Theory

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Music’s Primal Moves

Explore how composers continually return to music’s primal moves. Listen to the subtle yet expansive range of emotion found in classical music. Experiment with the association between music and art.

AIR-DATE
June 2004

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0

TAGS
primal moves, art, emotion

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The instruments of the orchestra fall into four major families: strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion. See a picture of the instruments used in Tchaikovsky’s orchestra; hear the sound of that instrument and see the members of the orchestra talking about their own experiences in music.

AIR-DATE
June 2004

COMMENTS
26

TAGS
Orchestra, Instruments, Tchaikovsky

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Beethoven: Key Distance Creates Tension

Beethoven used modulation, the moving from one key to another, as another way to portray emotion. He would start in the home key and then modulate away from it. The farther he traveled from the home key, the greater the tension and the more the desire to return.

AIR-DATE
October 2006

COMMENTS
0

TAGS
Beethoven, melody, keys, harmony

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Beethoven: Major and Minor

Whether the key is major or minor greatly influences the way a key sounds. Explore the difference in mood between major and minor keys used in Beethoven’s 'Eroica'.

AIR-DATE
October 2006

COMMENTS
0

TAGS
Beethoven, melody, keys, harmony

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Beethoven: Tuning and Keys

In Beethoven’s time, instruments were tuned differntly from the way they are tuned today. This gave each key a unique sound that led to its association with a particular character. With an introduction by Dr. Bill Meredith of the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies at San José State.

AIR-DATE
October 2006

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0

TAGS
Beethoven, melody, keys, harmony

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Beethoven: Keys Have Character

Beethoven had strong feelings about the meaning of each individual key signature. Explore how the character and relationship of keys used in Beethoven’s music changed the sound and meaning of the music.

AIR-DATE
October 2006

COMMENTS
0

TAGS
Beethoven, melody, keys, harmony

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Beethoven: A Revolutionary Use of Key

AIR-DATE
October 2006

COMMENTS
0

TAGS
Beethoven, melody, keys, harmony

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Beethoven: What’s in a Theme?

In Symphony No. 3, first movement, Beethoven builds the first theme from three basic motives. See how these motives construct the theme, and then how Beethoven expands and augments the theme throughout the movement.

AIR-DATE
October 2006

COMMENTS
0

TAGS
Beethoven, theme, melody

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Stravinsky: MTT on Meter: Conduct In 4 & 5

Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas demonstrates how he conducts a section of The Rite of Spring in 4-5. Afterwards, he recalls his experience with Stravinsky's unorthodox conducting style.

AIR-DATE
November 2006

COMMENTS
0

TAGS
Stravinsky, MTT, conducting, meter, rhythm

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Stravinsky: MTT on Meter: Conduct In 3

Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas demonstrates how he conducts a section of The Rite of Spring in 3. Then, try your hand at conducting in this unique interactive game.

AIR-DATE
November 2006

COMMENTS
0

TAGS
Stravinsky, MTT, conducting, meter, rhythm