Test 5 Flashcards
John Cage
American composer who studied with Cowell and Schoenberg
John Cage
Had an early interest in non-western music. Also Hindu thought and Zen Buddhism
John Cage
Early compositions reflected interest in rhythm and percussion as well as dance. Pioneer of percussion music
John Cage
Believed any sound Can be used to create music.
John Cage
First Construction in Metal is associated with
First Construction in Metal
Uses auto brake drums, sheet metal, steel pipes, etc. as percussion instruments
Led to the invention of the prepared piano
What did the First Construction in Metal do?
Objects are attached to piano strings and alter the timbre and create percussion sounds
Prepared Piano
John Cage
Believed there is no such thing as silence. 4’33” made this point. Music is intended sound, and silence is unintended sound.
John Cage
Innovator of indeterminacy
Chance music! An attempt to structure a composition so that no two performances are alike
What is Indeterminacy?
He liked the idea that he could listen to a performance of one of his pieces and hear it for the first time like the audience.
What intrigued John Cage about indeterminacy?
Imaginary Landscapes #4 for 12 radios
An example of Indeterminacy
Krzysztof Penderecki
Foremost Polish composer of 20th century
Krzysztof Penderecki
Studied in Kracow Conservatory
Krzysztof Penderecki
In late 50’s he entered 3 compositions anonymously in competition contest and won the first three prizes
Krzysztof Penderecki
Bypassed serial procedures and embarked on a highly individual style of composition
Krzysztof Penderecki
Sound masses - tone color - aleatoric rhythmic structure as well as conventional composition techniques and incorporated in a personal style which has found acceptance with public as well as the musical world
Krzysztof Penderecki
Music uses many new techniques of producing sounds on conventional instruments
Krzysztof Penderecki
Invented new notational symbols to accommodate his new effects
Krzysztof Penderecki
Frequent use of micro-tones to explore textures outside of equal temperament
Olivier Messiaen
French composer
Olivier Messiaen
His music frequently centers around subject matter of his faith (Roman Catholicism) and one of his lifelong avocations, ornithology
Olivier Messiaen
His style is eclectic including tonality, atonality, and non-retrogradable rhythms
Steve Reich
American composer writing in a style called minimalism
Steve Reich
Minimalism was a reaction to the complexities, atonality and aleatory of the 50’s and 60’s
Tonality, strong sense of pulse, repetition, and slow evolution of harmonic progress
What are features of minimalism?
Benjamin Britten
Born in England
Benjamin Britten
Studied at the Royal Academy of Music, foremost composer since Holst and Vaughn Williams
Benjamin Britten
Moved to US from 1939-1942, then back to England
Benjamin Britten
Large output, had pieces in all genres
Benjamin Britten
Conservative in style, but quite creative with wonderful technique
Benjamin Britten
War Requiem, Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, and opera Peter Grimes are his best known works
Benjamin Britten
One of the 20th century’s most prolific opera composers
John Cage listening
Sonata #5 for prepared piano
Olivier Messiaen listening
Three Small Liturgies for the Divine Presence (movement 2)
Krzysztof Penderecki listening
Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima
Steve Reich listening
Sextet (movement 5)
Benjamin Britten listening
Young person’s guide to the orchestra
