unit 6 modernism

Question 1

modernism

Answer 1

continuation of rejection of Industrial Revolution that began in Romantic era, also break w/ Romanticism and bourgeois social order

Question 2

Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)

Answer 2

Composer, theorist, and founder of Second Viennese School. Involved Atonality and serialism (uses all 12 pitches)

Question 3

Mondestrunken - Schoenberg (1912)

Answer 3

atonal song, no tonal center, with Sprechstimme- technique from recitative in which speech rhythm is favored

Question 4

Igor Stravinsky

Answer 4

Russian composer of “Rite of Spring” ballet . Moved to Paris to compose ballets and got attention of Russian impresario

Question 5

Rite of Spring (1913)

Answer 5

Ballet about ritual spring selection of girl who dances to death. Incorporates Russian folk melodies, polytonality, complex meter

Question 6

Bela Bartok (1881-1945)

Answer 6

Hungarian composer and ethnomusicologist. Collected Hungarian folk songs in 1910s using phonograph

Question 7

Bela- Bartok”Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs” (1920)

Answer 7

His improvisations are inspired by his phonograph recordings. With indigenous tonality of melodies with ambiguous tonality of modern music

Question 7

William Grant Still (1895-1978)

Answer 7

The “Dean” of African American composers in 20th century from Mississippi. Influenced by Coleridge-Taylor

Question 7

Musical modernism is a reflection of what?

Answer 7

growing unease of structures of society

Question 8

Schoenberg - “Variations for Orchestra” (1928)

Answer 8

Clear Example of- 12 Tone Method. Follows and contrasts neoclassical period = return to older forms. Atonal introduction

Question 8

“Darker America” - William Grant Still

Answer 8

Response to Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Incorporated jazz melody and harmony and Was Not received well by the public cus Racism

Question 8

Florence Price (1887-1953)

Answer 8

Passed as Mexican to avoid prejudice as African American. First African-American woman to win widespread recognition as a symphonic composer.

Question 9

Florence Price- “Symphony No. 1 in E Minor”

Answer 9

Won first prize in Rodman Wanamaker Competition in 1932. Third mvmnt uses rhythm from a juba(elaborate form of handclapping that accompanied improv dance) dance. Inspired by New World Symphony

Question 10

Aaron Copland (1900-1990)

Answer 10

Turned to serialism and other modern techniques after the war. Then turned to film music. Influence recognizable in films depicting American landscapes.

Question 11

Aaron Copland- “ Appalachian Spring”

Answer 11

Originally chamber piece for 13 instruments as “Ballet for Martha”. Work has a program of 8 sections tracing scenes from the life of young people

Question 12

Milton Babbitt- “Composition for Four Instruments” (1948)

Answer 12

Piece an example of post-war interest in serialism. Applies serial technique in rhythm and pitch. atonal clarinet intro

Question 13

John Cage - “4’33” (1952)

Answer 13

Piece epitomizes Cage’s idea that any sounds may constitute music

Question 14

Edgard Varese - “Poeme Electronique” (1958)

Answer 14

work uses non-musical sounds throughout. Uses Musique Concrete- sounds from the “real world”

Question 15

Hale Smith (1925-2009)

Answer 15

African American composer and teacher. Taught at UConn yuh. His work “Contours” was commissioned by BMI

Question 16

Hale Smith- “Contours” (1961)

Answer 16

Serial influenced work with jazz elements

Question 17

Steve Reich- “Music for 18 Musicians” (1976)

Answer 17

Work marked by repetitive rhythms and slow harmonic rhythm. Reffered to Perotin’s Organum as an influence

Question 18

George Walker -“Lilacs” (1996)

Answer 18

Setting of four stanzas of, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” -Lincoln elegy. Won Pulitzer Prize, harmonically ambiguous. Woman singing + orchestra

Question 19

Caroline Shaw- “Partita for 8 Voices” (2012)

Answer 19

Uses extended vocal techniques from many cultures and square dancing directions. Partita- Baroque genre consisting of several movements or suite of dances