Assignment 2

Listen to these short examples of Brazilian popular rhythms and melodies by guitarist Luiz Bonfa:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000003GEY/qid=1077747819/sr=1-23/ref=sr_1_23/104-2335255-0333522?v=glance&s=music

Now listen to these short examples of German composer J. S. Bach’s music:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000001GKE/qid=1077655446/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/104-6729694-1547129?v=glance&s=classical (Mad About Bach)

In the following examples you will hear a set of pieces by Villa-Lôbos called Bachianas Brazileiras, in which the composer fuses the ideas of J. S. Bach with elements of the popular music of Brazil. Listen to the brief examples in this site and compare those to the excerpts by Bach himself and those of the Brazilian music performed by Mr. Bonfa’s. In your opinion is the music of Villa-Lôbos closer to that of Bach or to that of Brazil? The rhythmic ideas in the Villa-Lôbos’ pieces are derived from Brazil’s popular music. Are these rhythms the main reason why they are representative of Brazilian culture?
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000GCAG/qid=1077652393/sr=1-10/ref=sr_1_10/104-6729694-1547129?v=glance&s=classical (Villa-Lôbos' Bachianas Brasileiras)

Ginastera is perhaps the most acclaimed of Argentinean classical composers. His own musical ideas were influenced by 20th century European composer Bela Bartok. Bartok, a native of Hungary, first researched and then used Hungarian folk music in his classical compositions and is recognized as an exponent of musical nationalism in Europe. Ginastera also used popular music from his native country (Argentina) in his compositions.

In this exercise you will listen to some examples of Argentinean dances and later to some of Bartok’s music. Finally we will listen to Ginastera’s music to find out if it represents a synthesis of those two preceding styles and musical genres. First listen to brief examples of Argentinean dances:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000001HAD/qid=1077751351/sr=1-111/ref=sr_1_111/104-2335255-0333522?v=glance&s=music (Escondido, zamba, gato, bueno)

Now listen to some pieces for the piano by Bela Bartok:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000007SBM/qid=1077752551/sr=1-10/ref=sr_1_10/104-2335255-0333522?v=glance&s=classical (Bartok's Bagatelles for Piano)

Finally listen to Ginastera’s piano pieces where he uses Argentinean dance forms:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000G4UP/qid=1077751711/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_6/104-2335255-0333522?v=glance&s=classical (Ginastera's Argentinean Dances)

Discuss whether in your opinion Ginastera’s music does genuinely represent Argentinean cultural traits and whether these very brief examples connect, as well, with the classical music tradition coming from Europe.