unit 6 modernism Flashcards
modernism
continuation of rejection of Industrial Revolution that began in Romantic era, also break w/ Romanticism and bourgeois social order
Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)
Composer, theorist, and founder of Second Viennese School. Involved Atonality and serialism (uses all 12 pitches)
Mondestrunken - Schoenberg (1912)
atonal song, no tonal center, with Sprechstimme- technique from recitative in which speech rhythm is favored
Igor Stravinsky
Russian composer of “Rite of Spring” ballet . Moved to Paris to compose ballets and got attention of Russian impresario
Rite of Spring (1913)
Ballet about ritual spring selection of girl who dances to death. Incorporates Russian folk melodies, polytonality, complex meter
Bela Bartok (1881-1945)
Hungarian composer and ethnomusicologist. Collected Hungarian folk songs in 1910s using phonograph
Bela- Bartok”Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs” (1920)
His improvisations are inspired by his phonograph recordings. With indigenous tonality of melodies with ambiguous tonality of modern music
William Grant Still (1895-1978)
The “Dean” of African American composers in 20th century from Mississippi. Influenced by Coleridge-Taylor
Musical modernism is a reflection of what?
growing unease of structures of society
Schoenberg - “Variations for Orchestra” (1928)
Clear Example of- 12 Tone Method. Follows and contrasts neoclassical period = return to older forms. Atonal introduction
“Darker America” - William Grant Still
Response to Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Incorporated jazz melody and harmony and Was Not received well by the public cus Racism
Florence Price (1887-1953)
Passed as Mexican to avoid prejudice as African American. First African-American woman to win widespread recognition as a symphonic composer.
Florence Price- “Symphony No. 1 in E Minor”
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
Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
Turned to serialism and other modern techniques after the war. Then turned to film music. Influence recognizable in films depicting American landscapes.
Aaron Copland- “ Appalachian Spring”
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
Milton Babbitt- “Composition for Four Instruments” (1948)
Piece an example of post-war interest in serialism. Applies serial technique in rhythm and pitch. atonal clarinet intro
John Cage - “4’33” (1952)
Piece epitomizes Cage’s idea that any sounds may constitute music
Edgard Varese - “Poeme Electronique” (1958)
work uses non-musical sounds throughout. Uses Musique Concrete- sounds from the “real world”
Hale Smith (1925-2009)
African American composer and teacher. Taught at UConn yuh. His work “Contours” was commissioned by BMI
Hale Smith- “Contours” (1961)
Serial influenced work with jazz elements
Steve Reich- “Music for 18 Musicians” (1976)
Work marked by repetitive rhythms and slow harmonic rhythm. Reffered to Perotin’s Organum as an influence
George Walker -“Lilacs” (1996)
Setting of four stanzas of, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” -Lincoln elegy. Won Pulitzer Prize, harmonically ambiguous. Woman singing + orchestra
Caroline Shaw- “Partita for 8 Voices” (2012)
Uses extended vocal techniques from many cultures and square dancing directions. Partita- Baroque genre consisting of several movements or suite of dances
