COMPOSER SABRINA PENA YOUNG | MUSIC TECHNOLOGY | FILM | CLASSICAL | OPERA

Composer Tips - What are Program Notes in Classical Music?  I have had a couple of questions regarding program notes. Here are a few helpful hints and examples: Program notes can describe what is happening musically in a work (Ex. "The trumpet in Movement 1 conveys a militaristic feeling of war.") Program notes can explain the composer's intention (Ex. " Stravinsky wished to convey the rites of passage through primal rhythm.") Program notes can quote nonmusical references, like a poem or biblical text. (Ex. Movement 1 symbolizes, "And let there be light.") Program notes can give lyrics. (Ex. "I look in the mirror, and who do I see? Hollowed eyes, looking back at me.") Program notes can give historical information. (Ex. "Originally composed in honor of Napoleon , Beethoven's Symphony #3 eventually came to recognize any hero, and not just Bonaparte." Program notes for 20th century concerts can be more experimental. (...

Formidable Composer Eric Whitacre 1. You try to tell the time signature of your blinker as you drive 2. You wonder if Mozart would have Tweeted 3. You ruin movies by complaining about how John Williams steals from Wagner and Stravinsky 4. Your significant other has been relegated to long diatribes about the merits of classical music over pop music 5. Said significant other has also been dragged to numerous classical music concerts, including at least one that involved a laptop or singing robot 6. You can't resist saying "I'll be Bach" when you leave the party 7. You have an appreciation for Schoenberg and Cage that your music ed friends do not understand 8. You ever conducted the radio with a pencil in your car, while driving and drinking a cup of coffee 9. Your children grow up listening to Mozart...AND Stravinsky, Shostakovich, and Mendelssohn 10. You are used to the semi-surprised look of shock when you tell your friends that you are a composer 11. Y...