Thursday 14 November 2013

Italian Opera and Music

Italy is famous for its classical music and also for its opera music. Opera began in Italy around 1600. Many opera works by native Italian composers are famous throughout the world today. Famous Italian composers include Verdi and Puccini. Their works include La Traviata and Rigoletto. The operas began in Mantua and Florence. Opera thern moved on to larger citites such as Rome. Operas in Rome were very dramatic and many people that went to see them were the aristocrats od Rome. The opera then moved on to Venice. In Venice they made the price of entrance to operas was lowered. This meant that anybody was able to afford to go and see an opera. The Arena di Verona is an opera house in the city of Verona. Italy is famous for its tradition in classical music. Verdi was a romantic composer from Italy who composed opera music. Sacred string music and instrumental concertos and orchestral music is also traditional to Italy. Ballet dancing is also famous in Italy.

Monday 11 November 2013

Traditional Chinese music and Instruments

Chinese music is played solo or in groups. The instruments that are popular are stringed instruments, flutes, cymbals, gongs and drums. A traditional woodwind instrument from China is called a sheng. It is the main instrument used in Chinese operas. It is a mouth blown reed instrument with vertical pipes of different lengths. The Zhonghu is a traditional stringed instrument. It was developed in the 20th century. It is a low sounding instrument and it is the alto member to the Huqin family. Ethnic Han is the main type of music. The music is similar to the Chinese language. The music is portrayed in a poetry like manner with silences throughout. After the collapse of Imperial China, many different types of Western music have become popular in China.

Friday 25 October 2013

Irish dancing Irish dancing has spread all over the world by people who have emigrated from Ireland. Irish dancing also became more famous due to the world famous shows like Riverdance which premiered in 1994. Irish dancing can be danced solo, ceili and set dancing. Solo dancing is danced with straight arms, and a controlled body. Two types of shoes are used, hard shoes and soft shoes. Hard shoes are used for dances such as hard jigs and hornpipes and also traditional set dances. Soft shoes are used for reels, light jigs and slip jigs. Irish dancers wear wigs, dresses and special socks for dancing in Feises.There are many competitions all over the world. The most important is the World Irish Dancing Championships. This event is held in different places each year. Only the highest quality of dancers will be picked to dance. These dancers prepare all year round for as much as seven days a week! Then in the end it is all down to the two or three minutes that they will spend in stage in front of top class international judges. Sean-Nos dancing is the older style of dance. It has a different style as it is more low to the ground with improvised steps. The arms are allowed to hang freely. Brush dancing isd another form of sean-nos. Other types of Irish dancing are also Ceili dancing and set dancing. These dances are danced with teams of dancers from two to eight people. Solo set dancing is also popular. Solo set dances include The Blackbird, The Job of Journey Work and St. Patricks Day. Costumes are an extremely important part of Irish dancing life Dresses are very elaborate and have many diamonds and designs on them. Each dancer has a dress that has been made especially for them. These dresses could cost alot of money depending on the amount of diamonds and crystals that have been put on the dress. Dancers must also wear wigs with crowns to match their dress and fake tan. They also wear makeup to complete the look. Girls must also wear white poodle socks. Popular Irish dancing dress makers are Gavin Doherty and Siopa Rince dresses.

Monday 14 October 2013

Irish Music and Dance The Traditional music of Ireland has become known all over the world.Many Irish people who emigrated to countries such as Austrailia, America and England brought the tradition with them. Up to the seventeenth century Irish musicians were employed by the aristocracy of Ireland but after the collapse of the Gaelic Ireland during the eighteenth century. Traditonal Irish music includes reels, jigs, slip jigs and hornpipes.Reels are fast and lively. Hornpipes are usually slower. The Traditonal songs of Ireland are called laments and ballads. These are sung unaccompanied. the Traditional muscial instruments of Ireland include the fiddle, the uillean pipes and also the flute. Irish music was revived during the 20th century. People began to get more involved in Irish music again.

Thursday 10 October 2013

There are many different types of music and dance around the world. The different cultures and traditions of each country is brought out in music and dance. The first country that I am going to talk about is the traditonal Irish music and Irish dance.

Monday 7 October 2013

Introduction

Hello,my name is Aisling. My blog is about the different types of music and dance throughout the world.I have an interest in music and dance so I decided to base my blog on it. I will update my blog regularly. I hope you enjoy it and find it interesting!