Music and Drama

  Traditional Western Art Music  "Don Giovanni, Overture" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, performed by the Vienna Philharmonic  How the YouTube piece relates to the module topic:  Mozart's "Don Giovanni" is an iconic work of Western art music that perfectly embodies the fusion of music and drama. The overture, composed as the prelude to one of the most famous operas, encapsulates the opera's themes of moral conflict, darkness, and tragedy. The overture’s structure moves from a slow, ominous introduction to a lively, faster section that mirrors the dramatic tension in the story of Don Giovanni, a morally complex character. In terms of musical drama, Mozart masterfully uses orchestration, key modulations, and contrasts in dynamics to create a vivid emotional landscape that sets the stage for the opera’s unfolding plot. This overture not only introduces the audience to the key musical themes but also creates a sense of anticipation for the dramatic events to follow...

 Traditional Western Art Music  "Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano" by John Cage  How It Relates : John Cage's Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano (1946–1948) is a perfect example of experimentalism within the Western art music tradition. In this work, Cage fundamentally alters the sound of the piano by placing objects such as screws, bolts, rubber, and wood between its strings. This transforms the piano into a percussive instrument, creating a sound world that is entirely different from the traditional use of the piano in classical music. Cage's innovations with the prepared piano challenge conventional notions of instrumentation and composition, making this work a hallmark of 20th-century musical experimentalism. Meaning : For me, Sonatas and Interludes represents a radical rethinking of what music can be. Cage's work pushes the boundaries of the listener’s expectations, inviting us to hear the piano in ways we wouldn’t otherwise imagine. Beyond...