MUHI102 002 FL-Mr. Nathaniel P. Mack (HWSN)

I feel that blues music is very literary. It reflects much of the culture, feelings and history of the artist. From listening and seeing Robert Johnson lyrics you can see a lot of the culture of that time for blacks and the hardships they went through. This helps to shows how the blues became known as the "blues". The words and phrases used are usually how the language was spoken and used during that time. I feel that blues lyrics are as much a form of literary works as any form of poetry. It is an illustration of feelings and expression that much poetry and stories are based on as well. Another way that blues is literal is how it uses repetition and a common rhyme scheme. This relates quiet closely to poetry that usually has a specific rhyme scheme to the work or repetition of a specific word or phrase.  The Blues has a significant place in our history that can be realized and learned by all cultures and individuals by simply digging in and listening to the blues.

When I was reading this story of the slave songs I kept seeing words that today would be very racist or hurtful towards blacks. These words such as "negroes" and "barbaric" are two of the words that I saw very frequently. Reading on and realizing that the author was from the south I thought maybe that he was still partial for segregation but as I read it seemed more and more that these words were alright to call African Americans because of the period the author lived.

Speaking more about the music in this account the author was very interested and wanted to preserve these slave songs.  He states that "It is earnestly to be desired that some person, who has the opportunity should make a collection of these now, before it is too late." One thing that is very interesting is how the author goes into taking time to categorize these slave songs.  I also found that the author took great care and time to make sure that he notated these songs as close to the originals as possible. He also goes as far as to write different variations for the different ways these songs could have been sang in different regions of the south.

Relating to what I have just stated I feel that the author wanted people to recognize how great these songs and African Americans were. He wanted racist or segregation to view these African American slave songs as a beautiful part of our heritage and that blacks were as much as a part of it than whites. By notating these songs the author is able to show what the slaves sang, cared, thought, and believed spiritually. With the notation of these songs the author shows how culturally and spiritually they were no different or any less human.  

From reading The Awakening and learning about the society of that time it almost seems as if women are trapped in there on homes and live. In this case Edna seems to be trapped to her home, husband, and outside coding like many of the woman around her. Edna has so many of the "mother-woman" expectations on her from taking care of her children and making a beautiful home and providing for every need of her husband. When Edna meets Robert this is the first time she becomes to realize and awaken that there is so much more to her life and she can move forward in expressing her needs. By her friendship with Robert and experiences like swimming, at the island during summer, she begins to transform for society's image of the "mother-woman". The next major Awakening that happens to Edna is when Madame Ratignole and Mademoiselle Reisz play the piano. Edna first sees the twins in there society appropriate dress and Madame Ratignole play the piano as to entertain everyone around them. They play because others want to hear them play even though they don't neccessaryly enojoy it. Then Mademoiselle Reisz plays the piano and even before she plays Edna realizes that this woman is so much different and dresses like she doesn't care what anyone or society thinks about her. When she finishes playing Edna through the performance had the greatest awakening. She sees that woman deserve to play for themselves and should be allowed to indulge in art and music for their pleasure also. She becomes excited for life and enjoys painting for herself and stands up for herself and what is right from her husband. From this point on Edna reflects on herself internally breaking away from the "mother-woman" image. She realizes how constraining and trapping her life was before her awakening.

My two favorite sections from the ballet video for Blood Wedding are  "Ay, Sombrero" and the final duel between Leonardo and the bridegroom. The "Ay, Sombrero" was my favorite piece all together because of the presence of technigues and traditions from flamenco dancing and musicianship. The music was provided by the guitars which were played with the typical flamenco style. They used many of the fast strumming and quick solo lines to comp with the dancing and singing. Describing the dancing you could say that they kept the tall posture form and used many gender related dancing techniques. Both gender parties complimented each other with different things that they did. What I like the most was how they danced together and incorporated the stomping and rythmic clapping.

My favorite passage of the ballet for dancing was the last duel. At first it was kinda awkward to watch with them doing the slow motion but as the movement went on it became very beautiful and unique. It really showed the intensity and art form of this dance. You were able to see alot more expressions because of them going slow and the effect of no sound really focused your attention on Leonardo and the Bridegroom. 

Overall I really liked how the muisc and dancing went together. The fact that there were alot of moments with only dancing really was something special. Plus the use of only a few instruments such as the two guitars and played with the flamenco technigue only helped to make this ballet special. This play of Blood Wedding showed the origins, styles and dancing that were present during this time. 

Act Two: Scene Two

Father: Thats one's looking for trouble. He's not of good blood.

Mother: What blood would you expect him to have ? His whole family's blood. It comes down from his great grandfather, who started in killing, and it goes on down through the whole evil breed of knife wielding and false smiling men.

Father: Let's leave it at that!

This short passage from act two shows one of the biggest threads in the whole play. This passage that goes on after the wedding is between the mother of the bridegoom and the father of the bride. They start talking about how Leonardo and his wife arrive so soon and how they arrived. The presententation of the feelings between both families are really expressed here. It shows how just because Leonardo's last name "Felix" affects his names inheritance and the history behind the name told by the mother.

Both the mother and father feel that he comes from a bad family who has killed many people along with the mothers family. Leonardo's inheritance and blood orientation comes from his granfather who was believed to have started the killings with knifes and the start of "the ones not of good blood"

Form listening to the Mexican music in class I feel that it is important to know and listen to other genres of music. If all Americans listened to was country and rock this country would be a very boring place. Everyone I feel can listen and enjoy or appreciate other styles of music. Every genre no matter how different can still tie in with something that you are used to listening to. Being narrow minded when it comes to music an other things just really makes us ignorant to the many other great things this world has to offer. By listening to other genres and styles of music it really allows us as listeners to learn and appreciate that composer's or group's culture and history.

When dealing with Troubador peotry only one author was present. This allowed for the same version to be passed down through the years. This is how many modern classical works have survived through the years. With one author and a knowledge about the piece and era we have had original Troubador peotry since its beginnings.

With the Corrido and their oral text and passing by story telling it becomes difficult to say who originally worte the Corrido or song. The story of Gregorio Cortez is a great example that we got to see just how an oral text can change through the years and by each author. I feel that collective or anonymous authorship allows us as the viewer or reader to always experience something new or different about the same story. It allows us to see peoples personal twists and ideas always keeping something fresh and new to see. It also allows us to see the performers or writers background due to changes in places or detail. It could either gain or lose its significance but the overall storyline I feel could stay the same to keep the same meaning. I think that different authors can challenge our jobs as interpreters but lets us explore and learn new things from different performers perspectives. I feel that it is really great that even performers to this day still feel that old oral texts are important enough to pass on to new generations. This really shows the the performers concern and the works importance if they feel the work should still be passed down. Many oral texts may have been forgotten but I feel many of the great oral texts still live on.

I feel that the way something is written plays a big part on how something is felt through language. The better something is written or furthermore the better the language the better the sound that writing makes. Many famous writers were quoted for their colorful and wonderful language that made people feel and hear different things with their works.

I dont believe peoms or writings translated to a new language can bring the same effects and meanings it has in the original language. For example Some things can be translated with the same effect and sound but most of the feeling is lost without rewording the translation to try to meet the original meaning. For example in the Jaufre Rudel opera Lanquan li jorn son lone, some language factors come into play that make translating the sound and effect difficult. This would be due to the fact of melismas and syllabics in the peom. When translated to english some of the melismatics are lost or gained due to the syllabuls of our words to the original translation.

Lastly I really think the way the poem is presented has a great effect on its meaning. From class poem "Cantico del Sole" I read this poem very differently than the actually author did. I would have not put the stress and emotion in the same place or maybe any emotion at all. It just goes to show that poems can be felt any way you want them to and not one way is the correct way.

Here is my pic by the way!