Listening Quiz #2 Flashcards
Who wrote Sonic Contours?
Vladimir Ussachavsky (1911-1991)
When was Sonic Contours written?
1952
Who was Ussachevsky? [3 main points]
- pioneer of EM
- co-founder of Colombia-Princeton Electronic Music Centre
- most of his EM pieces include real sounds that have been manipulated.
What does Sonic Contours sound like?
twinkly, as if you’re in space. Could also be in a horror movie.
Has a random piano part w delay/echo
Who wrote Poeme Electronique?
Edgar Varése (1883-1965)
When was Poeme Electronique written?
1957-58 ish
Poeme Electronique is acknowledged as what?
“earliest masterpieces of electronic music”
What is the context of Poem Electronique’s production? [3 main points]
- written to be used at the world’s fair in Brussels
- originally played from 3 tracks over 100s of loudspeakers
- you could walk through the piece (unique)
What does Poeme Electronique sound like?
- creaking sound, like a door
- lots of eerie noises, sounds like feedback
- FEATURES REAL SOUNDS & PURELY ELECTRONIC SOUNDS
- recurring rising three-note figure vs the electronically distorted woman’s voice
When/why did Varése stop making music?
- composed instrumental music in the 1920’s but stopped for nearly 30 years
> he was annoyed w the limitations of traditional musical instruments.
Who wrote Gesang der Junglinge?
Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007)
When was Gesang der Junglinge written?
1955
main wave & sound used in Stockhausen’s piece?
- sine waves
- young boy singing excerpts from the book of Daniel
context of Gesang der junglinge?
the performance uses SPATIAL PLACEMENT»_space; was recorded on multiple tracks & played over 5 speakers surrounding the audience
The composition of Gesang der Junglingle reflects…?
…the serial thought current at the time (bc he divides speech + sound and performs operations on them)
Who wrote Variations pour une porte et un soupir?
Pierre Henry (1927-2017)
When was ‘Variations pour une porte et un soupir’ written?
1963
Who was Pierre Henry? [3 points]
- early pioneer of musique concrete
- studied at Paris Conservatoire
- from age 15 he experimented with sounds
- first formally educated musician to dedicate all energy into EM
Characterise Pierre Henry’s piece: START, MIDDLE + END
START
- door creaking
- sounds like sneakers against a gym floor
MIDDLE
- more upbeat, scratching sound
- multiple door creaks
- bed squeaks
END
- higher pitch door
- sounds like an altered trumpet sound
- aggressive knocking + exhaling
Who did Pierre Henry collab with & what did they make (1950)?
Schaeffer
composed Symphonie pour un homme seul»_space; made composition using sounds of the body
What piece did Charles Dodge write?
Any Resemblance is Purely Coincidental (1978)
What is Any Resemblance based on?
based on Enrico Caruso’s 1902 orchestra Vesti la giubba
How was Any Resemblance created?
voice was manipulated to sing
Dodge had a live pianist accompanying the piece
characterise Any Resemblance
- an opera voice
- deep, mellow piano accompaniment
