The Music Breakdown

In this episode, I look at a story of innovation, perseverance and triumph - how the San Jose Youth Philharmonic Orchestra overcame the challenges of COVID-19. Through a creative application of an existing software to a new problem, a great deal of enthusiasm and resilience from the entire orchestra community, we managed to do what seemed impossible - move our entire orchestra online, and successfully deliver two performances to our community.

When we listen to the music of certain composers, we can immediately say "I recognize that sound!" But what exactly is "that sound"? And how do we recognize it? 

In this episode, we explore a fascinatingly different form a music, and the man behind it - George Gershwin. His music, with its exciting, upbeat rhythms and unique keys, is a wonderful hallmark of the exciting and prosperous 1920s. We will look at some of Gershwin's most famous pieces, pick apart his use of different rhythms and the Blues Scale, and understand what characteristics make him different.

Have you ever felt like dancing, or gotten goosebumps when listening to a song?  Or has a musical piece perhaps triggered more complex, intertwined emotions or memories long forgotten? And have you wondered how exactly music has the power to do that?

In this episode, we explore some of the different musical techniques that define the mood of a song. We'll examine these characteristics in detail, and search for them in the music we listen to.

Sources:

Flight of the Bumblebee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYAJopwEYv8

Beethoven 9th Symphony: Chicago Symphony Orchestra

When you listen to modern music, do you ever sometimes get the feeling that you've heard a similar piece before? Or is there now a certain 'sound' and pattern of notes that you associate with much of the modern music we listen to? 

In this episode, we build on some of the concepts we explored in the The Magic of Chord Progressions and delve into the I-V-VI-IV Chord Progression - a motif that has become the foundation of much of the modern music we hear. We will look at why it is such a powerful and popular chord progression, how it works, where we can find it, and how we can experiment with it across different situations.

Have you ever listened to a song and wondered, "how would this sound in a different genre?" There are so many different kinds of music - Western Classical, Jazz, Rock, Pop, Hindustani Classical - and each one, apart from having very different notational styles, gives off a certain vibe. But is it possible to take a song from one of these styles, but reinvent it in another? 

That's what we are doing in this episode. We are taking The Police's "Message in a Bottle", a 1979 Rock classic, and reimagining it, but as a classical String Trio! Listen as I break the song into different musical segments, reimagine each one, and rebuild the song with the same tune, but a completely different vibe - the sound of a Classical piece. 

Have you ever noticed how certain songs remind us of each other, despite having different notes and tunes? Or have you asked, how exactly does one make a musical tune? 

In this episode, we'll be looking at one of the most fundamental building blocks of music - the chord progression. A template for any musical phrase,  it determines the notational patterns, how the song develops, and what makes it melodic. It's a loaded and fascinating topic, but one that will completely change how you listen to music!

When we listen to the music of certain composers, we can immediately say "I recognize that sound!" But why? What techniques is that composer using in their music to convey that instantly recognizable sound to us? In this episode, I dive into the Baroque Era, and one of its icons, Johann Sebastian Bach. I look at some of his music - primarily keyboard music, but also a feature of the Brandenburg Concertos - and try to demystify the sound that has become so associated with him.

Hello and welcome to The Music Breakdown! In this episode, I give an overview of what this podcast is all about, and describe some of the different topics I'll be covering. I also include small musical excerpts  that will feature in later episodes.