Music in William Shakespeare’s Plays :: Biography Biographies Essays

Music in Shakespeares Plays Elizabethans, during the m of the notorious William Shakespeare (1564-1616), were extremely sensitive to beauty and grace and had an undying enthusiasm for euphony and poetry. Music was a vital part of Elizabethan partnership it was thought that a man who could not read music or understand it was poorly educated. The common entertainment and amusement was centered on music, song, and dance, citizenry of all classes enjoyed the splendor of the music at this time. Since music was so popular and so widely understood, it is little wonder that most Elizabethan plays, including Shakespeares plays, have music in them. Shakespeare uses music in his plays for some(prenominal) reasons, all of which are extremely significant. The first is evident in which music was so popular during this time that it influenced the performed plays. Shakespeare had a mixed audience who enjoyed and attended his plays. Music, which was understood practically universally allowe d everyone to understand his plays and relate to them more easily. If people did not understand the language or the plot, the music could make it easier for them to personify along. Secondly, on the present music played a very essential role. Music contributed to the atmosphere and set the mood in many of Shakespeares plays. There was a special musicians gallery above the stage, the music sometimes was played on the stage, and there were occasions when it was played under the stage to achieve an eerie effect. During comedy plays gentle songs would be played with the luting and during tragedies and histories the get goings of trumpets and drums would echo through the theater. For congresswoman, if a king entered the trumpets would sound and everyone would know who it was. The Twelfth Night is also a good example it includes instrumental serenades and rousing drinking songs, all to show the gaiety and grief for the mood of the play. Some songs and music are intended to repre sent a soliloquy, when private thoughts and feelings are performed. Songs, music, and sound effects represent themes, tones, moods, emotions, and even people. Shakespeare, macrocosm a lyric poet, used fifty or more songs in his plays and wrote hundreds of stage directions calling for music.