Part 1
The most significant aspect of the music composition, “ The Star-Spangled Banner ,” is the classical style of the accompaniment. The classical style attracted me because I like the beats that usually accompany many countries’ national anthems. Notwithstanding, each piece of music has a distinct rhythm, melody, and a unique composition method ( Sporre, 2015 p. 114). Another thing that attracted me to the song is the carefully chosen words. The final line of the song is a question. “Oh say does the star-spangled banner yet wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?” The line elects beautiful strands of loyalty and appreciation from me for my country. We all know that America is the “land of the free.” However, “The Star-Spangled Banner” brings the message home as one of the most beautiful pieces of music that I have ever heard. However, today I do not sing it with confidence and loyalty as I used to do because I see the liberty and freedom that Americans enjoyed being eroded through the current political divide in the country. How can I sing “The Star Banged Banner” in confidence, knowing that my freedom is not guaranteed?
One thing that I learned about music that I did not know previously is that music uses a universal language. We live in a world where we are constantly impacted by music from all over. Again I have learned that music affects how we think and act. The kind of music that one listens to ultimately affects their thoughts and actions. For example, day-by-day, we listen to music, either willingly or unwillingly from satellite services, restaurants, offices, and telephone “holds.” The kind of music that people listen to shapes their identity, and therefore, determines what they will think and ultimately do. I have also learned that we need some training to perceive music in detail rightly. The ability to hear perceptively, just like any other skill, grows through practice ( Sporre, 2015 p. 114). An individual with limited experience in perceiving music will not find it adorable to listen to a piece of music in a concert hall.
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“ The Star-Spangled Banner” differs widely from other types of music I listen to because it was purely classical. I am used to listening to relatively heavy music. I listen to rock music, and I am not used to music without beats. However, when I heard “The Star-Spangled Banner,” I felt like the music rejuvenated me and restored me to sobriety. The background voice lets the singers’ words come out clearly, allowing the listener to get the theme and message in the music.
Part 2
I selected the “Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer. I realized that the chosen reading talks about society and the “humanist” view, which enhanced my interest in reading it. It was easy to relate the piece of literature to the real world sense because it talks about pertinent issues in society, such as social stratification and the voice of the minority. Additionally, this literature piece gives the reader a glimpse of what society looked like as early as the fifteenth century. The literature is rich with history and provides the reader with an opportunity to compare and contrast the present life to that of the fifteenth century. It was easy to understand, and it is an example of one of the greatest works that show the diversity of people worldwide. The literary piece describes different life perspectives using humor and creativity.
The knowledge I have gained by listening to the song and reading the piece of literature is significant. From the two pieces, I have learned facts that have changed my perspectives about music and literature. From the piece of music, I have learned that music is a universal language that needs to be appreciated. I have also known that one needs to be trained through constant practice and repetition for one to perceive music correctly. From the reading, I have learned that “The Canterbury Tales” is a fictional compilation of short stories and entails various aspects of human life that cannot be understated. The story also gives more insight into the lives of the people who lived in the past centuries, which strongly contrasts with today’s lifestyle. The characters that played a part in narrating the tale also represent various modern people in contemporary society.
One lesson that I would share with peers on music is that music is a universal language that everyone should understand and speak. It is not enough to listen to music passively. It can benefit an individual if they take music to another level by learning to listen to it with a keen ear. In turn, it will not only enable them to understand the message in a song, but it will also help them to communicate more effectively. From the literature, I would share the power of words, especially on matters that touch the contemporary world. For example, in Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales,” the reader learns about the various social orders in society.
References
Sporre, D. J. (2015). Perceiving the arts: Introduction to the humanities (11th edition). Pearson.
