Compare and Contrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Compare and Contrast - Essay Example Does it remind you of something or seem entirely new? Do you notice if the band is playing 12-bar blues, AABA tunes, or something else? Are they playing from written music? Does the arrangement seem formalized or more like a â€Å"head† arrangement? ?3. The performance venue and audience: What kind of space does the event take place in? How big is the audience? Do you note anything about their ethnic backgrounds, age or gender? What are they doing? Listening? Talking? Dancing? ?4. Your general impressions of the event: Did you have a good time? Why or why not? ?5. Any ways in which the performance relates to issues we have discussed in class: Think particularly about the dualities we started off with: spontaneity vs. planning, and individuality vs. collectivity. ? I. Introduction Jazz, ever since having been introduced in the early 20th century, has become a staple of the music industry. Two jazz performances will be compared and contrasted with regard to the following: the pe rsonnel and instrumentation of the groups; the general style(s) of the groups and their repertories; the performance venues and audiences; my general impressions of the events; and a discussion about any ways in which the performances relate to issues that have been discussed in class. The two 2011 jazz performances that were attended were: a band named Klang, which had just recently released a CD entitled â€Å"Tea Music,† as well as the band Klang’s performance for their newest recently-released CD â€Å"Other Doors.† II. Personnel and Instrumentation of the Groups You might first note the presence or absence of a rhythm section. If there is one, which instruments are used and what are their roles? How big is the entire group? How do the various instruments relate to one another? Does one soloist stand out for you? Why? In both performances, there was a rhythm section. One person was on drums, while another person was intermittently doing percussion of various types including a xylophone. The other types of percussion besides the drums and the xylophone are not immediately known. The entire group is only composed of four people total in the band at one time. The other instruments that I remember included the main musician who was featured, who was on a clarinet. Two other members of the group play the vibraphone, the cello, and other various instruments—while the fourth musician plays drums only. The one soloist who stands out is the clarinetist, because he is the person who basically holds the band together. He’s also the focal point of all the action onstage. Basically, it’s his group, but everyone contributes somehow. III. The General Style(s) of the Groups and Their Repertories Can you identify the general style based on our class discussions? Does it remind you of something or seem entirely new? Do you notice if the band is playing 12-bar blues, AABA tunes, or something else? Are they playing from written music? Does the arrangement seem formalized or more like a â€Å"head† arrangement? The general style of the jazz presented, in both concerts, was very difficult to discern. This is because Klang is not a traditional jazz band in every sense of the word, even though they play some standards occasionally. However, for the most part both of their concerts focused on instrumentalism and attention to musical detail which really can’