Understanding Music | What Are Dynamics In Music? @UnderstandingMusic | Uploaded August 2020 | Updated October 2024, 21 hours ago.
This video covers the basic terms and notation symbols concerning DYNAMICS in music. Dynamics refers to how loud or soft music should be played.
***UnderstandingMusic.net is currently down, but I plan on taking live again soon. Help make that happen by supporting this channel:
🪙 Help support this channel by becoming a Patron today at patreon.com/understandingmusic or you can leave a tip using the 🤍 Thanks option above or using Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/understandingmusic
Thank you!
Suggested listening examples:
The Firebird Suite, Finale by Stravinsky: youtube.com/watch?v=Zak2MFxQY-0
Begins piano, slowly builds in crescendo to a fortissimo when the timpani enters, then a sudden pianissimo section followed by a fortissimo fanfare of brass and fluttering strings, ending with a fff section of full orchestra.
In The Hall of the Mountain King by Grieg: youtube.com/watch?v=26NBvQFsbHA
This work is one giant crescendo, starting with a melody played piano by plucked cellos and double-basses, gradually building as the piece progresses to thundering fff as the orchestra blast out the main theme, ending with accented punches.
“Surprise” Symphony (No.94), Second Movement by Haydn: youtube.com/watch?v=gSMqV-oXZUQ
This movement starts with a very simple melody, played once piano, then pianissimo, followed by a very stirring chord played fortissimo. Haydn composed this for a London audience who were huge fans of Haydn’s music but had the tendency to doze off or be distracted during his slow movements, so this was his not-so-subtle way of keeping their limited attention spans.
Piano Concerto No.20, Second Movement by Mozart:
youtu.be/yM8CFR01KwQ?t=942
You may recognize this piece if you have seen the film Amadeus as it closes using this lovely movement of Mozart’s 20th Piano Concerto. The piece begins with a soft, delicate melody played by the soloist who is then joined by the orchestra. The two pass the melody around a few times, Mozart using gradual changes in dynamics to bring out the contour of the melody. At 19:45 the piece suddenly has a shift in mood as the soloist plays a furious section, both sometimes using striking, accented chords. The piece then returns to its original, sweet melody as the dynamics mostly calm as well.
Prelude from Cello Suite No.1 by J.S. Bach:
youtube.com/watch?v=1prweT95Mo0
Even though Bach never indicated any dynamics on the original sheet music to this piece, the performer, the great cellist Yo-Yo Ma, interprets this work beautifully by injecting his own dynamics. Notice how he helps shape the music using not only dynamics but changes of speed (tempo.)
The Chess Game from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by John Williams:
youtube.com/watch?v=I5heLs1chhY
In this part of the musical score to the first Harry Potter film, Williams uses many changes in dynamics to convey the building tension and bravery shown during the chess board match. The piece concludes with the orchestra building through an intense crescendo.
Music Appreciation Study Guides:
UPDATED LINK 2022
drive.google.com/drive/folders/14GXoBjJRRxg3OMgQIE61UIFYlCrHP3I5?usp=sharing
*send me a direct message if this link does not work for you or email me at understandingmusic2020@gmail.com
Visit Understanding Music's website at UnderstandingMusic.net (see note above)
Follow me on Social Media:
instagram.com/understandingmusic2020
twitter.com/UndMusic2020
facebook.com/UnderstandingMusic2020
This video covers the basic terms and notation symbols concerning DYNAMICS in music. Dynamics refers to how loud or soft music should be played.
***UnderstandingMusic.net is currently down, but I plan on taking live again soon. Help make that happen by supporting this channel:
🪙 Help support this channel by becoming a Patron today at patreon.com/understandingmusic or you can leave a tip using the 🤍 Thanks option above or using Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/understandingmusic
Thank you!
Suggested listening examples:
The Firebird Suite, Finale by Stravinsky: youtube.com/watch?v=Zak2MFxQY-0
Begins piano, slowly builds in crescendo to a fortissimo when the timpani enters, then a sudden pianissimo section followed by a fortissimo fanfare of brass and fluttering strings, ending with a fff section of full orchestra.
In The Hall of the Mountain King by Grieg: youtube.com/watch?v=26NBvQFsbHA
This work is one giant crescendo, starting with a melody played piano by plucked cellos and double-basses, gradually building as the piece progresses to thundering fff as the orchestra blast out the main theme, ending with accented punches.
“Surprise” Symphony (No.94), Second Movement by Haydn: youtube.com/watch?v=gSMqV-oXZUQ
This movement starts with a very simple melody, played once piano, then pianissimo, followed by a very stirring chord played fortissimo. Haydn composed this for a London audience who were huge fans of Haydn’s music but had the tendency to doze off or be distracted during his slow movements, so this was his not-so-subtle way of keeping their limited attention spans.
Piano Concerto No.20, Second Movement by Mozart:
youtu.be/yM8CFR01KwQ?t=942
You may recognize this piece if you have seen the film Amadeus as it closes using this lovely movement of Mozart’s 20th Piano Concerto. The piece begins with a soft, delicate melody played by the soloist who is then joined by the orchestra. The two pass the melody around a few times, Mozart using gradual changes in dynamics to bring out the contour of the melody. At 19:45 the piece suddenly has a shift in mood as the soloist plays a furious section, both sometimes using striking, accented chords. The piece then returns to its original, sweet melody as the dynamics mostly calm as well.
Prelude from Cello Suite No.1 by J.S. Bach:
youtube.com/watch?v=1prweT95Mo0
Even though Bach never indicated any dynamics on the original sheet music to this piece, the performer, the great cellist Yo-Yo Ma, interprets this work beautifully by injecting his own dynamics. Notice how he helps shape the music using not only dynamics but changes of speed (tempo.)
The Chess Game from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by John Williams:
youtube.com/watch?v=I5heLs1chhY
In this part of the musical score to the first Harry Potter film, Williams uses many changes in dynamics to convey the building tension and bravery shown during the chess board match. The piece concludes with the orchestra building through an intense crescendo.
Music Appreciation Study Guides:
UPDATED LINK 2022
drive.google.com/drive/folders/14GXoBjJRRxg3OMgQIE61UIFYlCrHP3I5?usp=sharing
*send me a direct message if this link does not work for you or email me at understandingmusic2020@gmail.com
Visit Understanding Music's website at UnderstandingMusic.net (see note above)
Follow me on Social Media:
instagram.com/understandingmusic2020
twitter.com/UndMusic2020
facebook.com/UnderstandingMusic2020
