Author Archives: Jian Wu

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Number of Posts: 2
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About Jian Wu

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Preview – Alexander String Quartet performs Mozart and Shostakovich (4/25)

Pieces

  • Dmitri Shostakovich, String Quartet No.7 in F sharp major, Op. 108
  • Wolgang Amadeus Mozart, String Quartet No. 23 in F major, K. 590

Venue: Baruch Performing Arts Center – Newman Vertical Campus
Baruch College: 25th St. (bet. 3rd and Lexington Aves.), NYC

Performers: Alexander String Quartet

Wolgang Amadeus Mozart, String Quartet No. 23 in F major, K. 590 was the last piece of the three quartets in “Prussian Quartets” that were composed for the King of Prussia, Frederick William II. The style of the quartet was similar to the styles of Joseph Haydn. The Quartet was played for the king on May 26, 1789. The piece is consist of four movements which are Allegro, Andate, Menuetto, and Allegro.

Dmitri Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 7 in F sharp minor, Op. 108 was composed when he was 54 years old in 1960 for his first wife Nina Vassilyevna Varzar who died in December 1954. The piece is only consist of three movements which are Allegretto, Lento, and Allegro. This was considered to be the shortest of all Dmitri Shostakovich quartets. The quartet is about 13 minutes long and was played with two violins, viola and a cello. What is really interesting is that for the performance, the Dmitri Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 7 in F sharp minor, Op. 108 will be played F sharp major instead of F major minor which would I find amusing because it can change the whole mood of the piece.

Source:

Pauly, Reinhard G. Music in the Classical Period. 3rd ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1988. Print

Moshevik, Sofia. Dmitri Shostakovich, Pianist. Canada: Mc-Grill Queens University Press, 2004

Bruno Mars – “Grenade”

Bruno Mars – “Grenade” is a duple meter. The rhythm throughout the song is played with a piano, drum and bass. The song is played in a moderate tempo known as andante. The tempo of the song speeds up during the chorus. (0:45)

The timbre of the song is calm and gives a welcoming feeling in the beginning and starts to get stronger while reaching toward to the climax of the song then becomes a soft and calm again.

The vocal melody of the song is different from the verse and chorus. The verses are sung in a low pitch and the chorus is sung in a higher pitch. The song is mostly played in a D minor.

The instruments used in the chorus are in harmony with the singer’s voice.

The song begins with the piano playing the main melody and then accompanied by a drum at 0:21 after the sound of the picture frame breaking and later on accompanied by the bass. During the chorus, the melody of the piano changes as you can listen to at 0:45 and its accompanied by the drum and bass. You can clearly hear the bass starting at 2:23 during the climax of the song.

The texture of the song is homophonic since the main melody has several accompaniments.



Comments:

"Great song from Frank Ocean but I'm wondering what is that instrument playing throughout the whole song?"
posted on Feb 22, 2013, on the post Frank Ocean- Thinking About You

"Even though I never understand half the song that weren't in English, this was one of the most catchy songs I have heard. You can hear all the different kinds instruments used going with the singers voice."
posted on Feb 22, 2013, on the post Shakira- “Waka Waka”