E is for? We have cherished our time in Denmark and have chosen to journey south in April, as it appears to be an ideal month there, a country that starts with the letter E!
Updated 5/11 E is for Egyptian!
Piece Title: Variations on an Egyptian folk tune Var.1&2 Flowing Var. 3 Return, Var. 4 Restless Var. 5 At the pace of the caravan Var. 6 In the fashion of Egyptian dance rhythms Composer: Gamal Abdel Rahim (Egyptian 1924 – 1988) Image: Lamps, Cairo, by Manuel Selbach, from Pixabay The civilization of Ancient Egypt is recognized as one of the earliest civilizations in the world. One of the many facets of their culture was a thriving music scene. This is evident from the wall reliefs found in the temples and tombs of Ancient Egypt, which vividly depict a range of musical instruments, playing techniques, and tuning methods. The skill of Egyptian musicians was also acknowledged by Athenaeus, the ancient scholar, in his literary works (IV, 25). It is my hope that compositions like this will inspire us to explore and be enriched by the sounds and heritages of ancient Egypt. Gamal Abdel-Rahim, one of Egypt's most prominent classical music composers, earned the title "Bartok of Egypt" for his compositions that exhibit a fusion of Egyptian and Arabic traditional music with 20th-century Western music techniques. He was born in Cairo to a musical father and pursued his passion by studying musicology and composition in Germany. Later, he became the head of the compositional department at the newly opened Cairo Conservatory of Music. He had a lasting impact on the development of music in Egypt and became the most influential figure to the next generations of Egyptian composers. This delightful Egyptian folk tune may appear to be in the key of C minor, but it is not quite so. The presence of D flat and E suggests that it resembles "Shad 'Araban," one of the Maqam modes commonly used in traditional Egyptian and Arabian music. Abdel-Rahim beautifully blends traditional Egyptian characteristics with Western classical style, using augmented second, diminished fourth intervals, microtonal colors and modes, and frequent irregular complex rhythms. The result is a unique and wonderful composition that captures the essence of both worlds.
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After soaring through a 10-plus hour flight, it's clear that we've ventured far beyond our last destination in China. The melodic sounds we hear resemble a folk song, evoking simplicity, purity, and haunting beauty. Where could we be? Updated 4/9 D is for Danish!
Piece Title: Folktone (Five Piano Pieces Op. 3, no. 1) 1890-1891 Composer: Carl Nielsen 1865 –1931 Photo Location: The Modern Seaweed House on the Danish island of Læsø by architecture studio Vandkunsten Denmark, situated at a strategically significant location, plays a role as a cultural bridge between the Nordic countries and the rest of Europe. Influenced by its historical trading alliance with Britain and Scotland, its folk music possesses a distinctiveness that sets it apart from other Scandinavian traditions. Many of its folk songs are ancient ballads passed down from the Middle Ages, narrating captivating events or supernatural stories with mythical characters, adding a unique allure. This hauntingly beautiful "Folktone" by Carl Nielsen reminds us of otherworldly stories from afar. It may be a recollection of the traditional Danish folk songs often sung to him during his childhood by his mother. The piece exudes remarkable simplicity and clarity, with hints of his later development of "progressive tonality," making it an unforgettable song for piano with almost a capella-like qualities. When we think of Carl Nielsen, Denmark’s most prominent and representative composer, we often think of his symphonies. However, his vast output of songs and masterful choral music is also dearly cherished by the Danish people. Even this earliest set of five piano miniature pieces is surely a hidden gem! They are beautiful, whimsical, and pleasantly unique, deserving attention and admiration. Upon arrival at our third destination, we were greeted by a lovely folksong. But where are we? Updated 3/28 C is for Chinese! Piece Title: Folksong "Embroidered Pouch"
Arranger for piano: Ma, Shui-Long Lyrics: "From the first to the fifteenth day [of the lunar new year], the fifteenth day is when the moon is high, the spring breeze gently sways, causing the willow branches to flutter. The third month [March] is when the peach blossoms bloom. my love sends a letter asking for an embroidered pouch. He is a young gentleman, and she is like a budding flower. After you receive this embroidered pouch my darling, please make sure to come back early!" Chinese embroidery has a rich history dating back to the New Stone Age and reached its peak production in the 14th century. The exact origins of this charming love song are unknown. Still, it was widespread among embroidery sites in central and northern China before the 14th century, resulting in several versions in different regions. In the song, a girl expresses her love and sadness at separating from her loved one as she embroiders a pouch for him. The song's special feature is that its lyrics were developed using numerical order, and the phrases are interconnected and rhythmed. These interlinkages are often used to enhance the song's charm. The song is mostly in the pentatonic scale Zhi tone (like GACDE) and partly in the Gong tone (like CDEGA). We've arrived at the 2nd stop! Where are we? (Hint: Name a country starting with B, and the composer of this music whose name starts with B too!)
Updated 3/9
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Sources
A https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirrie_Hill https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301584821_The_Circle_of_Songs_Traditional_Song_and_the_Musical_Score_to_CPMountford's_Documentary_Films B https://www.ludmilkrumov.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Bulgarian-Odd-Rhythms1.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9la_Bart%C3%B3k https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Bulgaria https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213256id_/https://eprints.utas.edu.au/35335/1/Yildiz_whole_thesis.pdf C https://francispress.com/uploads/papers/KIksn1Mv5yqNU9nc4YMST9uStPYpcmISwWcGgM0H.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_embroidery D https://folkcloud.com/folk-music-by-country/denmark https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/danish-culture-and-social-beliefs.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Nielsen E Miller. World Music: A Global Journey. 5th edition. Routledge, NY, 2021. Chapter 8, The Middle East https://egyptianwisdomcenter.org/an-overview-of-the-egyptian-musical-heritage-2/ https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/370048 https://africandiasporamusicproject.org/compser/gamal-abdel-rahimhttps://www.gamal-abdelrahim.com/Index.html Archives
April 2024
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