Introduction

  The 2018 readaptation of a Star is Born was directed by Bradly Cooper. It stars him and Lady Gaga, and tells the story of Jackson Maine, a famous rock star that struggles with alcoholism, and Ally, an aspiring singer. These characters develop a relationship throughout the movie, but they run into conflict when Jackson's drug addiction gets in the way of their relationship. The movie does an excellent job at  looking at important issues like substance abuse, suicide, and what fame can do to a person.  The movies soundtrack features music that has elements of rock, pop, and folk.   The music in "A Star is Born" has a vital role of reflecting the emotions of the characters, but also showcasing the impact on their fame and identity. One of the most significant songs in the movie is "Shallow". In the movie, Alley wants to take a step up in the world as a singer, but has a lot of self doubt. She cannot really catch a break until she meets Jackson and sings the song

  Yo-Yo Ma's journey began when he was born on 1955, in France. When he became four, his family moved to New York where he started his musical studies. When he was still a pre teen, he studied at the Juilliard school, which is a very prestigious liberal arts school. He then later transferred to Harvard at the age of 16 to get his degree in humanities. While he is considered a classical musician, he tried out American bluegrass, traditional Chinese, and  Baroque pieces.  Throughout his very successful career  he has a discography of more than 120 albums.  Over the span of his life , "h e has received numerous awards, including the Avery Fisher Prize (1978), the National Medal of the Arts (2001), the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2010), Kennedy Center Honors (2011), the Polar Music Prize (2012), and the Birgit Nilsson Prize (2022)," ( Yo-Yo Ma Biography, 5).  The original composer of Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, Prélude was Johann Sebastian Bach, written around 1717–1723

I’ve always enjoyed American folk music, and since a lot of my families heritage is from Norway, I decided to explore traditional Norwegian music. Norway's traditional folk displays the unique culture and daily lives of its people. Discovering this personal side of Norway has given me a new appreciation for this culture.  Traditional Norwegian music has been around for hundreds of years, but there is not very much written works from before the 1840s. The music includes folk dances like Bygdeand that are often performed in ceremonial settings, showcasing couple routines. The dance melodies typically use three-beat or two-beat rhythms, which are tied to weddings, funerals, and festivities such as Christmas. These traditional dances generally lasted longer in more rural farm communities where it was pasted on throughout generations.  This music is primarily categorized into North Germanic and Sami styles. North Germanic music is typically ballads known as kvad. Ballads are generally s

The theremin is one of the strangest instruments that does not even involve physical contact.  It produces eerie sounds that have been heard in various horror movies as well as some experimental rock. The instrument uses radio waves to produce a unique sound. I have heard its chilling sound in a couple of horror and sci-fi films, and I have always found its sound to be quite fascinating.  "The theremin was invented around 1920 by Russian physicist Lev Sergeyevich Termen – commonly known later as Léon Theremin." (Miller 9).   While he was researching radio waves and sensors for a government project, he accidentally created the instrument.  He found that by moving his hands near two metal antennas, he could control pitch and volume through electromagnetic waves. This remarkable discovery made him see the potential for it to be used in music. The original theremin had two antennas. One of the antennas controlled the pitch of the instrument, while the other controlled the volume.