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

Music in Shakespeargons Plays Elizabethans, during the time of the notorious William Shakespeare (1564-1616), were highly sensitive to beauty and grace and had an undying enthusiasm for medicinal drug and poetry. Music was a vital part of Elizabethan society it was thought that a humankind who could not read practice of medicine or understand it was poorly educated. The common entertainment and amusement was centered on music, song, and dance, people 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 several 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 auditory modality who enjoyed and attended his plays. Music, which was understood practical ly universally allowed 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 imitate along. Secondly, on the stage music played a very important role. Music contributed to the atmosphere and set the mood in many of Shakespeares plays. in that location 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 eery effect. During comedy plays gentle songs would be played with the lute and during tragedies and histories the sounds of trumpets and drums would echo through the theater. For example, if a king entered the trumpets would sound and everyone would know who it was. The Twelfth iniquity is also a good example it includes instrumental serenades and rousing drinking songs, all to show the gaiety and sadness for the mood of the play. Some songs and music are intended to represent a soliloquy, when private thoughts and feelings are performed. Songs, music, and sound effects represent themes, tones, moods, emotions, and even people. Shakespeare, being a lyric poet, used fifty or more songs in his plays and wrote hundreds of stage directions calling for music.