Author Archives: Anisa Sapiqoti

Summary of Activity on this Site

Number of Posts: 2
Number of Comments: 10

Preview – Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi at the Metropolitan Opera (4/20)

Pieces: Giuseppe Verdi, Rigoletto

Venue: The Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center, New York, NY

Performers: Conductor: Marco Armiliato, Gilda: Lisette Oropesa, Maddalena: Nancy Fabiola Herrera, Duke of Mantua: Vittorio Grogolo, Rigoletto: George Gagnidze

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-zXLKd76fk

Verdi’s opera, Rigoletto, was based on the play, “Le roi s’amuse” by Victor Hugo. The original play was about Frances I, a king of France who was basically a player and womanizer. Because of this, the play was banned after its first show. When Verdi chose this play he knew it was a risk that the opera might not be approved but went ahead with it and told his librettist, Francesco Piave, to find an influential person to get permission to use “Le roi s’amuse”. At the time, Austria controlled most of northern Italy and when they heard about Verdi’s opera, they considered it scandalous and refused to let it go on because it showed royalty in a bad light. After much arguing and negotiations, the opera was allowed to go on only after some changes were made. The king was now a duke from an extinct dukedom so no one could take offense and the names of the characters had to be changed.

The opera is about a jester, Rigoletto, who makes fun of the courtiers to make the duke laugh as that is his job. The duke is a womanizer who goes after any woman. In the opera, the duke seduces Rigoletto’s daughter and he vows to get revenge. However, his revenge backfires and his daughter ends up dead instead. Verdi’s Rigoletto is similar to Mozart’s Don Giovanni.  The first act is in the style of comic opera so for that act at least, I am expecting mostly dialogue or recitatives and simple music. Because of all the drama and violence, I am expecting most of the music to be in minor key for the rest of the opera and many contrasting instruments playing loudly in some cases to show drama.

Bibliography:

Budden, Julian. The Operas of Verdi. Vol. 1. New York: Praeger, 1973. Print.

Baldini, Gabriele, Fedele D’Amico, and Roger Parker. The Story of Giuseppe Verdi: Oberto to Un Ballo in Maschera. Cambrige: Cambridge University Publishing, 1980. Print.

 

 

 

Christina Aguilera – “Fighter”

First of all, I love this song because I think it is very inspirational.

This song is being played in duple meter and it is in minor scale. This song is in ternary form, ABAB. There are two main melodies here and 4 important sections to the song. Section 1 (0:00-0:22) is melody A which is a statement because it is a new idea. This section is being played by the piano and the violins. Section 2 (0:23-2:37), is melody B which is a contrast because it goes into a completely different direction. This section is played by the guitars and drums. Section 3 (2:38-2:54) is a repetition because melody A comes back. Section 4 (2:55-4:06) is also a repetition because melody B is being repeated. The violin is a bit sharp but the piano has a traditional sound. Together they put you in a sort of reflective and melancholy mood. The guitar have a very piercing sound and together with the drums, they empower you, like you can overcome anything. The texture of this song is homophonic because even though there are two main melodies, they are not being played at the same time. The tempo is moderato and the harmony is consonant. The dynamic is mezzo forte when the guitar and the drums are playing but mezzo piano when the violins and the piano are playing. The beginning is a recitative but the rest of the song is an aria.

Comments:

"I actually love this online lecture so much better. Ever since I got my ipad, I'm used to recording my classes because I can go back and listen to the lectures and it's sort of like my review for tests and it has been working. The narrated powerpoint slides are like recorded class notes, so I love those. I also like the pictures and the fact that the recordings of the pieces that we need to listen to are integrated into the lecture. The youtube videos are a little too much I think but otherwise I like this. :)"
posted on Apr 21, 2013, on the post Nationalism – Smetana and Dvorak

"The guitar is an accompaniment and even though there is an echo, it wouldn't make it monophonic because monophony is a melody without an accompaniment and the instruments keep playing throughout the whole song."
posted on Mar 1, 2013, on the post Christina Aguilera – “Fighter”

"The violin is a bit sharp but the piano has a traditional sound. Together they put you in a sort of reflective and melancholy mood. The guitar have a very piercing sound and together with the drums, they empower you, like you can overcome anything."
posted on Mar 1, 2013, on the post Christina Aguilera – “Fighter”

"I agree that the beginning is recitative but the rest of the song I believe is an aria. Also, can you give some examples where she does word painting?"
posted on Mar 1, 2013, on the post Christina Aguilera – “Fighter”

"What computer sounds are you referring to? In addition, you mentioned that you think the vocals are in major scale.....what about the instruments? Are you saying the whole song is in major scale? I think this song also has that darker side where you go through many things in your life.....only by going through them can you learn and become a better person...."
posted on Mar 1, 2013, on the post Christina Aguilera – “Fighter”

"I think she is a very good singer and her voice has a lot of range proven by all the different types of songs she has sung over the years. As to her vocals or details like that, I can't really give you an opinion since I can't tell what notes she is singing. Maybe by the end of the semester, we will be trained enough to tell the difference...or not lol"
posted on Mar 1, 2013, on the post Christina Aguilera – “Fighter”

"Hey, great song with a very catchy beat. I noticed that you said that there were two main melodies one of them being the guitar playing by itself. I can hear the same melody being played while the guy is singing on more than one occasion so I'm not sure if its a main melody or an accompaniment. If its a main melody than the song would have a polyphonic texture. Great job though! You had so many details."
posted on Feb 22, 2013, on the post Caught Me Thinking by Bahamas

"This was probably the best World Cup song ever and I love how she incorporated the football/ soccer players into the video. I would just like to point out that on 1:11 another instrument is introduced. I believe its the xylophone or something similar to it. Again great song choice! :)"
posted on Feb 22, 2013, on the post Shakira- “Waka Waka”

"I love this song as well, brings back many memories. :) I would just like to point out that at 1:57, while they are clapping it sounds like a guitar is accompanying them."
posted on Feb 22, 2013, on the post SHAKIRA- “Hips Don’t Lie” ft Wyclef Jean

"Thanks! I had a really hard time choosing a song but I thought this one had more variety and I like how she switches from soft to hard and tough through out the song."
posted on Feb 22, 2013, on the post Christina Aguilera – “Fighter”