Abstract
The paper offers a brief discussion on Mozart as a transitional character in the history of music.

From the Paper
"Working against strict and rigid eighteenth century rational principles, romantic composers in the nineteenth century came up with an alternative philosophy for making music. Mozart's romantic innovativeness with musical forms delineates him from earlier Age of Reason composers because of his intention to dislodge these fundamental historical issues in music, to whom does the artist appeal to for inspiration, and who is the audience. This essay takes up the issues of that transformation by looking at the relationship between two composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri..."

Tags:Mozart, Salieri, Age of Reason, Romanticism, Transcendental

Abstract
The music, aesthetic and composition methods of American composer John Cage are discussed in terms of his aesthetic and influences on his work. In more detail are described his relevant works music of Changes, Variations II, Imaginary Landscape No. 4 and 4' 33". Influences from Eastern philosophies, I Ching, Eckhart, Duchamp and Feldman are also reviewed.

From the Paper
"John M. Cage (1912-1992) was a central figure of not only the American but the world musical stage as well. His musical ideas challenged the very essence of music, musical theory and aesthetics that were widely accepted in the middle 20th century. By doing this Cage in parallel become if not the single most than certainly one of the most controversial composers in musical history. His name and work are connected to the improvement of `prepared piano' (the concept was originally developed by Henry Cowell, one of Cage's early instructors), and the problems of noise and silence in music. However, arguably his most important contribution to music is ..."

Tags:cage

Abstract
This paper explains that, the female characters in two of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Lorenzo Da Ponte's operatic collaborations, "Le Nozze di Figaro" and Cosi Fan Tutte", typify and go beyond the Enlightenment views of women, which did not conform with the usual gender prototypes in opera. Next, the author compares the music and dialogue as they relate to the changes in the characters Fiordiligi and Despina in "Cosi" and in Susanna and the Countess in "Figaro". The paper concludes that, although the two operas have similar characters, similar buffa-style stories written for a similar audience and both premiered in Vienna, "Figaro" has been considerably more successful, which is probably because of its more positive and progressive treatment of its female characters.

Footnotes and examples of the referred libretto are included in the paper.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Women and the Age of Reason
Characters in Context
Comparisons of Music and Dialogue
Examples

From the Paper
"Despina, the cunning and charming servant to the sisters, is never allowed to be the equal of another character (male or female). In ensemble numbers, she is frequently the comic relief. She dresses up as a doctor and a notary and disguises her voice. Despina pretends to be more than she is in both scenes, and she does an admirable job with the parody. However, I believe this clowning only accentuates her lack of depth as a character because she lacks any emotionally meaningful music in the opera. Even Don Alfonso, the old cynic, has moments of humanity (though he is unchanged by the end of the opera), but Despina is never more than the clever servant."

Tags:prototypes class duet, ensemble numbers, aria

Abstract
This paper discusses Nam June Paik, known to many in the art world as the first "video artist." It briefly discusses Paik's background and how he progressed in his music career. The paper look specifically at how Paik got started in his unique art form. It also discusses some reviews of Paik and his art form and looks at some of the criticism that Paik received.

From the Paper
"From there, Paik left the building and went to a corner bar, from where he called the venue he had just performed in and notified management that the performance had ended. One might say that Paik was learning how to become a trailblazer in the world or art. According to the piece by Luke Strosnider, Paik's latest video work (a "retrospective") was shown in the Guggenheim Museum in New York City in 2000. Prior to that, Paik had become an international icon in the progressive art world, and one of his more noted projects was "TV Buddha" which, Strosnider writes, "commented on the transcendental nature of modern media" by putting an "ancient Buddha statue" directly in front of a video camera. The live feed was sent to a TV monitor sitting in front of the Buddha, and hence, the Buddha could (in an artistic sense) "contemplate" the image of itself."

Tags:Buddha, piano, composition

Abstract
The paper identifies the presence of sadness, anger and happiness within this single composition "Fur Elise". The paper shows how while the music was the man, the sadness, difficulty and frustration, and lightness and playfulness were other personas. The paper discusses the myths regarding the title, "Fur Elise", and briefly shows how Beethoven was the product of the Romantic era of music. The paper asserts that it was a brilliant work to put all these masks in one creation and concludes that "Fur Elise" is life, since it combines idealism and realism with the subjectivity and universality of humanity.

Outline:
Introduction
Analysis
Research
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Walter Sorrell, dance and culture writer said it best when he stated that humans are innately all mask makers. The mask is what allows an individual to express and understand who they are (Sorrell). In the field of music, the use of masks can best be seen in the work of acclaimed, deaf musician, Ludwig van Beethoven. Of the many works that fit this profile, one stands out from the rest, "Fur Elise." Music in and of itself involves the study of many aspects such as how it is processed by listeners. The change rhythm in a musical composition allows the artist to reveal some of their personality. In "Fur Elise," masks have been used in rather subtle ways."

Tags:happiness, sadness, anger, idealism, realism, humanity

Abstract
The paper describes the life and achievements of Aaron Copland, often described as the greatest American composer of the twentieth century, who has been credited with writing some of the most enduring works available to musicians today. The paper notes that Copland was very active in the American music scene, teaching, forming alliances, and even establishing his own publishing company and that his orchestral pieces, ballets, incidental works and changer pieces continue to delight audiences everywhere today. Specifically discussed in this paper is Copland's work 'Quiet City', based on Irwin Shaw's play of the same name which has become one of his most performed pieces. Even though it had a rocky beginning, the paper holds that 'Quiet City' is firmly in the music repertoire defined as a monumental piece.

From the Paper
"By 1914, Copland started his formal music training, taking private piano lessons from Leopold Wolfsohn in Brooklyn. His debut was in 1917 in the auditorium of the Wanamaker Department Store in downtown Manhattan, performing Paderewski's Polonaise in B. It was also in 1917 that Copland began his formal study of harmony and counterpoint. Copland studied with a student of Dvorak, Rubin Goldmark. During his four years with Goldmark, Copland wrote many short pieces for various piano ensembles."

Tags:instrumentation, instrumentation, nervous, mysterious, repertoire

Abstract
This paper describes the dilemmas which faced the Viennese composer as a modern, assimilated Jew. It then examines the image of Moses that Arnold Schoenberg created in his works on that theme. Specifically, the paper discusses how Schoenberg's Moses differs from the traditional or historical one and what can we conclude about the composer's Jewish identity on the basis of this comparison. Further, the paper discusses how this was Schoenberg's response to the Viennese public's racism and rejection with which he was confronted.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Dilemmas Faced By Arnold Schoenberg
Religious Works
Conclusion

From the Paper
"These are questions which remained unanswered and could not be resolved by Schoenberg. What he did accomplish in this major grand testament, was to use the Bible to speak relevant lessons to his generation. The conflicts of the Torah are internalized and spiritualized. The mob takes on the role which the naive masses of uncomprehending Jews played in his world in Vienna, especially those who believed their future in Vienna to be secure. The mob opted for the tangible, yet fleeting, pleasures of Aaron over the sublime, yet intangible, ones that God offered to them through Moses. Similarly, the Jews in Vienna chose to believe in the efficacy of assimilation and a self-abnegation until, in many cases, it was too late."

Tags:anti-semitism, symbolism, composer, identity

Abstract
This paper examines how two of the most notable romantic composers of the 19th century are Richard Wagner and Giuseppe Verdi. It looks at how both composers share the distinction of being the greatest opera composers of their home county. Wagner was acknowledged as the greatest German composer of the 19th century and Verdi as the greatest Italian composer. The paper also examines how both composers experimented on their own style and how both composers have influenced many composers after them.

Outline:
Short Biographies
Richard Wagner
Works of Richard Wagner
Giuseppe Verdi: Life and Works
Wagner vs. Verdi

From the Paper
"The later years of Richard Wagner gave rise to his masterpieces which advanced the art of opera. His masterpieces in this stage in life include Tirstan und Isolde (1857-59) which was considered by many to be Wagner's greatest single opera. Another masterpiece was Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg (1862-67) which was Wagner's only comedic opera. This stage in Wagner's life is also responsible for the creation of one of the lengthiest operas that is still performed today, Der Ring Des Nibelungen (The Ring Cycle) which took around 20 years to complete and requires around 15 hours to perform. The Ring Cycle is a set of four operas that are based on characters and elements from the Norse mythology especially those of the Teutonic myth. "

Tags:opera, ring, cycle

Abstract
The paper outlines Wolfgang Mozart's background and the onset of his illustrious composition career. The paper then details several of Mozart's most famous compositions and masterpieces. The paper posits that Mozart's impact on music was so forceful and significant that he set a precedence that could not be rivaled by any other music greats.

From the Paper
"Music is the soul of language, according to one Max Heindel and throughout history; music has been the definition of communication, human upward mobility and culture, just like many other forms of art. Each generation, every period, and every era is marked by a certain domineering musical genre. Musicians come, shine and go. Some fade out of our memories while others make a lasting impression that outlives them for generations. Few musicians have been able to leave a lasting legacy but one name that is more recognizable to all and sundry is that of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His impact on music was so forceful and significant that he set a precedence that many have not come close to matching."

Tags:compositions, masterpieces, concertos, sonatas, operas

Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts two masterpieces of classical music: "Mass in B Minor" by Johann Sebastian Bach and "Symphony Number Five" by Dimitri Shostakovich. The paper relates that, although both the aforementioned works share the accolades assigned to that of a masterpiece, they represent two very different periods in the history of classical music. As such, following an initial analysis of each piece independently, the author evaluates the historical issues that arise while comparing and contrasting the two works.

From the Paper
"Bach's Mass in B Minor is a traditional baroque work in many respects; however it also represents an example of early classical music. At the time it would have been performed by a small orchestra and SATB chorus. In addition, there would have been far less diversity in the number of varying instruments used compared with today. Orchestras of the mid eighteenth century would have primarily had a fairly strong string section, possibly accompanied by organ, oboes and trumpets. Although much of the work dates back to as early as 1724, it was not completed in its present entirety until 1749, a year before Bach's death. It is difficult to accurately determine whether the B Minor Mass was written with a specific occasion in mind."

Tags:court, patronage, lutheran, orchestras, authoritarian