Chopin Vs. Jobim

Most people may say that Brazil's Bossa Nova and Europe's classical music from the Romantic era have absolutely nothing in common. They are two complete opposite genres, one derived from jazz and samba and the other one derived as an extension of Western Music. But when Antonio Carlos Jobim's Insensatez (How Insensitive) and Fredric Chopin's Prelude In E Minor are placed next to each other, this "impossible" idea might be quite possible. Although each has its individual style: varying instruments and patterns, both of their melodies are mainly diatonic with a few accidentals used as chromatic passing tones. Both their melodies seem to follow a journey in search for their home, starting on the fifth note of the minor scale, and ending the piece on the tonic.

Antonio Carlos Jobim, a Brazilian composer, published and composed the music in the Bossa Nova piece Insensatez (How Insensitive) in 1964. The genre and style of Bossa Nova is considered a fusion of jazz harmonies and a slower version of the samba beat. The song lyrics, originally written in Portuguese by Vincius De Moraes and later translated into English by Norman Gimbel, are about a man, pondering on how insensitive he must have appeared once his love told him she loved him. He argues that he had nothing to say because their love affair was over. Toward the end of the song he says he is now alone with the only memory of her "sad, broken hearted glance". In How Insensitive, various instruments are used. Some are ethnic to Brazil and some are western traditional instruments such as the flute. In the song, a flute, the drum set, a nylon guitar, an electric bass, the cello, and a keyboard/ piano are used.

Instruments in Jobim's How Incenitive

Flute- Western traditional

Drum Set- Western traditional; however, different versions of the song may include ethnical instruments for percussion

Nylon Guitar- in this particular case is a nylon string classical also known as the Spanish guitar

Electric Bass- Western Traditional

Cello- Western Traditional

Piano/Keyboard- Western Traditional

There is voice used as well. The original piece has a solo male voice and then female chorus all on the same melody. The songs original language was in Portuguese. There have been many different versions made to the song, one of them being a translation of the song to English. In some versions, only the piano is used to play the melody instead of a voice.

How Insensitive's form has a four measure introduction which is a flute melody. Right before the second time through the song there is a piano solo. In total there are 31 measures. It is in the scale of D minor. Its melody progresses mostly by whole steps. The song begins on the 5th of the minor scale.

It is mainly diatonic with a few accidentals used as chromatic descending passing tones. The melodic shape is a long journey from the fifth of the minor scale working itself down to its tonic. The melody often repeats the same note as the chord changes before moving. The song is mainly homophonic with one melody supported by chords. Its melodic rhythm is usually one long note then five or four short notes following. The last of the short notes will usually repeat the next long note and so on. The songs harmonic progression, in the minor scale, starts off with harmonies moving by half steps going down then eventually reaching the tonic. It also ends with the type of jazz progression which is a ii, V, I progression. Its harmony is the chords being played in the background while the voice sings the melody. As the voice changes, the chords change with it. The song has a steady pulse; it is played at a moderate tempo. To be exact, it has a tempo of 115. It is played in cut time which is the common meter time but twice as fast. Non pitched rhythmic instruments which are heard throughout the song are the side sticks which hit the rim of the sneer drum. These side sticks sound like wood sticks and have a "clave" rhythm. The percussionist also uses brushes to emphasize a soft beat. The chords change for the most part every two measures. Here is a visual representation of what was just explained above:

The Prelude in E minor was composed in a very different time and style. The Prelude in E minor falls under the category of classical music, which is considered "older" music from Europe. Many categories, or different eras, fall under classical music. Chopin's Prelude in E minor was written and is classified as being part of the Romantic Era (1815 to 1910). Frederic Chopin was a Polish composer and a virtuoso pianist.

In Chopin's Prelude in E minor, there is only one instrument: the piano. The song has 24 measures in total. The first A section has 11 measures and the A prime section has 13 measure; the A section never completes itself so it has an AA^1 form. Its melody moves down by whole steps. It is mainly diatonic except some accidentals which are also descending chromatic movements.

The piece itself is in the scale of E minor. The melody, in more basic terms, will repeat the same note as the chord changes. It will move up and down steps for a while as well. It has a homophonic melody, therefore having a single main melody. Its melodic rhythm is that there are some long notes then some short notes. In the main section of the song, the pattern is one long note then changes to another long note. Its harmony is also in the minor scale. As the melody, or the right hand of the person playing the piece, changes, the chords, or the harmony, changes with it. The chords are