Oct
6
Time Capsule Through the Renaissance to the Age of the Baroque
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Local Music Hits wrote:
Time Capsule Through the Renaissance to the Age of the Baroque
Researched and Authored by: Michael J. Spindler of Local Music Hits
As a young eager fictional cultural anthropologist, the author is on a quest to find a missing time capsule. The contents supposedly include articles that come from the age of the Renaissance and the Age of the Baroque. The renaissance period is broken into two periods; the Early Renaissance from roughly 1400 to 1490, and the High Renaissance, from approximately 1490 to 1530. The Age of the Baroque covers two centuries, from 1600 through 1800, and is known as the “Age of Contradictions”. Both periods experienced growth through expression that affected the religious, societal, and politic climates of their respective time periods, which continue to echo through time. The impact of these dramatic periods continue to morph our present day society through the continued evolution of expression that affects the core institutions as humans strive in new directions. The discovery of a time capsule may shed a little light on how key examples impacted the world in their time, both culturally and socially.
The day of discovery has arrived. Does any one have a crow bar? Though a little dusty, the first item appears to be from the Early Renaissance period. How can the author tell at first glance? A large volume of art produced during this period was religious. Our first specimen appears to a depiction of “The Crucifixion”. A tempera medium on wood, the artist, Konrad von Soest (Web Gallery of Art, n.d.) was an active artisan from about 1394 to 1422. According to records, this work of art was created in either 1404 or 1414. Why are religious art forms so dominant in this period? The early renaissance was also a time when the Church of Rome and the Catholic religion dominated the lands. Affecting every aspect of life from political motivation, the social hierarchy, and of course, the stamping out of any ideas that went against the man made religion. Surprisingly, renaissance period also showed an explosion of the portrait and self portrait. A true gem to any collection this art form typically depicts people in wealthy circles in their time and a glimpse how life was lived. The next opportunity the reader has to view a portrait, take a moment to explore the surroundings of the person depicted. Illustrated in these works of art are several clues as to living conditions, material wealth, and attitude that can be determined. Artists were also notorious for including items that were symbolic of aspirations, life, and blessings with the subject person in the portrait.
The next item out of our time capsule is an exhibit from the Age of Baroque. The extraordinary piece is “An Angel Frees the Souls of Purgatory”. (Web Gallery of Art, n.d.) The artist, Lodovico Carracci, who painted this piece in 1610, is a depiction of an Angel sent from Heaven to rescue the lost souls in Purgatory. This is an example of a large volume of work done in this period representing the proliferation of the sciences and other discoveries that were bringing to the world new ideologies that were in direct conflict with the church. The Age of Baroque represents a slow departure of the people to embrace empirical data, and slowly to withdrawal from the ideologies of the church that were once consider law. This movement played on people’s fears of damnation and artists’ perception and interpretation of the times made for more violent depictions of both religious icons and the masses of people.
The Early Renaissance experienced an explosion of music development, which paved the way to modern musical structuring. Most compositions of the time were meant to be sung, “during this period four principal types of compositions were prominent: Masses, Magnificats, motets, and the secular chansons with French texts.” (Ogan, 2001) Guillaume Dufay (1400-1474), was known to be the greatest composer of his time. Using a technique referred to “Word Painting” in which music is used to express the meaning of the written word. “Dufay, in many respects, paved the way for future composers to use greater imagination and ingenuity in musical composition.” (Ogan, 2001)
The Age of Baroque saw a further evolution of music into what is now referred to as classical music. An epic explosion of expression through complex musical structures on a scale that easily over powered the listeners emotions, and once the listener was engaged, the music could sweep the audience to the highest highs and lowest depths of sadness and despair. In no other musical form of expression is this more evident than in Opera. Opera is a culmination of vocal expression dancing and weaving through a tapestry of sounds woven by an instrumental accompaniment on a massive scale. In the Baroque Age, for music, Venice Italy was known as the city of music, the home to a number of musicians that continue to live through time. In the early seventeenth century, the pioneer of became Opera was an Italian composer by the name of Claudio Monteverdi. “The best example is his final masterwork, L’incoronazione di Poppea (1642), exceptional in that its protagonists are not ancient Greek gods and heroes as it had been customary until then, but real people, and in that good does not triumph over evil.” (Bender, n.d.) The significance is once again an art form being used to move society from the clutches of religion, and to celebrate the importance individuality and new ideas to empower the people.
Early renaissance architecture was unique from previous periods in that instead of rehashing grandiose architectural styling, the direction architects of the time invested in reinterpretation of Greco-Roman themes and building principles. The influence of religion of the time also played heavily in this interpretation and developed into an architectural nuance that celebrated the Roman Catholic Church. In the year 1404, Filippo Brunelleschi began his career as an architect. Long considered the “Father of the Renaissance”, “Brunelleschi was the first architect to employ mathematical perspective to redefine Gothic and Romanesque space and to establish new rules of proportioning and symmetry.”(Saalman, 1993)
The early renaissance period is considered a time of a transitional era from medieval thought of an anonymous existence to one of enlightenment and uniqueness of man. The early fathers of philosophy may have begun in Greece, but new values and interpretations found new meaning in the renaissance age. “Educational practice was revolutionized by the recovery of ancient documents, the rejection of institutional authority, and renewed emphasis on individual freedom.” (Kemerling, 2001)
With the developing technologies to mass produce the written word. Literature, once only for the wealthy and the church, gave birth to the explosion of ideas and progressive thinking that pushed society even further ahead. This form of mass media has firmly changed the course of history, encouraging enlightenment and fostering developments in every aspect of life. Once an idea is in the hands of the people with such easy access, a revolution of sorts will carry on.
References - Do Not Strip Article References
Bender, A. (n.d.). Claudio Monteverdi, 1576-1643. Retrieved January 16, 2008, from http://www.manteau.de/claudio.html
Kemerling, G. (2001, October 27). Renaissance Thought. Retrieved January 16, 2008, from http://www.philosophypages.com/hy/3t.htm
Ogan, J. R. (2001). Du Fay and Josquin des Prez Comparison . Retrieved January 16, 2008, from http://www.uh.edu/~tkoozin/projects/ogan/essays.html#3
Saalman, H. (1993, December). Filippo Brunelleschi : The Buildings. Retrieved January 16, 2008, from http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Filippo_Brunelleschi.html
Web Gallery of Art (n.d.). CARRACCI, Lodovico. Retrieved January 16, 2008, from http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/c/carracci/lodovico/index.html
Web Gallery of Art (n.d.). KONRAD von Soest. Retrieved January 16, 2008, from http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/k/konrad/index.html
Researched and Authored by: Michael J. Spindler of Local Music Hits
Free to distribute - However- Do not strip Research Article References, remove the HTML if needed, but keep the URL text.
Do Not Remove the Authors name: Michael J. Spindler and keep all hyperlinks pointing to: Local Music Hits - I use software that compares my “library” and scours the web for postings. When I find my article on your site and you have not followed the above binding agreements, Lawyers will be sending letters. A considerable investment of time is involved with this content.
Join us Soon!
Online Dating
Time Capsule Through the Renaissance to the Age of the Baroque
Researched and Authored by: Michael J. Spindler of Local Music Hits
As a young eager fictional cultural anthropologist, the author is on a quest to find a missing time capsule. The contents supposedly include articles that come from the age of the Renaissance and the Age of the Baroque. The renaissance period is broken into two periods; the Early Renaissance from roughly 1400 to 1490, and the High Renaissance, from approximately 1490 to 1530. The Age of the Baroque covers two centuries, from 1600 through 1800, and is known as the “Age of Contradictions”. Both periods experienced growth through expression that affected the religious, societal, and politic climates of their respective time periods, which continue to echo through time. The impact of these dramatic periods continue to morph our present day society through the continued evolution of expression that affects the core institutions as humans strive in new directions. The discovery of a time capsule may shed a little light on how key examples impacted the world in their time, both culturally and socially.
The day of discovery has arrived. Does any one have a crow bar? Though a little dusty, the first item appears to be from the Early Renaissance period. How can the author tell at first glance? A large volume of art produced during this period was religious. Our first specimen appears to a depiction of “The Crucifixion”. A tempera medium on wood, the artist, Konrad von Soest (Web Gallery of Art, n.d.) was an active artisan from about 1394 to 1422. According to records, this work of art was created in either 1404 or 1414. Why are religious art forms so dominant in this period? The early renaissance was also a time when the Church of Rome and the Catholic religion dominated the lands. Affecting every aspect of life from political motivation, the social hierarchy, and of course, the stamping out of any ideas that went against the man made religion. Surprisingly, renaissance period also showed an explosion of the portrait and self portrait. A true gem to any collection this art form typically depicts people in wealthy circles in their time and a glimpse how life was lived. The next opportunity the reader has to view a portrait, take a moment to explore the surroundings of the person depicted. Illustrated in these works of art are several clues as to living conditions, material wealth, and attitude that can be determined. Artists were also notorious for including items that were symbolic of aspirations, life, and blessings with the subject person in the portrait.
The next item out of our time capsule is an exhibit from the Age of Baroque. The extraordinary piece is “An Angel Frees the Souls of Purgatory”. (Web Gallery of Art, n.d.) The artist, Lodovico Carracci, who painted this piece in 1610, is a depiction of an Angel sent from Heaven to rescue the lost souls in Purgatory. This is an example of a large volume of work done in this period representing the proliferation of the sciences and other discoveries that were bringing to the world new ideologies that were in direct conflict with the church. The Age of Baroque represents a slow departure of the people to embrace empirical data, and slowly to withdrawal from the ideologies of the church that were once consider law. This movement played on people’s fears of damnation and artists’ perception and interpretation of the times made for more violent depictions of both religious icons and the masses of people.
The Early Renaissance experienced an explosion of music development, which paved the way to modern musical structuring. Most compositions of the time were meant to be sung, “during this period four principal types of compositions were prominent: Masses, Magnificats, motets, and the secular chansons with French texts.” (Ogan, 2001) Guillaume Dufay (1400-1474), was known to be the greatest composer of his time. Using a technique referred to “Word Painting” in which music is used to express the meaning of the written word. “Dufay, in many respects, paved the way for future composers to use greater imagination and ingenuity in musical composition.” (Ogan, 2001)
The Age of Baroque saw a further evolution of music into what is now referred to as classical music. An epic explosion of expression through complex musical structures on a scale that easily over powered the listeners emotions, and once the listener was engaged, the music could sweep the audience to the highest highs and lowest depths of sadness and despair. In no other musical form of expression is this more evident than in Opera. Opera is a culmination of vocal expression dancing and weaving through a tapestry of sounds woven by an instrumental accompaniment on a massive scale. In the Baroque Age, for music, Venice Italy was known as the city of music, the home to a number of musicians that continue to live through time. In the early seventeenth century, the pioneer of became Opera was an Italian composer by the name of Claudio Monteverdi. “The best example is his final masterwork, L’incoronazione di Poppea (1642), exceptional in that its protagonists are not ancient Greek gods and heroes as it had been customary until then, but real people, and in that good does not triumph over evil.” (Bender, n.d.) The significance is once again an art form being used to move society from the clutches of religion, and to celebrate the importance individuality and new ideas to empower the people.
Early renaissance architecture was unique from previous periods in that instead of rehashing grandiose architectural styling, the direction architects of the time invested in reinterpretation of Greco-Roman themes and building principles. The influence of religion of the time also played heavily in this interpretation and developed into an architectural nuance that celebrated the Roman Catholic Church. In the year 1404, Filippo Brunelleschi began his career as an architect. Long considered the “Father of the Renaissance”, “Brunelleschi was the first architect to employ mathematical perspective to redefine Gothic and Romanesque space and to establish new rules of proportioning and symmetry.”(Saalman, 1993)
The early renaissance period is considered a time of a transitional era from medieval thought of an anonymous existence to one of enlightenment and uniqueness of man. The early fathers of philosophy may have begun in Greece, but new values and interpretations found new meaning in the renaissance age. “Educational practice was revolutionized by the recovery of ancient documents, the rejection of institutional authority, and renewed emphasis on individual freedom.” (Kemerling, 2001)
With the developing technologies to mass produce the written word. Literature, once only for the wealthy and the church, gave birth to the explosion of ideas and progressive thinking that pushed society even further ahead. This form of mass media has firmly changed the course of history, encouraging enlightenment and fostering developments in every aspect of life. Once an idea is in the hands of the people with such easy access, a revolution of sorts will carry on.
References - Do Not Strip Article References
Bender, A. (n.d.). Claudio Monteverdi, 1576-1643. Retrieved January 16, 2008, from http://www.manteau.de/claudio.html
Kemerling, G. (2001, October 27). Renaissance Thought. Retrieved January 16, 2008, from http://www.philosophypages.com/hy/3t.htm
Ogan, J. R. (2001). Du Fay and Josquin des Prez Comparison . Retrieved January 16, 2008, from http://www.uh.edu/~tkoozin/projects/ogan/essays.html#3
Saalman, H. (1993, December). Filippo Brunelleschi : The Buildings. Retrieved January 16, 2008, from http://www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Filippo_Brunelleschi.html
Web Gallery of Art (n.d.). CARRACCI, Lodovico. Retrieved January 16, 2008, from http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/c/carracci/lodovico/index.html
Web Gallery of Art (n.d.). KONRAD von Soest. Retrieved January 16, 2008, from http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/k/konrad/index.html
Researched and Authored by: Michael J. Spindler of Local Music Hits
Free to distribute - However- Do not strip Research Article References, remove the HTML if needed, but keep the URL text.
Do Not Remove the Authors name: Michael J. Spindler and keep all hyperlinks pointing to: Local Music Hits - I use software that compares my “library” and scours the web for postings. When I find my article on your site and you have not followed the above binding agreements, Lawyers will be sending letters. A considerable investment of time is involved with this content.
Join us Soon!
Online Dating
Mar
24
Local Music Hits wrote:
Enlightenment Period - Romantic Age Comparisons
Researched and Authored by: Michael J. Spindler
The authors of this paper are going to present to the reader five areas of the humanities, art, music, architecture, philosophy, and literature from the Enlightenment period as well as the Romantic Age. The examples chosen are meant to reflect the developments and forces that affected world events and how these examples molded cultural patterns. This evolution of humankinds views of the world and humans place in the world profoundly affected the following century and the course of the modern people in today’s society.
Art has traditionally been a reflection and an artist’s interpretation of the world around the artists. During the Age of Enlightenment, there were five major types of art movements; Neoclassicism, Romanticism, French Naturalism, French Realism, and Impressionism. “In part a reaction against baroque and rococo excesses, neoclassicism is associated, in France, with a return to “virtue” and an acceptance of the new ideological demands of the French Revolution.”(Boguslawski, 2005) This form of art reinforced society’s responsibilities to honor, duty, and more important, patriotism.
Impressionism in the Age of Enlightenment lends to a play on light within common themes. Claude Monet is perhaps the best example. While not politically inspiring, Impressionism allows the viewer to spend time reflecting on the beauty and the play of colors and lighting.
“Romantic artists interpreted things through their own emotions, and these emotions included social and political consciousness–as one would expect in a period of revolution, one that reacted so strongly to oppression and injustice in the world.” (English Department, Brooklyn College, 2001) Despite the term Romantic, the period was a time of revolution and social upheavals as society on all levels struggled for a voice and a place in the evolving world. Across all fields of expression, the period was a movement away from rationalism towards an exploration of human nature. Emotion became both the subject and the object of most popular art forms of this period. Rather then just picking a specific work of art, the authors’ intention is to enlighten the reader to the influences and motivations of the artists in this period, rather than describing how a portrait may have affected the few.
Music in the Enlightenment period was immortalized in the works of Amadeus Mozart. Though gifted from a young age, it was through diversity and necessity that forced Mozart to achieve his potential. Most musicians of the period were at the employ of churches and royalty. The free lance lifestyle Mozart led, lent to a freedom of expression… “This step in the direction of artistic and intellectual freedom was a central part of the Enlightenment.” (Donelan, 1999) Interestingly, Mozart’s work may have reinforced his attachment to the ideas of the Enlightenment period, while a feeling of subversion is also equally expressed at times.
Mozart was not easily impressed that was until Ludwig van Beethoven performed for Mozart in 1787. Beethoven had a singular brilliance about him; as a result, he went through a number of instructors, some of histories most memorable composers of the time. Beethoven’s hearing loss was a progressive deterioration over a 16 year period beginning in 1801. Around the year 1802, his hearing loss opened new doors in his composition. Compositions were written that challenged the traditional characterizations of music of the time. “Beethoven’s influence on following composers has been immeasurable. Aside from his architectonic innovations and expansion of the classical sonata and symphony, he brought to music a new depth and intensity of emotion that was emulated by later romantic composers…” (Angelfire.com, n.d.)
The Romantic era could easily be split between two types of composers. A conservative approach embodying the Romantic periods styling and ideology, yet in close quarters to traditional sounding classical music. Prominent composers of this type of composition include Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn and Brahms. Representing a more forward thinking expression of music included Berlioz, Strauss, and Wagner. “Berlioz, Strauss, and Wagner were all progressives whose music challenged the audiences of their day.” (Schmidt-Jones, 2007) All composers of the Romantic period faced a common problem, taking music in a new direction. The composers mentioned composed memorable works of music, but nothing notable that truly changed the music world. This period was more of a transition that led the world to begin experiencing new innovations that led to modern music.
British architects of the Enlightenment age include Colen Campbell, James Gibbs and Robert Adam whom also happen to be of Scottish descent, “interpreting the first phase of Classicism in the Palladian form.” (Boyd-Brent, 2008) Architecture of the period, inspired by the classic forms of Rome and Greece, gave rise to a styling that conveyed influence, power, and wealth. Clients of architects admired and wished to embody the ideology of Roman power and exhibition into their own homes and public buildings, conveying to the observer a sense of virtue, wisdom, and harmony.
In the Romantic Age, America’s diversity was celebrated by the diversity of and supported by an explosion in the size of growing population. Architectural stylings of federal buildings are obvious interpretations of Greek and Roman architecture, an attempt by leaders of a young struggling country to convey structure and the power of the government. More important, the use of iconic architectural types fosters the loyalty and faith of the people in the new democracy.
Philosophy in the Renaissance era was greatly influenced by the bubonic plague also known as the Black Death. An example of philosophical change brought on by the plague was the shift in thought that caused people to challenge traditional seats of authority. Because of the lack of skilled labor due to shrinking population, laborers began demanding higher standards of living and a more equitable place in society.
The randomness of the plague, the fact that it afflicted people from all social and economic classes lead to the abandonment of traditional religious practices and changed the way people thought of death. During the enlightenment period intellectuals attempted to understand and explain their environment. This inquisitiveness bore a set of principles which were believed to govern all human interactions. These principles were believed to be part of the universe and mandated by reason as opposed to being ordered or forced on people by kings or the church.
A second example is the political theories that framed the debate of the social contract between rulers and those being ruled. John Locke’s view that the ruled possesses ultimate power and have a natural right to life, liberty and estate clearly influenced Thomas Jefferson as he wrote the American Declaration of Independence 100 years later.
Christine De Pisan’s Book of the “City of Ladies”, which championed women’s importance to society, was milestone in society. The work is written as a debate where she interviews three goddesses on moral issues. The authors selected this work because this example is a milestone in women’s emergence as equal partners in Western society in that it was one of the first instances of the subject being addressed from a woman’s point of view by a woman. Niccolo Machiavelli’s book “The Prince” was a practical guide of how to establish political stability through the use of arbitrary power. The author selected this work because Machiavelli ignored morality in his explanations of how rulers imposed their will on friend and foe alike. This ideology gave form and a certain level of legitimacy to the “ends justify the means” mentality common to many autocratic governments thereafter.
The first example is Locke’s “Of Civil Government”. The author chose this because it serves as the basis of thought behind the ideals set forth in our own Declaration of Independence and Constitution. While reading “Of Civil Government” the author came to understand that our Declaration of Independence was Jefferson’s affirmation of Natural Law as applied to the social contract between governments and their citizens.
The second example is Adam Smith’s Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. It applied Natural Law to labor and trade and defined free trade.
The authors have explored specific examples, people in history, and how social tides changed the directions taken in of each category that was explored. The world that is known today is a product of generations who were able to express themselves through art, music, architecture, philosophy, and literature. The emotions, ideas, and energy conveyed through time, give humans a better understanding of where they have been and the courage to continue the journey forward.
References - Do Not Strip Article References
AngelFire.com (n.d.). Ludwig van Beethoven. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from http://www.angelfire.com/music6/enlightenment/Beethoven
Boguslawski, A. (2005). 18TH-Century: Intorduction. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/Russian/18intro.html
Boyd-Brent, J. (2008). The Architects of The Enlightenment. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from http://www.aboutscotland.co.uk/edin/jane.html
Donelan, J. (1999, September 26;). Mozart and Enlightenment Thought. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/Mozart.html
English Department, Brooklyn College (2001, September 23,). Introduction to Romanticism. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/rom.html
Schmidt-Jones, C. (2007, October 31;). The Music of the Romantic Era. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from http://cnx.org/content/m11606/latest/
Researched and Authored by: Michael J. Spindler
Free to distribute - However- Do not strip Research Article References, remove the HTML if needed, but keep the URL text.
Do Not Remove the Authors name: Michael J. Spindler and keep all hyperlinks pointing to: http://www.localmusichits.com - I use software that compares my “library” and scours the web for postings. When I find my article on your site and you have not followed the above binding agreements, Lawyers will be sending letters. A considerable investment of time is involved with this content.
Enlightenment Period - Romantic Age Comparisons
Researched and Authored by: Michael J. Spindler
The authors of this paper are going to present to the reader five areas of the humanities, art, music, architecture, philosophy, and literature from the Enlightenment period as well as the Romantic Age. The examples chosen are meant to reflect the developments and forces that affected world events and how these examples molded cultural patterns. This evolution of humankinds views of the world and humans place in the world profoundly affected the following century and the course of the modern people in today’s society.
Art has traditionally been a reflection and an artist’s interpretation of the world around the artists. During the Age of Enlightenment, there were five major types of art movements; Neoclassicism, Romanticism, French Naturalism, French Realism, and Impressionism. “In part a reaction against baroque and rococo excesses, neoclassicism is associated, in France, with a return to “virtue” and an acceptance of the new ideological demands of the French Revolution.”(Boguslawski, 2005) This form of art reinforced society’s responsibilities to honor, duty, and more important, patriotism.
Impressionism in the Age of Enlightenment lends to a play on light within common themes. Claude Monet is perhaps the best example. While not politically inspiring, Impressionism allows the viewer to spend time reflecting on the beauty and the play of colors and lighting.
“Romantic artists interpreted things through their own emotions, and these emotions included social and political consciousness–as one would expect in a period of revolution, one that reacted so strongly to oppression and injustice in the world.” (English Department, Brooklyn College, 2001) Despite the term Romantic, the period was a time of revolution and social upheavals as society on all levels struggled for a voice and a place in the evolving world. Across all fields of expression, the period was a movement away from rationalism towards an exploration of human nature. Emotion became both the subject and the object of most popular art forms of this period. Rather then just picking a specific work of art, the authors’ intention is to enlighten the reader to the influences and motivations of the artists in this period, rather than describing how a portrait may have affected the few.
Music in the Enlightenment period was immortalized in the works of Amadeus Mozart. Though gifted from a young age, it was through diversity and necessity that forced Mozart to achieve his potential. Most musicians of the period were at the employ of churches and royalty. The free lance lifestyle Mozart led, lent to a freedom of expression… “This step in the direction of artistic and intellectual freedom was a central part of the Enlightenment.” (Donelan, 1999) Interestingly, Mozart’s work may have reinforced his attachment to the ideas of the Enlightenment period, while a feeling of subversion is also equally expressed at times.
Mozart was not easily impressed that was until Ludwig van Beethoven performed for Mozart in 1787. Beethoven had a singular brilliance about him; as a result, he went through a number of instructors, some of histories most memorable composers of the time. Beethoven’s hearing loss was a progressive deterioration over a 16 year period beginning in 1801. Around the year 1802, his hearing loss opened new doors in his composition. Compositions were written that challenged the traditional characterizations of music of the time. “Beethoven’s influence on following composers has been immeasurable. Aside from his architectonic innovations and expansion of the classical sonata and symphony, he brought to music a new depth and intensity of emotion that was emulated by later romantic composers…” (Angelfire.com, n.d.)
The Romantic era could easily be split between two types of composers. A conservative approach embodying the Romantic periods styling and ideology, yet in close quarters to traditional sounding classical music. Prominent composers of this type of composition include Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn and Brahms. Representing a more forward thinking expression of music included Berlioz, Strauss, and Wagner. “Berlioz, Strauss, and Wagner were all progressives whose music challenged the audiences of their day.” (Schmidt-Jones, 2007) All composers of the Romantic period faced a common problem, taking music in a new direction. The composers mentioned composed memorable works of music, but nothing notable that truly changed the music world. This period was more of a transition that led the world to begin experiencing new innovations that led to modern music.
British architects of the Enlightenment age include Colen Campbell, James Gibbs and Robert Adam whom also happen to be of Scottish descent, “interpreting the first phase of Classicism in the Palladian form.” (Boyd-Brent, 2008) Architecture of the period, inspired by the classic forms of Rome and Greece, gave rise to a styling that conveyed influence, power, and wealth. Clients of architects admired and wished to embody the ideology of Roman power and exhibition into their own homes and public buildings, conveying to the observer a sense of virtue, wisdom, and harmony.
In the Romantic Age, America’s diversity was celebrated by the diversity of and supported by an explosion in the size of growing population. Architectural stylings of federal buildings are obvious interpretations of Greek and Roman architecture, an attempt by leaders of a young struggling country to convey structure and the power of the government. More important, the use of iconic architectural types fosters the loyalty and faith of the people in the new democracy.
Philosophy in the Renaissance era was greatly influenced by the bubonic plague also known as the Black Death. An example of philosophical change brought on by the plague was the shift in thought that caused people to challenge traditional seats of authority. Because of the lack of skilled labor due to shrinking population, laborers began demanding higher standards of living and a more equitable place in society.
The randomness of the plague, the fact that it afflicted people from all social and economic classes lead to the abandonment of traditional religious practices and changed the way people thought of death. During the enlightenment period intellectuals attempted to understand and explain their environment. This inquisitiveness bore a set of principles which were believed to govern all human interactions. These principles were believed to be part of the universe and mandated by reason as opposed to being ordered or forced on people by kings or the church.
A second example is the political theories that framed the debate of the social contract between rulers and those being ruled. John Locke’s view that the ruled possesses ultimate power and have a natural right to life, liberty and estate clearly influenced Thomas Jefferson as he wrote the American Declaration of Independence 100 years later.
Christine De Pisan’s Book of the “City of Ladies”, which championed women’s importance to society, was milestone in society. The work is written as a debate where she interviews three goddesses on moral issues. The authors selected this work because this example is a milestone in women’s emergence as equal partners in Western society in that it was one of the first instances of the subject being addressed from a woman’s point of view by a woman. Niccolo Machiavelli’s book “The Prince” was a practical guide of how to establish political stability through the use of arbitrary power. The author selected this work because Machiavelli ignored morality in his explanations of how rulers imposed their will on friend and foe alike. This ideology gave form and a certain level of legitimacy to the “ends justify the means” mentality common to many autocratic governments thereafter.
The first example is Locke’s “Of Civil Government”. The author chose this because it serves as the basis of thought behind the ideals set forth in our own Declaration of Independence and Constitution. While reading “Of Civil Government” the author came to understand that our Declaration of Independence was Jefferson’s affirmation of Natural Law as applied to the social contract between governments and their citizens.
The second example is Adam Smith’s Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. It applied Natural Law to labor and trade and defined free trade.
The authors have explored specific examples, people in history, and how social tides changed the directions taken in of each category that was explored. The world that is known today is a product of generations who were able to express themselves through art, music, architecture, philosophy, and literature. The emotions, ideas, and energy conveyed through time, give humans a better understanding of where they have been and the courage to continue the journey forward.
References - Do Not Strip Article References
AngelFire.com (n.d.). Ludwig van Beethoven. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from http://www.angelfire.com/music6/enlightenment/Beethoven
Boguslawski, A. (2005). 18TH-Century: Intorduction. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from http://www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/Russian/18intro.html
Boyd-Brent, J. (2008). The Architects of The Enlightenment. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from http://www.aboutscotland.co.uk/edin/jane.html
Donelan, J. (1999, September 26;). Mozart and Enlightenment Thought. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/Mozart.html
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