Brian Manahan

As the national anthem of the United States of America, “The Star-Spangled Banner” is often cherished with patriotic sentiment by American citizens. Often while heard, the iconic description of the resilient American flag in the lyrics and grandiose nature of the music seem to be inherently representative of American culture. Interestingly, however, the American national anthem … [Read more...] about The Ironic Origins of the Star-Spangled Banner

As a monumental ruler, Charlemagne is largely remembered as the first Holy Roman Emperor who advocated Christianity and expanded the education system within his realm. As he was engaged in his ambitious military tactics and conquests while still king of the Franks, Charlemagne strategically sought to maintain his realm with a politically unified culture. Most prominent was his … [Read more...] about Music as Political Tactic to Unify an Empire

With the formation of Israel and its declaration as a sovereign nation on May 14th 1948, open warfare between Israel and Arab forces has been a central issue and has continuously arisen. In particular, conflict between the Palestinians of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel led to increasing hostility between the residing Arabs and Israelis. As Palestinians … [Read more...] about Western Classical Music Tradition: A Transferable Pacifier

Music today is largely appreciated as a creative art. Even when studied at academic institutions, music is mainly studied as an art form. In ancient Greece, however, the nature of music was interpreted as an art of numbers and proportions and not just solely considered an art of human creation. The ancient Greeks interpreted music as a numerically based explanation of the … [Read more...] about Music and its Mathematical Principles Applied to the Cosmos in Ancient Greece

The disparity of opinions concerning classical music and hip-hop music are generally acknowledged. Those in favor of the classical music genre typically advocate its long-standing cultural development over centuries, the high level of training required for a presentable level of performance, and the frequent intricacy required in order to appreciate its content. While those in … [Read more...] about Ice Cube and Shostakovich: Voices of the Ugly Truth from Two Different Worlds