by Dr. Michael Pratt Lowell Mason, who many people regard as the father of public school music education, was born in Medfield, MA on January 8, 1792 into a musical family. Both of his parents sang in their church choir and his father played the bass viol. At a young age Lowell learned to play [...]
Archive for September 4th, 2009
A Biography of Lowell Mason: The Father of American Music Education
Posted in American Music, Music Education on September 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Musical Ambiguity in Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss
Posted in Composers, German Music, Orchestra, Strauss, Richard on September 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
By Dr. Michael Pratt Tonal ambiguity is evident in the opening fanfare of Also sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss (example 1). Written in 1896, the tone poem for orchestra is an attempt by Strauss to depict in music the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche about his prophet Zarathustra. The tone poem’s famous opening fanfare begins with [...]
Some Aspects and Effects of Wagner’s Art-Work of the Future
Posted in Composers, German Music, Opera, Wagner, Richard on September 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
by Dr. Michael Pratt In 1849 Richard Wagner was at the median point of his life. He was 36 years old and had another 34 years to live. He had completed two operas virtually never performed (Die Feen and Das Liebesverbot), and one opera rarely performed (Rienzi). He had also competed three operas which are considered [...]
