Music Speech outline- Abba Essays

Music Speech outline- Abba Essays Music Speech outline- Abba Essay Music Speech outline- Abba Essay Name: Lecturer: Course: Date: Music Speech Outline- Abba For purposes of this project, I decided to go with band called Abba. This is a Swedish band specializes in pop/rock music. The band was formed in Stockholm in 1972. The name ABBA represents an acronym for the first names of the group’s members namely; Agnetha Faltskog, Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, and Anni Lyngstad.. I personally have a passion for music and can attest that music by Abba exhibits consistent success on every level. Sixpence happens to be my favorite band and my decision to choose this topic is because I feel that you may as well develop an interest in ABBA’s music. I then take this opportunity to present a brief biography of the band, music description, and play a selection from the group’s album ‘The Visitors’. ABBA managed to become among the most commercially successful pop band as it topped the music charts for ten years from 1972 to 1982. The group has sold over 300 million albums copies worldwide and counting (Ashroth, 54). ABBA is recognized as the first pop band to hail from a country that does not speak English. This song achieved the record of the most played song in eleven countries at the time. The group recorded ‘The Visitors’ in 2002. However, the group members decided to each go their separate ways in late 1982. Over the years, ABBA’s music was gradually loosing popularity. However, their music was adapted in the worldwide tout ‘Mamma Mia’ musical. This move managed to revive public interest in the group (Palm, 57). ABBA has always looked to do music with a prime objective of reaching their listeners on an encouraging level. Their music lends itself and articulates to interpretation. It works on a variety of levels ranging from mature to juvenile. There are tidbits of the spiritual, sociological, and psychological sense. Both vocally and instrumentally, the band places its reliance on lush, thickly layered arrangements. Primarily, ABBA does songs about how men and women have to deal with strife in a tough world (Edgington, Harry, and Himmelstrand, 32). They are about making mistakes, trying again, and showing love. The characters admit to being flawed in their songs and indeed should not be blamed for being human. They strive sincerely and honestly with hallmarks of compassion and forgiveness. Most of the group’s songs are layered with playful melody lines, lilting and orchestral elements. ABBA’s tunes reflect that part of life between 10 and 40 years. Their music speaks of school, work, military service, and other settings. Work is a daily routine that should be considered a way of handling stress. Upon listening to their songs, especially ‘Happy New Year’ from the album ‘The Visitors’, the listener is showered with a variety of subjective responses and opposites to particular situations. However, using words to describe music can only go so far. I will then proceed on to play a selection from the album ‘The Visitors’. The song is referred to as ‘Happy New Year’. Upon listening, one is able to hear the typical portrayal of the Swedish theme. Primarily, Swedes are a friendly and reserved people. The song can be listened to by a broad audience ranging from the young to the senior. The song achieves the emotional objective by attempting to arouse the listener’s sense of â€Å"having a good time despite the hardships of life.† I think this particular serves testament to what I have presented and the talent wielded by ABBA. In conclusion, I hope you enjoyed my presentation of the music band ABBA, its history, music style, and the song â€Å"Happy New Year† from the album ‘The Visitors’.

Shakespeares Plays Sorted by Tragedy, Comedy, History

Shakespeares Plays Sorted by Tragedy, Comedy, History It is not always easy to categorically say whether a William Shakespeare play is a tragedy, comedy, or history, because Shakespeare blurred the boundaries between these genres, especially as his work developed more complexity in themes and character development. But those are the categories into which the First Folio (the first collection of his works, published in 1623; he died in 1616) was divided, and thus, they are useful to start the discussion. The plays can be generally classified into these three broad categories based on whether the main character dies or is bequeathed a happy ending and whether Shakespeare was writing about a real person.   This list identifies which plays are generally associated with which genre, but the classification of some plays is open to interpretation and debate and changes over time. Shakespeare’s Tragedies In Shakespeares tragedies, the main protagonist has a flaw that leads to his (and/or her) downfall. There are both internal and external struggles and often a bit of the supernatural thrown in for good measure (and tension). Often there are passages or characters that have the job of lightening the mood (comic relief), but the overall tone of the piece is quite serious. The 10 Shakespeare plays generally classified as tragedy are as follows: Antony and CleopatraCoriolanusHamletJulius CaesarKing LearMacbethOthelloRomeo and JulietTimon of AthensTitus Andronicus Shakespeare’s Comedies Shakespeares comedies are sometimes further subdivided into a group called romances, tragicomedies, or problem plays, which are the dramas that have elements of humor, tragedy, and complex plots.  For example, Much Ado About Nothing begins like a comedy  but soon descends into tragedy- leading some critics to describe the play as a tragicomedy. Others debated or cited as tragicomedies include The Winters Tale, Cymbeline, The Tempest, and The Merchant of Venice.   Four of his plays are often called his late romances, and they include: Pericles, The Winter’s Tale, and The Tempest. Problem plays are so-called because of their tragicomic elements and moral issues, and they dont end perfectly tied up, such as Alls Well That Ends Well, Measure for Measure and Troilus and Cressida. Regardless of all that debate, the 18 plays generally classified as comedy are as follows: Alls Well That Ends Well As You Like It The Comedy of ErrorsCymbelineLoves Labour’s LostMeasure for MeasureThe Merry Wives of WindsorThe Merchant of VeniceA Midsummer Nights Dream Much Ado About NothingPericles, Prince of TyreThe Taming of the ShrewThe Tempest Troilus and CressidaTwelfth NightTwo Gentlemen of VeronaThe Two Noble KinsmenThe Winters Tale Shakespeare’s Histories Sure, the history plays are all about real figures, but it can also be argued that  with the downfall portrayed of the kings in Richard II and Richard III, those history plays could also be classified as tragedies, as they were billed back in Shakespeares day. They would easily be called tragedy plays were the main character of each fictional. The 10 plays generally classified as history plays are as follows: Henry IV, Part IHenry IV, Part II​Henry VHenry VI, Part IHenry VI, Part IIHenry VI, Part III​Henry VIIIKing JohnRichard IIRichard III