Omar Sosa Preforming

Down Beat Magazine Review

Omar Sosa GOES DEEP
This article was mainly about Omar's views on music, and how he makes his music his own, special, and unique. He talked about how he was not trying to imitate other peoples past music styles, and though he respects those past musicians he's not trying to copy them at all. He said that he simply takes their music and gets inspired for it "he has his own voice". He also talked about how he takes albums, or couplets of songs and mixes them together plays around with the harmonies and forms a completely new fresh product.

Omar had a very interesting, and exciting up bringing and "young life". He started out living in Ecuador preforming a few gigs here, and there however when he wanted to return home he lost his visa and was forced to live in Ecuador illegally. He finally got a visa to come and live in america. He moved to San Francisco not speaking a word of english, and knowing anything about the state. He struggled living in America for quite some time, finally he was offered a job in a Latin combo band in February of 1996. Omar really brought life to the band, he inspired them and they because a whole new and improved entourage.

Omar infused African music into the group as a primary source of influence. He took the group very far with his "fresh" ideas and new exciting outlook. TO this day Omar is doing what he set out to do. He is preforming for various audiences and showing them his distinct views, and ideas on music. His "why not?" personality has taken his far in life.

Minimalistic Works

The Minimalistic work I like the least is the composition by Steve Reinch. I strongly dislike it mainly because of its lack of individuality. Throughout the whole piece, though there were very subtle changes i felt that it was playing the exact same rhythm over and over agin with no variation. After a while the piece because extremely repetitive, and boring.

The Minimalistic work i liked the most was the one by Philip Glass. I liked it because it had a very serene, tranquil vibe to it. The melody was also very calming, and peaceful. Every note in the composition flowed together perfectly with the next. The composition was very composed very well.

The first Minimalistic work by Steve Reinch ad me think about a jungle scene were animals were eating. This is because of the ear piercing notes throughout the composition. It was contained a great amount of dissonance. Overall the work had a very vibrant feel to it.

The second Minimalistic work made me think about calming things like waterfalls, and funerals, and snow falling. Things that are constant and do not have exciting events happen during them. The video that was paired with the song I think fit perfectly. Its was a calm scene just like the song.

Alessandro Scarlatti

Alessandro Scarlatti was Sicilian born in 1660. He trained for his musical career in Rome. He married in 1678 and later that year was appointed maestro di cappella of San Giacomo degli Incurabili. in 1684 Scarlatti moved to maples where he was appointed a high honor as the vice- regal court of Naples. For the next two decades Scarlatti gave hundreds of operas at Naples, and produced over 40 works. He supervised many various operas throughout his years, and was a very successful opera man.

Alessandro Scarlatti

Hilegard von Bingen and Michael Praetorius

Hildegard of Bingen lived from the years of 1098 to 1179. She produced many major works of theology and visionary writings. She was very respected for her work because she was one of the first women to ever write, and compose music. Hildegard would have visions from gods, and feel that it was her duty to write down what she was seeing. All of her texts were religious. She composed music for the purpose of informing others about her religion and her religions beliefs.

Michael Praetorius was born on February 15, 1571. He was born and raised in Germany. The purpose of the music he wrote was to  inform others. His songs were about his travels, German music, instruments, and performances. He wanted to educate everyone on his beliefs.

The two musical selections are very different. One is solely religious and  contains only words. Where as the other is more entertaining and enjoyable. The purpose of the second piece of music is to entertain. The two styles are very different, but yet are complementary. The second piece contains a think layer of instruments where as the first piece is very thin. Both pieces are great compositions of ancient religious times.

my views on sound!

There are many different ways of taking in sound. Some people in the world are not gifted with the gift of hearing and they have a whole other outlook on sound the people that can hear. People with disabilities like this are just as capable of preforming music as people who have perfect hearing. Most people who are deff use the vibrations of the instruments and identify how profound or minute the vibration currents are. this comes to show that no matter what your disability is there is a way for you to play music.

The video also discussed how people in different parts of a room are hearing a completely different version of the song. This is because of how sound travels, and sound being deflected off of different things these are all important aspects of sound deliverance. Not only can you hear sound differently but sound, and music can be interpreted in a variation of ways. For some people when they hear a sound they may get the emotion of sadness, where as others may get the emotion of sadness. This comes to show sound is not a universal thing it comes in a variation of different ways to different people.