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Unit 8 – Music and the Fictive Dream

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  End of Evangelion                                  In the summer of 1997 a conclusionary film would release to (at the time) end the very popular  anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. The conclusionary film titled ”The End of Evangelion” is an ambitious movie that is still heavily analyzed to this day.  The film follows the main character Shinji  as he confronts his emotional and psychological struggles during an apocalyptic scenario orchestrated by secret organizations. The story explores this apocalypse called the third impact.  The Third Impact, an event that could lead to the extinction or transformation of humanity ends up being controlled by Shinji. The second half of the movie explores these two options and Shinji’s reasons to pursue each. The movie focuses on existential and philosophical themes, such as the nature of existence, identity, and the desire for connection versus individuality. At the climax of the film Shinji is given the choice of whether to form all of humanit
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Role of the Performer (Frank Sinatra)

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  Born in 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey, Frank Sinatra was an American singer, actor, and cultural icon known for his smooth voice, charismatic stage presence, and timeless hits. Sinatra started his career working in small clubs in New Jersey and New York. This is where he begins to cut his teeth in musical performances. In the late 1930s, he joined his first band called the Three Flashes. His bandmates attested that he was only let in due to him having a car that allowed the band to be chauffeured around. Sinatra's career would begin to blossom shortly after a win on a music show called The Amateur Hour. Sinatra's act would take first prize, giving the group their first bit of success. Two years following this win, Sinatra would strike it on his own, setting in motion his rise to fame in the 1940s, where he starred in films and performed in clubs all around America. It is important to note that Frank Sinatra is known for performing music rather than writing it. Of his most recog
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Take a Musical Trip - Blog Post

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  I chose to look into the traditional music of Japan. Last year, I had the privilege of living in Korea and was able to visit Japan twice in one year. While I was over there, I purchased a few different vinyl records of traditional Japanese music. Listening to these records gave me an introductory view of a different culture's perspective on music. The album featured many different instruments that I was unfamiliar with. Instruments like the koto and the shamisen gave a sound that immediately made me think about Japan. The koto, for instance, is the national instrument of Japan and has been around since either the fifth or third century BCE. The instrument is often described as a type of zither. It has a long, rectangular body and typically features 13 strings stretched over movable bridges. The instrument is played by plucking the strings with picks that are secured to the hands of the musician (similar to a banjo). The instrument's sound and tone can also be adjusted by movi
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Innovations and Evolutions (BASSOON)

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       When we think of orchestral instruments, the Bassoon might not be the first one that comes to mind. However, this woodwind instrument has a rich history that spans centuries (mid-17th century as we know the instrument today) and has played an essential role in orchestras worldwide.                                                                The Bassoon, like many other instruments, started off as a completely different instrument. This progenitor  instrument, The Dulcian is a long  wooded conical shape with two chambers inside of the instrument. There two chambers meet in the bottom where a hole was drilled which allowed it to produce a deep , bass sound. The Dulcian provided essential bass lines in early ensembles.        The Bassoon replaced the Dulcian in the early half of the Baroque Period. The instrument was first developed and used in France. The design changed significantly from the original Dulcian. The Bassoon was four pieces instead of one singular piece of woo
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