Pop vs. Baroque Music Concerts: A Music Appreciation Case Study

This case study provides a comparative analysis of a pop music concert (Taylor Swift's "Reputation Tour" in 2018) and a baroque music concert ("Hewitt Plays Mozart" in 2018). It explores the differences in musical style, performance, and audience experience between the two genres. The author expresses a preference for the baroque concert due to the beauty and tranquility of the music, contrasting it with the more interactive and remixed nature of the pop concert. The study also highlights the historical context of baroque music, its traditional reliance on common-practice tonality and basso continuo groups, and how these elements differ from contemporary music. While both genres aim to entertain, their approaches and the contexts in which they are presented have evolved significantly. The paper concludes by acknowledging the impact of technology on the music industry and the changing ways in which people experience music, with Desklib providing resources for further learning.

Running head: MUSIC APPRECIATION
MUSIC APPRECIATION: A CASE STUDY OF POP AND BAROQUE MUSIC
CONCERTS
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

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As opined by Rangel-Ribeiro, the landscape of the world of music is a constantly
changing one and it is seen that the musical genres which were popular at one point of time
have lost their prominence in the present times. Chang et al. are of the viewpoint that one of
the probable reasons for this transformation can be ascribed to the fact that unlike the
traditional times wherein music concerts were being organised only for the members of the
royal families or the patrons of art in the present times because of the commercialisation of
music it is being performed for the wider masses. More importantly, it is seen that some of
the older musical genres are being revived by the artists to reach out to a larger number of
people through their music. This paper will undertake a comparison of the pop music concert,
“Reputation Tour in Glendale, Ariz” in 2018 and the Baroque music concert, “Hewitt Plays
Mozart” in 2018.
I would like to say that I enjoyed the Baroque Music concert more than the pop music
concert of Taylor Swift although I am a big fan of contemporary pop music. For me, the
factor which made the baroque music concert more appealing than that of Swift’s was the
beauty with which Hewitt played the Piano Concerto No. 27 of Mozart and also the setting of
the theatre with soft light and perfect silence enhanced the beauty of the music played by
Angele Hewitt. On the other hand, I did not much like the concert of Taylor Swift because
rather than focusing of the song that she was singing she was more focused on interacting
with the audiences in the middle of each of the songs sung by her. Furthermore, she remixed
many her own songs and sang them at the concert however they fail to create the magic that
the original versions were being able to create.
Fabian and Schubert are of the viewpoint that a common feature of the baroque music
is the fact that the majority of the songs of this genre are composed through the usage of the
“common-practice tonality”, that is, in a single key and basso continuo group forms an
integral part of the performances of these songs. However, within the genre of contemporary

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music it is seen that neither the entire songs are being sung in a single key nor basso continuo
groups form an integral part of the performance of the concerned songs (Cyr). As a matter of
fact, in the present times it had been seen that even within the genre of baroque music itself
the basso groups are being replaced with other kinds of musical instruments and some of the
artists even take the help of digital musical instrumental for the creation of the desired
musical tones (Baroque.org). Herein lies the major difference between the traditional
Baroque era and the present times. Another major difference lies in the kind of audience that
the baroque music of the modern times is intended for. For example, in the earlier times it
was intended for the patrons of music and royal families and thus they were usually
performed behind closed however as the baroque music concert under discussion here makes
it apparent that presently they are intended for the general masses (Coorevits and Moelants).
A close analysis of the music of the two concerts makes it apparent that although they are
different in style or nature from each yet the basis purpose of both of them is the same, that
is, to offer entertainment. For example, Swift’s music sought to excite the audience and
thereby entertain them whereas Hewitt’s music sought to offer tranquillity and peace to the
audience through the music and thereby entertain them (Billboard.com).
Fabian and Schubert are of the viewpoint that in the earlier times the musical concerts
were mainly intended to get patronage from the patrons and also to entertain them however in
the present times it is seen that because of the commercialisation of music the artists have
become self-reliant and thus they merely seek to entertain the audiences in the concerts. The
resultant effect is that all the music lovers who are being able to pay the entry fee of the
concerts can watch or enjoy the concerts (Rangel-Ribeiro). More importantly, as opined by
Cyr, the concerts not only generate a high amount of revenue but also adds to the reputation
or fan following of the musicians and this is one of the major reasons why the different
musicians frequently organise different concerts. Herein lies the major difference between the

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musical concerts of the Baroque period and those of the present times. However, at the same
time it needs to be said that technology had substantially changed the dynamics of the music
industry and it is seen that recordings, digital live performances, online video streaming and
others have changed the manner in which the people experience music (Billboard.com). As a
matter of fact, it is seen that lesser number of people prefer going to the actual concerts
whereas the majority of the people prefer to stay at home and watch those concerts over the
internet at the comfort of their home.
To conclude, the baroque musical genre had formed an integral part of the musical
landscape for a very long time and it is seen that even in the present times they are being used
because of the high demand for the same. However, at the same time it needs to be said that
they have been metamorphosed in conjunction with the present musical tastes of the people.
These aspects become apparent from the above analysis of the baroque music and pop music.

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References
Baroque.org. "Hewitt Plays Mozart - Music Of The Baroque". 2019,
https://www.baroque.org/Seasons/2018-2019/hewitt-plays-mozart.
Billboard.com. "The Best Live Shows Of 2018". 2019,
https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/concerts/8488754/best-concerts-2018-live-
shows. Accessed 26 May 2019.
Chang, Andrew, et al. "Body sway reflects leadership in joint music
performance." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114.21 (2017):
E4134-E4141.
Coorevits, Esther, and Dirk Moelants. "Tempo in Baroque music and dance." Music
Perception: An Interdisciplinary Journal 33.5 (2016): 523-545.
Cyr, Mary. Performing baroque music. Routledge, 2017.
Fabian, Dorottya, and Emery Schubert. "Performance and perception of dotting–A
comparison of responses to dotted rhythms in 6/8 by experienced and inexperienced
baroque music listeners." European Society for the Cognitive Sciences Of
Music (2016).
Rangel-Ribeiro, Victor. Baroque music: A practical guide for the performer. Courier Dover
Publications, 2016.