Early C20 Modernism

Question 1

When was the Belle Epoque?

Answer 1

early 20th century

Question 2

What spurred on French nationalism in the Belle Epoque?

Answer 2

Loss in the Prussian war, separation from Germany

Question 3

When was Debussy exposed to the Gamelan?

Answer 3

Exhibition 1889

Question 4

When was Monet’s Impression painted?

Answer 4

1872

Question 5

When was La Mer composed?

Answer 5

1902-05

Question 6

What kind of Poetry did Mallarme write?

Answer 6

Symbolist

Question 7

What were the French and Russian Ballet schools called?

Answer 7

Ballet d’Coeur
Ballet Russe

Question 8

Who were the leaders of the Ballet Russe?

Answer 8

Diaghilev (brought ballet to France in 1909)
Stravinsky (Composer)
Fokine (Choreographer)
Nijinski (Dancer/choreographer)

Question 9

What was the first season of the Ballet Russe called?

Answer 9

Le Pavillon d’Armide

Question 10

What are the first two eras of the Ballet Russe?

Answer 10

1909-1912: Fokine, more romantic
1912-1913: Nijinski, more modern

Question 11

Name three of Stravinsky’s commissions for the Ballet Russe.

Answer 11

Firebird 1910
Petrushka 1911
The Rite of Spring 1913

Question 12

When was Expressionism at its strongest?

Answer 12

1905-1930

Question 13

Name two Expressionist artworks

Answer 13

The scream: Edward Munch
Starry night: Vincent van Gogh

Question 14

Name two sub-genres of Expressionist painting

Answer 14

Fauvism
Cubism

Question 15

Who composed Elektra in 1909?

Answer 15

Richard Strauss

Question 16

Who composed Bluebeard’s castle in 1911?

Answer 16

Bartok

Question 17

Name the two genres that Schoenberg’s works fit it, under the umbrella of modernism

Answer 17

Expressionism
Neo-classicism

Question 18

What are Schoenberg’s 4 composition eras?

Answer 18

til 1905: early
til1912: Tonal
til 1923: Free Atonal
til 1920s: Serial

Question 19

Who was in the first Viennese School?

Answer 19

Haydn
Mozart
Beethoven

Question 20

Who was in the Second Viennese School?

Answer 20

Schoenberg
Weber
Berg

Question 21

When was Pelleas und Mellesande composed? (Symphonic poem)

Answer 21

1904 Schoenberg

Question 22

When were Schoenberg’s 5 orchestral pieces and Erwartung composed?

Answer 22

1909

Question 23

What are the reasons for the connection between France and Russia?

Answer 23

Protection
Exoticism
Artistic connections (ballet)
Innovation
Turning away from Wagner

Question 24

Describe some of Debussy’s artistic influences.

Answer 24

Gamelan: Phrygian mode
worked for a Russian patroness
could sight-read any score
followed rules of ‘mon plaisir’

Question 25

Describe the 3 distinctive parts of Debussy’s compositions.

Answer 25

Harmony: Pentatonic, whole tone, modal
Form/structure: less likely to be in regular patterns
Texture/sonority/timbre: less reliance on strings

Question 26

Where did Debussy study and win the Prix de Rome?

Answer 26

Conservatoire

Question 27

What is Impressionism?

Answer 27

Looseness of style
experiment with light
capturing what is seen, not replicating exactly
titled, but subjective
Overlap of the arts

Question 28

What symbolist techniques does Debussy use in Pelleas et Melisande?

Answer 28

Leitmotifs
freedom of forms
ariozos (no distinct songs)
disjointed time, place and manner

Question 29

What was Stravinsky’s dominant style?

Answer 29

Modernism and expressionism
Russian style

Question 30

What techniques are used in Firebird?

Answer 30

Romantic, sweeping themes
Rousing and Russians

Question 31

What techniques are used in Petrushka?

Answer 31

Two tonalities clashing
Rhythmic energy
NOT introspection

Question 32

What is the subject matter of The Rite of Spring?

Answer 32

Pictures of pagan Russia
Primitivsm
Modernism and avant garde

Question 33

What is Expressionism?

Answer 33

hyper-romanticism
violence
extreme sensibility

Question 34

Name 6 themes in Stravinsky’s work

Answer 34

Russian Nationalism
Primitivism
Expressionism
Musical contrast
Ostinato
Dissonance

Question 35

What are the roots of Expressionism?

Answer 35

Reaction against naturalism
Failure of Romantic optimism
Freudian psychoanalysis
Austro-German movement
Rise of Socialist movement

Question 36

What expressionist painting did Schoenberg paint?

Answer 36

The Red Gaze

Question 37

What was Schoenberg’s occupation?

Answer 37

Charismatic writer, philosopher, composer, teacher

Question 38

What techniques does Schoenberg employ?

Answer 38

Atonality
Pan-tonality (no note hierarchy)
high level of dissonance
Expressionism/ neoclassicism

Question 39

How did the public recieve Schoenberg’s 5 orchestral pieces?

Answer 39

1/3 hissing
1/3 laughing
1/3 confused

Question 40

What did Hanslick write in 1854?

Answer 40

On the Musically Beautiful

Question 41

Ambrose said: “art evolves, progresses….

Answer 41

It never develops by leaps”

Question 42

Stravinsky said: “Strive…

Answer 42

towards a greater abstraction”

Question 43

Stravinsky said: “The fear…

Answer 43

of nature before the arising of beauty”

Question 44

Stravinsky said: “one…

Answer 44

admires or rejects”

Question 45

Stravinsky said: “Expression has…

Answer 45

never been an inherent property of music”

Question 46

Schoenberg said (about the chamber symphony no.1): “Concision…

Answer 46

and brevity”

Question 47

Schoenberg said: “To represent…

Answer 47

maximum spiritual excitement” (Erwartung)

Question 48

Debussy follows the rules of:

Answer 48

“mon plaisir” (my pleasure)