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Conclusion |
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So how
do these to great piece relate?
Beethoven’s Fifth was written over a hundred years before Page was
even born. Beethoven’s Fifth is a
symphony for full orchestra, Page’s Stairway is written for a 1970’s American
rock band. Yet, the
two pieces have a striking resemblance to one another. Both of these works take a listener through
a wide range of emotion; neither allowing the listener to forget the tension
once it is built. In both pieces, the
composer brings about the climax in double forte dynamics with staccato
chords. Beethoven’s
Fifth has a theme that builds tension and reminds the listener of this
tension. Stairway to Heaven, on the
contrary, is peaceful. Yet, the theme
leads the listener to the tension presented later. In both
pieces, the listener is introduced to the idea of uncertainty, and then
allowed to relax within the middle section.
In Beethoven’s piece, the mood is mostly minor, with a few exceptions. In Page’s piece, the mood is mostly major,
with the onset, later in the piece, of a minor feel. Although
the two composers were born so many years apart and brought up with different
musical styles, their works are chalked full of mind-blowing
similarities. They both build and
break tension. They both climax with
staccato chords at a double forte dynamic.
The two pieces range in dynamics from very loud to very soft. These
two pieces, though different in form and function, are very similar. History has been forever changed by the two
men who wrote them. The music produced
from their painstaking hours of long work has blown minds for years, and will
continue to do so for years to come. |