Art & Music Enrichment
 

William Blake's "Newton" is a representation of how science, exploration, and new technological discoveries influenced the philosophy of learning and thirst for knowledge which characterized the Romantic Era. It illustrates the artist commenting on the changes in his world. However, the figure is pictured reminiscent of a Greek god, harkening back to the Romantic's study and homage to this period searching for knowledge, exploring mysticism, and beginning the study of history as we know it. 

 The musical history of the times progresses just as the art and literature to keep pace with and reflect change. Before the age of Humanism (1540 - 1630) the music was mostly liturgical or written and performed strictly for the church and about pious matters. Madrigals became more popular, these focussed on singing voices and music elegantly together even though the material was still religious.  
The Baroque period (1630 - 1750) saw an expansion of instrumental talents, less accappella, and more harmony between voice and music. They were leading into storytelling other than religious in the beginning forms of opera.  
The Enlightenment (1750 - 1850) focussed on instrumental symphonies like those of Beethoven. 
The Romantic and Victorian periods saw the emergence of music and dance intertwined as the ballet "Swan Lake" premiered in 1877.   
The Modern Period in music (1890 - 1950) saw a variety of styles including military marches and big band swing. 
The Contemporary period continues to focus on experimentation, often using the past as a model or influence to their work today. Some examples are folk music, motown, jazz, and rock n' roll.
Check out some other great artists and figure out how your knowledge of the time period and the poetry can also be seen in the paintings. 
Greco's "The Burial of Count Orgaz" 
Caravaggio's "The Conversion of St. Paul" 
David's "The Death of Marat" 
Fragonard's "The Swing" 
Hogarth's "Marriage a la Mode" 
Blake's "The Sick Rose" 
Turner's "Slave Ship" 
Delacroix's "Liberty Leading the People" 
Corot's "Fontaine Bleu"		 Click on some of these sites to hear and find out more about the musical history of your time period. 
*some Italian Madrigals 
*examples of music to Shakespeare's plays 
*"Venus & Adonis" an English opera 
*"Swan Lake" by Tchaikovsky 
*"L'Histoire du Soldat" by Stravinsky 
*"In the Mood" by Glenn Miller 
*some Joan Baez
Part of your presentation to the class should include a list of sites and some information downloaded regarding what you investigated in the area of cultural expression other than print.
 
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Last updated July 8, 1998
Mary Sauve