20th Century Musical Styles: Impressionism to Modern Nationalism PDF

20th Century Musical Styles: Impressionism to Modern Nationalism LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Listens perceptively t o selected 20th century music. Describes distinctive musical elements of given pieces in 20th century styles. Relates 20th century music to its historical and cultural ba...

20th Century Musical Styles: Impressionism to Modern Nationalism LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Listens perceptively t o selected 20th century music. Describes distinctive musical elements of given pieces in 20th century styles. Relates 20th century music to its historical and cultural background. Explains the performance practice (setting, composition, role of composers/performers, and audience) of 20th century music.  What is IMPRESSIONISM in MUSIC? Impressionism in music was a movement among various composers in Western classical music, mainly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, whose music focuses on suggestion and atmosphere, "conveying the moods and emotions aroused by the subject rather than a detailed tone‐picture". A musical style that flourished from 1870- 1920. Characteristics of IMPRESSIONISM in Music? Irregular phrases Avoidance of traditional harmonic progression Implied orchestral color Ambiguity of form Unresolved dissonances Whole tone scales, frequent use of modality, exotic scales IMPRESSIONIST COMPOSER: CLAUDE DEBUSSY (1862-1918) A French composer Primary exponent of the impressionist movement He entered the Paris Conservatory in 1873. He gained a reputation as an erratic pianist and a rebel in theory and harmony. IMPRESSIONIST COMPOSER: CLAUDE DEBUSSY (1862-1918) In 1884, he won the top prize at the Prix de Rome competition with his composition L’Enfant Prodigue (The Prodigal Son). His works typically evoke a mood, feelings, atmosphere or scene He changed the course of musical development by dissolving traditional rules and conventions into a new language of possibilities in harmony, rhythm, form, texture, and color. IMPRESSIONIST COMPOSER: CLAUDE DEBUSSY (1862-1918) His musical compositions total more or less 227 which include orchestral music, chamber music, piano music, operas, ballets, songs, and other vocal music. Some of his signature works: - Claire de Lune (Moonlight) - La Mer -The Engulfed Cathedral - Prelude to the afternoon of a Faun IMPRESSIONIST COMPOSER: MAURICE RAVEL (1875-1937) Born in Ciboure, France to a Basque mother and a Swiss father. He entered the Paris Conservatory at the age of 14 The compositional style of Ravel is mainly characterized by its uniquely innovative but not atonal style of harmonic treatment. IMPRESSIONIST COMPOSER: MAURICE RAVEL (1875-1937) Ravel’s works include the following: - Pavane for a Dead Princess (1899), - Jeux d’Eau or Water Fountains (1901) - String Quartet (1903) - Sonatine for Piano (c.1904) - Miroirs (Mirrors), 1905, - Gaspard de la Nuit (1908), - Rhapsodie Espagnole - Bolero  What is EXPRESSIONISM in MUSIC? Expressionism in music revealed the composer’s mind, instead of presenting an impression of the environment. It used atonality and the twelve-tone scale, lacking stable and conventional harmonies. It served as a medium for expressing strong emotions, such as anxiety, rage, and alienation. It is largely centered in Germany and Austria from 1905-1925. Characteristics of IMPRESSIONISM in Music? Episodic, fragmentary form and structure Abrupt musical language Dashing dissonances Tonality, triadic harmony, and consonance vs. dissonance are not valid anymore Abstract procedures Great emotional intensity EXPRESSIONIST COMPOSER: ARNOLD SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) born in a working-class suburb of Vienna, Austria on September 13, 1874. A composer, painter and a self- taught musician. Credited with the establishment of the twelve-tone system. His musical compositions total more or less 213 which include concerti, orchestral music, piano music, operas, choral music, EXPRESSIONIST COMPOSER: ARNOLD SCHOENBERG (1874-1951) His works include the following: - Verklarte Nacht, Three Pieces for Piano, op. 11- - Pierrot Lunaire, - Gurreleider -Verklarte Nachtsongs EXPRESSIONIST COMPOSER: IGOR STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) He was born in Oranienbaum (now Lomonosov), Russia on June 17, 1882. Stravinsky’s early music reflected the influence of his teacher, the Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov His first successful masterpiece, The Firebird Suite (1910), EXPRESSIONIST COMPOSER: IGOR STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Stravinsky’s musical output approximates 127 works, including concerti, orchestral music, instrumental music, operas, ballets, solo vocal, and choral music. Some of his notable works include: - The Rite of Spring (1913) - Petrouchka (1911), What is NEOCLASSICISM in Music? Neoclassicism in music was a twentieth- century trend, particularly current in the interwar period, in which composers sought to return to aesthetic precepts associated with the broadly defined concept of "classicism", namely order, balance, clarity, economy, and emotional restraint. Neo-classicism was a partial return to a classical form of writing music with carefully modulated dissonances. Characteristics NEOCLASSICISM More clearly perceptible themes Revived forms of earlier periods (eg. romantic and baroque period) Avoided the exaggerated gestures and complex forms of late romanticism Characteristics borrowed from both the classical period and newer trends evolving at the time. More emotionally restrained NEOCLASSICISM COMPOSER: BELA BARTOK (1881-1945) Born in Nagyszentmiklos, Hungary (nowRomania) onMarch 25, 1881, to musical parents. He started piano lessons with his mother and later entered Budapest RoyalAcademy of Music in 1899. He was a concert pianist as he travelled exploring the music of Hungarian peasants. NEOCLASSICISM COMPOSER: BELA BARTOK (1881-1945) In 1906, with his fellow composer Kodaly, Bartok published his first collection of 20 Hungarian folk songs. His musical compositions total more or less 695 which include concerti, orchestral music, piano music, instrumental music, dramatic music, choral music, and NEOCLASSICISM COMPOSER: BELA BARTOK (1881-1945) Some of his notable works are the following: -Allegro Barbaro (1911) -Six String Quartets (1908– 1938) -Concerto for Orchestra (1943) - Mikrokosmos (1926–1939) What is AVANT-GARDE in Music? The avant garde style was associated with electronic music and dealt with the parameters or dimensions of sound in space. It made use of variations of self-contained note groups to change musical continuity, and improvisation, with an absence of traditional rules on harmony, melody, and rhythm. What is AVANT-GARDE in Music? Avant-garde, a French phrase meaning "vanguard" or (literally, "advance guard"), describes movements or individuals at the forefront of innovation and experimentation in their fields. Implicit in the term are the rejection of the status quo, a critique of popular convention and taste, and a striving for originality that can be intentionally provocative or alienating. AVANT-GARDE COMPOSER: GEORGE GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Born in New York to Russian Jewish immigrants. His first song was written in 1916 and his first Broadway musical La La Lucille in 1919. A true “crossover artist,” in the sense that his serious compositions remain highly popular in the classical repertoire, as his stage and film songs continue to be jazz and vocal standards. AVANT-GARDE COMPOSER: GEORGE GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Considered the “Father of American Jazz,” his “mixture of the primitive and the sophisticated” gave his music an appeal that has lasted long after his death. Hismusical compositions total around 369which include orchestralmusic, chamber music, musical theatre, film musicals, operas, and songs. AVANT-GARDE COMPOSER: GEORGE GERSHWIN (1898-1937) Some of his notable compositions: - La La Lucille in 1919 - Rhapsody in Blue (1924) - An American in Paris (1928) - Summertime AVANT-GARDE COMPOSER: LEONARD BERNSTEIN (1918-1990) A charismatic conductor, pianist, composer, and lecturer Born in Massachusetts, USA Bernstein’s philosophy was that the universal language of music is basically rooted in tonality. He achieved pre-eminence in two fields: conducting and composing for Broadway musicals, dance shows, and concert music. AVANT-GARDE COMPOSER: LEONARD BERNSTEIN (1918-1990) He composed the music for the film On the Waterfront (1954). As a lecturer, Bernstein is fondly remembered for his television series “Young People’s Concerts” (1958–1973) His musical compositions total around 90 AVANT-GARDE COMPOSER: LEONARD BERNSTEIN (1918-1990) Some of his noted works are as follows: - Tonight (West Side Story) - Candide (1956) - Mass (1971),  What is MODERN NATIONALISM in Music? Modern nationalism is a looser form of 20th century music development focused on nationalist composers and musical innovators who sought to combine modern techniques with folk materials. MODERN NATIONALISM COMPOSER: SERGEI PROKOFIEFF (1891-1953) Some of his notable works are as follows: - Visions Fugitive - The Gambler MODERN NATIONALISM COMPOSER: SERGEI PROKOFIEFF (1891-1953) Born April 23 1891, Sontsovka, Ukraine, Russian Empire A Soviet composer, pianist and conductor 20th-century Russian (and Soviet) composer who wrote in a wide range of musical genres, including symphonies, concerti, film music, operas, ballets, and program pieces. AVANT-GARDE COMPOSER: NIKOLAI RIMSKY KORSAKOV (1884-1908) Born March 6, 1844, Tikhvin, near Novgorod, Russia Russian composer, teacher, and editor who was at his best in descriptive orchestrations suggesting a mood or a place. He was a master of orchestration AVANT-GARDE COMPOSER: NIKOLAI RIMSKY KORSAKOV (1884-1908) Pan Voyevoda (1903), Kastchei. The Immortal (1902), the dramatic prologue Vera Sheloga (starring the great bass Chaliapin), the mystical and extraordinary opera The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh(1905), and The Golden Cockerel  20th Century Musical Styles: ELECTRONIC and CHANCE MUSIC ELECTRONIC MUSIC Music that uses electronic machines such as synthesizers, amplifiers, tape recorders, and loudspeakers to create different sounds. Music that uses the tape recorder is called musique concrete, or concrete music. The composer records different sounds that are heard in the environment such as the bustle of traffic, the sound of the wind, the barking of dogs, the strumming of a guitar, or the cry of an infant. ELECTRONIC MUSIC These sounds are arranged by the composer in different ways like by playing the tape recorder in its fastest mode or in reverse. In musique concrete, the composer is able to experiment with different sounds that cannot be produced by regular musical instruments such as the piano or the violin. ELECTRONIC- MUSIQUE CONCRETE COMPOSER: EDGARD VARESE (18183-1965) Born on December 22, 1883 in Paris, France. He was considered an “innovative French-born composer.” However, he spent the greater part of his life and career in the United States, where he pioneered and created new sounds that bordered between music and noise. ELECTRONIC- MUSIQUE CONCRETE COMPOSER: EDGARD VARESE (18183-1965) The musical compositions of Varese are characterized by an emphasis on timbre and rhythm. He invented the term “organized sound,” which means that certain timbres and rhythms can be grouped together in order to capture a whole new definition of sound. ELECTRONIC- MUSIQUE CONCRETE COMPOSER: EDGARD VARESE (18183-1965) Although his complete surviving works are scarce, he has been recognized to have influenced several major composers of the late 20th century. ELECTRONIC- MUSIQUE CONCRETE COMPOSER: EDGARD VARESE (18183-1965) Although his complete surviving works are scarce, he has been recognized to have influenced several major composers of the late 20th century. ELECTRONIC- MUSIQUE CONCRETE COMPOSER: EDGARD VARESE (18183-1965) Although his complete surviving works are scarce, he has been recognized to have influenced several major composers of the late 20th century. Varèse’s use of new instruments and electronic resources made him the “Father of Electronic Music” and he was described as the “Stratospheric Colossus of Sound.” ELECTRONIC- MUSIQUE CONCRETE COMPOSER: EDGARD VARESE (18183-1965) His musical compositions total around 50, with his advances in tape-based sound proving revolutionary during his time. Some of his works are as follows: - POÈME ÉLECTRONIQUE (1958) - IONISATION (1931) - AMERIQUES ELECTRONIC- MUSIQUE CONCRETE COMPOSER: KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN (1928– ) A central figure in the realm of electronic music. Born in Cologne, Germany. Stockhausen’s music was initially met with resistance due to its heavily atonal content with practically no clear melodic or rhythmic sense. Still, he continued to experiment with musique concrete. ELECTRONIC- MUSIQUE CONCRETE COMPOSER: KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN (1928– ) Some of his works include: - Gruppen (1957), a piece for three orchestras that moved music through time and space; - Kontakte (1960), a work that pushed the tape machine to its limits; and - the epic Hymnen (1965), an ambitious two-hour work of 40 juxtaposed songs and anthems from around the world. ELECTRONIC- MUSIQUE CONCRETE COMPOSER: KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN (1928– ) The climax of his compositional ambition came in 1977 when he announced the creation of Licht (Light), a seven-part opera (one for each day of the week) for a gigantic ensemble of solo voices, solo instruments, solo dancers, choirs, orchestras, mimes, and electronics. ELECTRONIC- MUSIQUE CONCRETE COMPOSER: KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN (1928– ) His recent Helicopter String Quartet, in which a string quartet performs whilst airborne in four different helicopters, develops his long-standing fascination with music which moves in space. It has led him to dream of concert halls in which the sound attacks the listener from every direction. Stockhausen’s works total around 31. He presently resides in Germany. CHANCE MUSIC Chance music refers to a style wherein the piece always sounds different at every performance because of the random techniques of production, including the use of ring modulators or natural elements that become a part of the music. Most of the sounds emanate from the surroundings, both natural and man-made, such as honking cars, rustling leaves, blowing wind, dripping water, or a ringing phone. CHANCE MUSIC The combination of external sounds cannot be duplicated as each happens by chance. CHANCE MUSIC COMPOSER: JOHN CAGE (1912–1992) He was born in Los Angeles, California, USA on September 5, 1912. Became one of the most original composers in the history of western music. He challenged the very idea of music by manipulating musical instruments in order to achieve new sounds. ELECTRONIC- MUSIQUE CONCRETE COMPOSER: JOHN CAGE (1912–1992) He experimented with what came to be known as “chance music.” His involvement with Zen Buddhism inspired him to compose Music of Changes (1951),written for conventional piano, that employed chance compositional processes. CHANCE MUSIC COMPOSER: JOHN CAGE (1912–1992) He became famous for his composition Four Minutes and 33 Seconds (4’33"), a chance musical work that instructed the pianist to merely open the piano lid and remain silent for the length of time indicated by the title. CHANCE MUSIC COMPOSER JOHN CAGE (1912–1992) Cage also advocated bringing real-life experiences into the concert hall. This reached its extreme when he composed a work that required him to fry mushrooms on stage in order to derive the sounds from the cooking process. CHANCE MUSIC COMPOSER: JOHN CAGE (1912–1992) Cage influenced the development of modern music since the 1950s. He was considered more of a musical philosopher than a composer. His conception of what music can and should be has had a profound impact upon his contemporaries. CHANCE MUSIC COMPOSER: JOHN CAGE (1912–1992) He was active as a writer presenting his musical views with both wit and intelligence. Cage was an important force in other artistic areas especially dance and musical theater. His musical compositions total around 229.