Character of the musical work

Music, as the end result of mixing sounds and silence in time, conveys the emotional atmosphere, the subtle feelings of the person who wrote it.

According to the works of some scientists, music has the ability to influence both the psychological and physical state of a person. Naturally, such a musical work has its own character, laid down by the creator either purposefully or unconsciously.

 Determining the nature of music by tempo and sound.

From the works of V.I. Petrushin, a Russian musician and educational psychologist, the following basic principles of the musical character in the work can be identified:

1. The minor key sound and slow tempo convey the emotions of sadness. Such a piece of music can be described as sad, conveying sorrow and despondency, carrying within itself regret about the irrevocable bright past.
2. Major sound and slow tempo convey a state of peace and contentment. The character of the musical work in this case embodies tranquility, contemplation and balance.
3. The minor key sound and fast tempo suggest emotions of anger. The character of the music can be described as passionate, excited, intensely dramatic.
4. The major coloring and fast tempo undoubtedly convey emotions of joy, indicated by an optimistic and life-affirming, cheerful and jubilant character.

It should be emphasized that such elements of expressiveness in music as rhythm, dynamics, timbre and means of harmony are very important for reflecting any of the emotions; the brightness of the transmission of musical character in the work greatly depends on them. If you conduct an experiment and play the same melody in a major or minor sound, fast or slow tempo, then the melody will convey a completely different emotion and, accordingly, the general character of the musical work will change.

The relationship between the nature of a piece of music and the temperament of the listener.

If we compare the works of classical composers with the works of modern masters, we can trace a certain trend in the development of musical coloring. It becomes more and more complex and multifaceted, but the emotional background and character do not change significantly. Consequently, the nature of a musical work is a constant that does not change over time. Works written 2-3 centuries ago have the same impact on the listener as during the period of popularity among their contemporaries.

It has been revealed that a person chooses music to listen to not only based on his mood, but unconsciously taking into account his temperament.

1. Melancholic – slow minor music, emotion – sadness.
2. Choleric – minor, fast music – emotion – anger.
3. Phlegmatic – slow major music – emotion – calm.
4. Sanguine – major key, fast music – emotion – joy.

Absolutely all musical works have their own character and temperament. They were originally laid down by the author, guided by feelings and emotions at the time of creation. However, the listener cannot always decipher exactly what the author wanted to convey, since perception is subjective and passes through the prism of the listener’s sensations and emotions, based on his personal temperament.

By the way, are you interested in knowing how and with what means and words in the musical text composers try to convey the intended character of their works to the performers? Read a short article and download music character tables.