Artifact #9: Understanding the Arts and the Human Experience

    I completed my final exam for MUS 110 (Music Appreciation) titled “Crisantemi by Giacomo Puccini” during the fall semester of 2023. I took MUS 110 online during an 8 week term. The requirements for this essay were due to identify a classical musical performance from YouTube and provide an in-depth musical analysis using the knowledge we had gained during the semester. I was tasked with discussing several elements in my essay, including compositional techniques and musical arrangements, with an analysis of how these produced emotional responses. The essay begins with an introduction to the composer and performing orchestra, as well as the time at which it was recorded. The essay then discusses the musical arrangement, which is followed by an analysis of the emotional effect produced by each part of the composition. The last body paragraph features a discussion on Puccini’s compositional techniques and his work’s relationship with the romantic era in which it was produced. This essay showcases my ability to write empathetically, understand and evaluate musical art, and understand the human experience.

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​    When completing this assignment, I had two main goals. The first was to identify and extract meaning from compositional techniques to understand how humans process grief. In order to fulfill this first goal, I first identified the most prevalent compositional techniques that Puccini, the composer, used in this work. This required revisiting course material on the romantic era and researching scholarly articles on Puccini’s work. Once I had identified a number of compositional techniques, I began listening to the piece several times over and considered how these techniques affected me emotionally. Since grief is common to the human experience, I reasoned that I should be able to identify the intended emotional responses produced by the work, even if the piece was written in a different time. Using my own experience listening to the piece, as well as my knowledge of how compositional techniques produce emotions, I was able to empathize with Puccini’s grief as it is displayed in Crisantemi.​

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    My second goal was to demonstrate a capacity for empathetic writing. To address my second goal, I knew that I had to become familiar with the work. That is, I needed to immerse myself in the emotional response that Puccini intended to create when he originally composed . My intention was to identify shared emotions between myself and Puccini, so that I could better empathize with him. Next, I brainstormed different ways to showcase my empathy through my writing. This included considering the different ways Puccini tried to convey his feelings through compositional techniques. Rather than present his technique as a display of craftsmanship or music prowess, I wanted to showcase how Puccini combines a wide range of compositional techniques to evoke feelings that were close to his heart. By doing so, I believe I was able to display my ability to empathize with the emotional aspect of art, rather than simply consider the art on its own craftsmanship.

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    As I consider my time at SPCC, I have learned a lot about how to understand and connect with the experiences of others through art. First, I have recognized that art is a powerful tool for expressing emotions. This is important because being able to relate to one another often brings great unity to society. Second, I have learned that our experiences as humans are similar in essence, even if they are different in reality. Though the situations which cause grief may be different between two people, they can both share and empathize with one another due to their common feelings. Last, I have learned to appreciate the unique quality of art to transcend historical and cultural barriers. Through my exploration of different forms of art, I have realized that many artists are different from me, both culturally and in the time in which they lived. Yet, their work continues to affect and inform me in ways that they themselves could have scarcely predicted. My learning is significant because these lessons will improve my ability to relate to and understand the experiences of others, allowing me to sympathize or empathize with their situation.

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