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Classical Music/identifying composer

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Expert: - 7/1/2009


Question
if, for example, there is a musical piece(particularly for a piano), and nobody knows whether or not it is a work by bach or beethoven... is there a way to know who really made it? do these artists have a certain style one can distinguish from the other? thanks and it would be a great help if you caould answer this question...

Answer
No, there is no way to know conclusively if evidence is lacking.  You could make a good guess, tho, based on characteristics.

For example, Bach's music is what we call linear (or horizontal).  It is separate melodies in all voices that then meld (thru Bach's great powers).

Beethoven's music is vertical; it is a series of chords.  Melding is not necessary bcs Beethoven conceived the music vertically.

You could also tell by the kind of ornaments the composer used.  Or, by the musical forms used (Bach wrote no symphonies, for example).

~~

If you have to write about this piece of unknown provenance, you could say,

This work, perhaps by Bach, ....

Or,

This work, attributed to Bach, ....


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Marbeth

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I have a PhD in musicology, with expertise in medieval - Renaissance - Baroque - Classical periods, but I'll try to help you with any period.

>>*****IMPORTANT NOTE*****<<: I do not answer questions marked "private." I don't want to type the same thing to someone else later if I typed it to you already! If you mark your request "private," I will send it back to you requesting you to remove the "private" flag. Thanks for your understanding. Remember, I'm a volunteer.

My answers are not toss-offs. If I don't know the answer, I will do my best to find it.

I have many requests to identify a piece of music. If I can't identify it, I will tell you (1) what composer I think it is; (2) what composer or composers I think it is not; (3) what style period, genre, etc. I think it is or is not. And give you any other help I can to help you find the answer.

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Students, I do NOT do homework questions. The purpose of answering questions on assignments is not only to learn the information, but to LEARN HOW TO FIND IT. Re-read chapter. Look in the index. Look in the references given at the end of the chapter or elsewhere in the book. You also probably can find the answer using Google. Don't be lazy. I wouldn't be doing you any favors by doing your homework for you! I already know the answer. You don't. You need to find it. MORE IMPORTANTLY, you need to learn HOW to find it. That's the whole purpose of education, after all!

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