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Milestone 2
Alison Hill
MUS - 223
Southern New Hampshire University
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Musical Interpretation
I have chosen to work with Dance of the Hours by Amilcare Ponchielli. This music
brings several different types of images in my mind. In my mind, the music is divided into
blocks. Like different stories are being told at different points. At some point it felt like fairies in
a meadow, walking through a dark forest, a horse race, and someone sharing a sad and somber
story. The emotions I feel while listening to the music go along with the images. Like the fairies
in the meadow make me feel carefree and relaxed. The horse race makes me feel anxious and
hurried. And the part where it feels like someone is telling their sad life story makes me want to
just sit and have a sad moment too.
a)
Each musical element is important to the composition. Dynamics refers to the volume of
the performance. There are plenty of variations in volume throughout the music. There are
moments where there seems to only be one instrument playing, and others where it all culminates
together to get a very full and rich sound. The dynamics of a performance help define the mood.
It can create tension and release, build you up, let you down, and calm or excite you. Music
would be all flat and boring without it. In the beginning of Dance of the Hours there were quieter
and calmer dynamics. Then there was a buildup that made its big release at 1:06 in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ MftTCo7I This release almost feels like walking into a
whole new world.
As the performance goes on, there is a pause. At 5:06 the music all but stops for a brief
moment, as it makes way for the harp to come in by itself. There is a break in the music which
also shows how there is a transition in the music, and how it switches moods. The dynamics were
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able to allow the listener to be let down gently and then built back up again slowly. It makes for a
very natural flow to change moods.
However, not all change in dynamics have such smooth transitions. At 7:40 there is a
very abrupt and strong change. Dynamics is what gives emotion, changes mood, and gives drama
to music. In this particular part of the performance all three things occur. Instead of
lightheartedness, happiness, and carefree as in the moments before this piece turns into an
anxious horserace. These are just some of the more major dynamic changes throughout the
performance, but there are several ascents and descents throughout the entire piece
Rhythm helps give structure to the compositions; it is what drives the music forward.
This set rhythm for the performance allows for all of the instruments to be in the right place at
the right time. It brings unison to the whole thing, while also bringing a pattern