Da Capo
From the beginning
"Da Capo" (abbreviated as "D.C".) is a common musical term originating from Italian, meaning "from the beginning". This instruction is used in sheet music to indicate that performers should return to the beginning of a piece or a designated section and replay a portion or the entire composition.
When "D.C". is encountered in sheet music, performers are instructed to go back to the beginning of the piece and restart. This instruction is often used in conjunction with other markings, such as "D.C. al Fine", where "Fine" is another Italian term meaning "end". This means that performers should return to the beginning and continue playing until they reach the point marked "Fine", at which they should stop playing.
The use of "Da Capo" allows for the creation of repetitive structures in music, adding variety and richness to the composition. Performers can return to the beginning as directed, but they may also add variations or embellishments with each repetition to enhance the expressiveness of the music.
This instruction is very common in classical music, especially in works such as symphonies, concertos, and operas. It provides clear guidance on the structure of the piece, enabling performers to faithfully execute the composer's intentions while also introducing a formal element of repetition into the music.
Example of Da Capo
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Canon in D
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer, the predominant musical figure during the transition between the Classical to Romantic eras. He occupies an unprecedented dominance in the history of Western music history, and has been widely regarded as the greatest, most influential and most popular musician who ever lived.
Beethoven's music inherited the artistic atmosphere of Haydn and Mozart, penetrated the desire for dignity, vented the anger tortured by fate, and demonstrated his determination to fight with fate.
Compared to other musicians, Beethoven is effectively to interact the philosophy of life with audience through music. Although he was not a romantic, he had become the object followed by other romantics.
As a musician, Beethoven suffered from ear diseases. However, he was unwilling to succumb to fate, vowing to take fate by the throat, and continue to complete his career. In the last ten years of his life, without hearing any sound, his compositions influenced the development of music for nearly two hundred years.
