Vivaldi and Music from the Himalayas By Josh Rutz-Robbins
Geography Himalayas are the tallest mountains in the world (Everest) Forests are being strained as demand for agriculture becomes hunting is popular, however lots of endangered species exist because of it.
Demographics of the Region Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Bhutan Tibet. 75% is Nepal a. 420,500 sq miles b. 27 Million people c. life expectancy: i. male: 65.88 ii. female: 68.56 d. population growth: 1.82% e. 17% of population in urban environment f. Literacy: 57%, male: 71.1% female: 46.7% g. median age 22.9 years
Culture of the Region Religions: Hindu: 81% Buddhism: 9% Muslim: 4% Kirant: 3% Christian: 1.4% 1.6%: other most people in the himalayan region are hindi food: most people are rural and live on plants and Yak yak provides milk, protein and furs.. delicacies are rare. they include rice, curry, and dal (lentil soup)
Music of the Region Mantras: a chant, used for meditation mostly string instruments heavy reliance on vocals earliest mantras are 3000 years old. Dohori: musical debate--- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqhtanmpij8 chanting call and response Aadhunik Geet: modern pop music of nepal also known as sugam sangeet generally slow and melodic
Pipa
Sitar Norwegian Wood- The Beatles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly5i4- rwh44
Tanpura https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2ld1brrldk Drone low single note to set the tone for the melody
Dechen Shak Dagsay Moved to switzerland at age 2. in 2001 she published her first album Singer of buddhist Mantras Her goal is to make sure traditional buddhist music is not forgotten by the western world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqfwc3zljsy
Antonio Vivaldi Born: March 4 1678 in Venice Italy Early Career: first music teacher was his father Giovanni Battista he became a music teacher at Ospitale della pieta after becoming a priest. taught violin. he then became director of the orchestra at Ospitale Della Pieta. born in a time of exploration. so he pushed the boundaries with secluar music. Music career Baroque era known mostly for his concertos. The four Seasons. he composed over 700 concertos music mostly uses bowed string instruments secular composer (for the most part)
The Four Seasons Four movements (spring summer fall winter) each movement goes fast, slow, fast violins and a full orchestra to back them up polyphonic each movement has its own flavour but still contributes to the overall theme/melody.
Similarities Both involve a string instrument. (lute/oud/pipa and Violin) both have no lyrics. (while Men Lha has a vocal part, there are no lyrics. Just a hum. Both repeat aspects of the same melody. Both have more than one line of melody (polyphonic) both composers produced their music in order to further spread the knowledge and acquisition of music within western culture.
Secondary link One thing that links these two pieces of music is the context behind them. Dechen Shak Dagsay uses her music to make sure that the culture of her heritage is not forgotten. She designs her songs for western influence. Her Goal is to preserve central asian culture so her origins are not forgotten. Vivaldi actually lived in the west, so that is an indication that his audience was western. He wrote music in the Baroque period, meaning that he would have written music to influence western culture.
Primary Link Their use of stringed instruments pipa is a plucked instrument violin is a bowed instrument each one either takes up the melody at one point or a background each is influenced by their demographics, and the area in which they were composed in.
Differences The Primary difference between the two pieces is their instrument composition the Four Seasons: violin. Cello. Bass majority string instruments but there are also percussion and brass instruments. Men Lha: Pipa and a vocalist are the only instruments length: The Four Seasons is roughly 44 minutes long, while Men-Lha is around 7 minutes long dynamics/tempo: Men Lha keeps even dynamics and tempo while the four seasons varies.
Citations http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-himalayas/himalayas-facts/6341/ Dagsay Tulku Rinpoche (2002). The practice of Tibetan meditation: exercises, visualizations, and mantras for health and well-being. Rochester VT: Inner Tradition Zukerman, Pinchas. Vivaldi and the Four Seasons. Ottawa: National Arts Center, 2006. Print. Everett, Paul (1996). Vivaldi: The Four Seasons and Other Concertos, Op. 8. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 76. The Violin, by George Dubourg (1854), Robert Cocks & Co.