If one were to name the most overwhelming piece of mise-en-scène in the film Hannibal (2001), it would undoubtedly be the open-air concert scene in Florence. The noble soprano voice cutting through the night air, the music unfolding beneath Hannibal Lecter’s unwavering gaze as he fixes his eyes on Inspector Pazzi. The piece heard in … Read more
Baroque Music takes its name from the Portuguese word for a “misshapen pearl.” The term was first used to describe an artistic style that seemed exaggerated and irregular compared to the balance and order pursued in Renaissance art. Yet this very sense of irregularity and splendor became the core of the Baroque aesthetic. Music, too, … Read more
Renaissance Music The Renaissance, meaning “rebirth,” was a sweeping cultural movement that spread across Europe from the 15th to the 16th century. Moving away from the religious-centered worldview of the Middle Ages, this era rediscovered the value of human emotion and intellect. Music, too, evolved beyond being a mere vessel for divine expression, becoming an … Read more
Medieval music opens the first chapter of Western music history. Starting from simple Gregorian chant, it began to record sound through musical notation and expanded into polyphony, laying the groundwork for all later music. At the center of Christian faith, music became the language of worship and, under the authority of the Church, developed into … Read more
