My Musical Culture
Hello everyone! My name is Victoria Conner and let me just say I am so excited to be apart of and experience this class with you all! I first started my musical journey at 3 1/2 years old playing the piano and have been playing ever since! In the sixth grade, I picked up playing the clarinet and have continued on that path all the way to my college career. Ever since starting my college career at Converse, I have slowly started picking up how to play guitar due to me majoring in Music Therapy. Although music has always played a major role in my life, this is just the beginning!
1. Phantom of the Opera Theme Song - Andrew Lloyd Webber. When I went to New York City in high school with the Chapman High School Band, I had the amazing opportunity of seeing the Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. While all of the music in the Phantom of the Opera is phenomenal, the theme song has stuck with me the most. Therefore, this piece of music has become very important to me. One year in piano guild we got the opportunity to play Broadway music so it was no surprise that I chose the theme song from Phantom of the Opera! As soon as the song starts, it automatically catches my attention because of how dramatic it is. I absolutely love this song because it is so distinctive and the music itself is so profound and catchy. Andrew Lloyd Webber is a prodigious musician and composer and he truly did create some amazing music.
2. Clair de Lune - Claude Debussy. A piece of music that has helped me get through the pandemic was Clair de Lune. Transitioning from a senior in high school to a freshman in college is already monumental milestone. With so many changes coming into play through this life-changing milestone, COVID-19 has only proved to be a stressful factor with so many unknowns and uncertainties. This song has proven to help over the course of this pandemic because it has proven to be a stress reliever for me. When I found myself getting overwhelmed with things in my personal life, school, and practice sessions, I would listen to this song. By listening to Clair de Lune, I am able to release my stress, clear my mind, and re-focus.
3. Royals - Lorde. A song that I dislike is Royals by Lorde. Back when I was in middle school, me and other choral members used to sing this song all time after choral festivals. While it was all fun and games at first, this song soon became overplayed. I always hate when a good song comes out and then suddenly becomes overplayed to the point where I can't take it anymore. Although I enjoyed this song a few years ago, I listened to it recently and I don't even remember a valid reason why I even liked it.
Hi Victoria! First, I love your blogs theme/layout! I also love how you chose Phantom of the Opera. I agree with you, the main theme is very dramatic and really grabs your attention. Clair de Lune is such a great choice for soothing music, and I can relate to what you said about stress of being a freshman and going through the pandemic. I another thing that stood out to me is what you said about how some songs can get so overplayed and become annoying. I totally agree!
ReplyDeleteI love Phantom Of The Opera! I got to play it in my highschool orchestra one year and I absolutely love the vocals as well! Clair De Lune is an interesting choice, but it makes so much sense when you describe how playing it makes you feel calm and relieves you of stress. I personally enjoy listening to Royals by Lorde, although it is not one of my favorites. I understand how overplayed music can sound bad to the ear, since it becomes increasingly irritating over time. It's unfortunate how good songs can be turned into nightmares like that!
ReplyDeleteHey Tori!! When I heard you play "Phantom of the Opera" in seminar, I was floored. It sounded so gorgeous and I'm jealous!! I want to be able to play like that some day. The Debussy is one of my favorite pieces, and I absolutely see why you turned to it during the pandemic. It's so calming, it allows you to escape the unfortunate reality that was 2020. I agree that "Royals" was overplayed when it came out, although listening to it on your blog, I realize I haven't heard the song in a while and I actually enjoyed it. So thank you for sharing it with us!
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