to express in it, and what comes to my mind when I listened to it. In the end, I will argue for what its strengths are - and what it may still lack.

First main point - instruments and dynamics of sound
To begin with, my immediate reaction was one of both charm and strangeness. It features no guitar, which is unusual for a rock musician, and especially for the 1960s when he first wrote it. But he was also a classical composer, and he creates some great energy for a short piece of music - organ, flutes, and violin, backed with a double bass, piano, and drums. Its charm comes in the mix of instruments, with a lot of bright, sunny notes and a complicated but lively melody. The music itself feels like a mix of a small classical ensemble, a jazz group, and with a rock organ. The instruments, however, do not play the roles we might expect them to do - the rock-style organ does not overpower the other instruments, and plays bright notes in a range and in harmony with the flutes and violin. In fact, to my ears, the flutes and violin dominate the organ - they take the lead in the melody. When we imagine flutes and violins, we often think they are delicate instruments with gentle sounds. Yet here, they carry the melody strongly. In addition, the bass and drums swing, almost in a jazz style, yet are forceful and give a solid ground and contrast to the delicacy of the flutes and violins.  

Second main point - what the music expresses
The title is a hint as to what I feel Zappa might have been trying to express, and the character of the instruments he chose for it might also give a musical picture of the title. In calling it "Little Umbrellas," he might have been trying to show some kind of everyday objects - in this case, a collection of umbrellas - but with a feeling of charm about it. There is something ordinary about an umbrella, but he tries here to show a gentle feeling toward it. This might be the reason he chose such a bright melody that would highlight this feeling. 

Third main point - a scenario or story the music suggests
When I listened to it more, I get an image in my mind of a strange but kind man, in a field that might be the backyard of his house, or perhaps in the country, growing strange things from the ground. I see deep but not sad colors - lots of reds, pinks, perhaps with some cream colors, and maybe some white here and there, and they could be the things he is trying to grow in his funny garden. But it isn't clear to me what they are. They could be flowers, or vegetables, or things there are no names for. I also imagine asking him what he grows, and hearing him explaining what they are, but not understanding anything he says. For all I know, maybe they are even little umbrellas! I see the sky above him and it turns a light blue, then pink, then cream, and I realize that they are the same colors of the things he is growing. 

Conclusion with a two-sided argument
An image like this makes the music unique, and I will argue that the charm and strangeness of the music makes it worth listening to, even though it has a complex melody and dynamic harmonies. It is not what most people would expect in rock, and has qualities that people who listen to classical music or jazz might appreciate. I like it, though I also know it might not be easy for people to listen to who expect that rock music should only have guitars, or a heavy electric bass rhythm with a dominant pattern. This might be its weakness, because it isn't really rock, or jazz, or classical, but a mixture that is difficult for some people to classify.  This might keep some people from listening to it. But to me, it is unique enough for me not to mistake it for any other kind of music, or to mistake Frank Zappa for anyone else.   

I hope this can help you with your writing and organization of ideas for our latest writing assignment on art or music. 

Take care!

Image: Personal photograph. All rights reserved. 

Video uploaded from YouTube. I do not own the rights to the video file or the musical composition within it. All rights reserved to the copyright holders of the video file and the musical composition.

電気通信大学 AWE II: 5th writing assignment supporting notes & video files (Part 2)・作文5の附記、ヴィデオ (Part 2)

Hello!

How are you? As promised, here is Part 2 of some supplemental notes for all of you for our 5th writing assignment - this time about music. 

If you would like to access Part 1 on works of art, click on this link here. 

Task approach and questions with music
Here is another example, this time with a short piece of music - Igor Stravinsky's Suite No. 1 for Small Orchestra:

   

So think along the same kind of way - what dynamics do you think came through in the mix of instruments? What mood is there? What ideas was Stravinsky expressing here? What kind of scenario do you imagine as you hear this music? How would you argue for what you think he succeeded in expressing - and what might you feel, in your view, he might not as successfully expressed?  

Here's how you can organize your writing for this: 

Introduction - show the name of the piece of music and who (or whose people) created it, and what instruments it features - a piano, some brass, guitar, or other instruments. Find out when it was written, and if it comes from an album - what the title of the album is. 

First point - show what the points of the music are in terms of the dynamics of sound (uptempo, quiet, alternately calm and restless, and so on). 

Second point - begin bringing in your understanding or idea about the music. What do you believe the artist is expressing through the work? What might the sounds of the instruments suggest to you? What sound features do you notice the most? What might the sounds of the instruments have in relation to one another? 

Third point - here begin to deepen your own idea about what the work means to you - positively or negatively. What kind of scenario might the piece of music give you feelings about? What do you imagine as you see and think about it? What do you imagine of the time it was created? What do you imagine the overall composition (曲) express about the society it was written in?  

Conclusion - here, bring in your two-sided argument about the piece of music. In your view - what does the artist succeed in doing or expressing through the work - and what might the artist not succeed in? What positive effect does it have on you - and what do you not respond to about it? It may have things about it you like - and things you do not like about it. What might they be?

Some task video file suggestions
You are free to search out your own music on YouTube, so long as it is instrumental (without vocals or lyrics) and is short - no more than around 4 minutes. 

But you are also free to check out these video files and select one to write about. Listen to it as many times as you want or need. You can also choose two (2) of these pieces of music to compare and contrast (比較対照して) with each other.   

Brian Eno, "By This River" (piano cover)

Nils Petter Molvaer, "A Small Realm"

Sereny Magyaros, "Az Ordog Ut" (traditional Hungarian dance)

Miles Davis, "When I Fall in Love"

Sun Ra, "Saturn"

Jeff Beck,"The Final Peace"

I have chosen a variety of pieces of music that are easy to access from YouTube and should be easy to access through smartphones. 

I hope these pieces of music give you ideas and inspiration to try a different kind of writing. 

See you in the library 1st floor computer room next week! Take care!

Image - by Andrelamounier - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44235993

Video files uploaded from YouTube. I do not own the rights to the files or the musical compositions within them. All rights reserved to the copyright holders of the files and compositions respectively. 

ECA (英語基礎表現) II (Super A): writing about music (Part 2)

Hello!

How are you? Here is Part 2 on writing about music.

Here's more on the other two pieces of music I played for you in class. First, here's a video file for the third piece of music I played for you - Booker T. & the MGs' "Green Onions":

If you would like to learn more about the artists who did this song, click here for the Wikipedia article about them (日本語). If you would like to see a clip of these artists performing this song, click here. 

Now, here's a video file for the last piece of music for you - Frank Zappa's "Little Umbrellas":

If you would like to learn more about Frank Zappa, click on this link to read the Wikipedia article (in Japanese) about him.

Hope you enjoyed these. Write comments on this blog post about what you think of this music or these artists!

See you next time!

Image: "Solo Guitar" (courtesy of dan)/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Videos uploaded from YouTube. Videos uploaded strictly for classroom use. I do not own the rights to the musical compositions or videos. All rights reserved to the copyright holder(s). 

ECA (英語基礎表現) II (Super A): writing about music (Part 1)

Hello,

How are you? Do you remember the four pieces of music I played for you in class? We'll do something more with them now! This is a Part 1 post - Part 2 will follow.

I would like you to go through your paragraphs about those pieces of music, and listen to the first two pieces of music again - and this time to click on some videos of the first two artists whose pieces of music I played. I also have information links you can click on about these artists. 

Would these video images, and reading about these musicians, change your ideas about what you wrote? 

First - below is a video sound file of the first piece of music you heard - Jacques Loussier and his version of J.S. Bach's "Siciliano in G Minor."  

If you would like to learn more about Jacques Loussier, click here for a Wikipedia article (in Japanese) about him. 

Next - here is the second piece of music you heard - Moondog's "Dog Trot."

Here is a video file of this piece of music:

If you would like to learn more about Moondog, click here for the Wikipedia article (日本語) about him. 

What do you think of these artists? Does seeing the artists' pictures or some image connected to the music, or reading about them on Wikipedia, change your own images of the music? Write comments on this blog post about what you think!

Hope you enjoyed listening to them again.

See you next time!

Image: "Gondolier's Sonata" (courtesy of sattva)/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Videos uploaded from YouTube. Videos uploaded strictly for classroom use. I do not own the rights to the musical compositions or videos. All rights reserved to the copyright holder(s). 

ECA (Speaking) II (All): 音楽について

Hello,

 

 

How are you? Do you remember the four pieces of music I played for you in class? Let's listen to them again to help you with writing more about them! I also have information links about these artists you can click on. 

Would these video images, and reading about these musicians, change your ideas about what you wrote? 

First - below is the first piece of music you heard - Jacques Loussier and his version of J.S. Bach's "Siciliano in G Minor."



About Jacques Loussier - click here for a Wikipedia article in Japanese about him. 

Next - here is the second piece of music you heard - Ronny Jordan and his song "After Hours."
 

About Ronny Jordan - click here also for a Wikipedia article in Japanese about him. 

 After that - for the third piece of music you heard - Frank Zappa's "Little Umbrellas."

 

 



 

About Frank Zappa - click here for a Wikipedia article in Japanese about him.

 

Finally - for the last piece of music you heard - Jeff Beck's "The Final Peace."

 





About Jeff Beck - now click here for a Wikipedia article in Japanese about him.

What do you think of this music and these musicians? Does seeing the artists' pictures or some image with the music, or reading about them on Wikipedia, change your ideas of the music? 

Now write about this music as part of your homework!

Hope you enjoyed listening to them again.

See you next time!

Image: "On The Stage" courtesy of George Stojkovic/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Videos uploaded from YouTube. All rights reserved. I do not own the rights to these videos or the material within. Uploaded strictly for classroom use.

週7~10 - ECA (英語基礎表現) II (Super A): writing about music (Part 1)

Hello,

How are you? Do you remember the four pieces of music I played for you in class? We'll do something more with them now! This is a Part 1 post - Part 2 will follow.

I would like you to go through your paragraphs about those pieces of music, and listen to the first two pieces of music again - and this time to click on some videos of the first two artists whose pieces of music I played. I also have information links you can click on about these artists. 

Would these video images, and reading about these musicians, change your ideas about what you wrote? 

First - below is a link about the first piece of music you heard - Jacques Loussier and his version of J.S. Bach's "Siciliano in G Minor."  

Click here for a video clip of Jacques Loussier and this Bach piece I played for you in class. 

If you want to know more about Jacques Loussier, click here for a Wikipedia article (in Japanese) about him. 

Next - here is the second piece of music you heard - Ronny Jordan and his song "After Hours." 

Click here for a video clip of Ronny Jordan playing the music I played for you in class. 

If you want to know more about Ronny Jordan, click here also for a Wikipedia article (in Japanese) about him. 

What do you think of these musicians? Does seeing the artists' pictures or some image connected to the music, or reading about them on Wikipedia, change your own images of the music? Write comments on this blog post about what you think!

Hope you enjoyed listening to them again.

See you next time!

Image: "On The Stage" courtesy of George Stojkovic/FreeDigitalPhotos.net