The 20th Century

05/02/23 1

The 20th CenturyThe Twentieth Century

Listen to This By Mark Evan Bonds 6-2Listen to This By Mark Evan Bonds

PRENTICE HALL©2009 Pearson Education, Inc.Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458

The Twentieth Century--Overview

Pace of everything, including stylistic changes in music, increased dramatically in this century. Audiences had greater access to varied styles of music. Composers created new and novel approaches to musical

sounds, forms, and other elements. Inclusion of musical elements from the past merged with

new ways of combining them. Influence of African American and Latin music was seen

in all realms of music. Audiences didn’t always know how to respond to these

changes--a pattern of shock and then acceptance became common.




Audio technology exploded. Listeners could hear music when and where they chose.

Cylinder disk--1877 78 RPM records (vinyl)--1897 Radio stations--1920’s Audiotape--1940’s (reel-to-reel) Later--film, television, 8-track tapes, cassette tapes, CD’s, internet,

MP3 players Technology changed the way music was produced and distributed.

Sounds could be manipulated in the studio without live musicians.

Electronic sounds and recording techniques gave complete quality control to composers/performers.




Diversity in cultures, music, and other aspects of life became appreciated and celebrated. Segregation yielded to integration in multiple aspects of

life in the United States. Idea of social melting pot gave way --> society is a

mosaic of different cultures and traditions, each contributing something important to a bigger whole.

The world became smaller; globalization became the norm. Transportation made the world more accessible. Music became a global phenomenon.



Pablo Picasso’s Violin and Grapes

An example of “cubism” in Modern Art

Perspective is very distorted.

Viewer can see aspects of violins and of grapes throughout the painting.



Music & the Musician in Society More 20th century music presented by

orchestras in 1950s Modern compositions commissioned by ballet &

opera companies More women active in composing-Amy Beach,

Nadia Boulanger Many foreign composers came to America due

to political unrest in Europe American colleges, universities train & employ

leading musicians, today’s patrons



Impressionism First, an artistic movement advanced by French

painters like Claude Monet, Pierre Renoir, and Edgar Degas, in late 1860’s

Used short, visible brush strokes to produce sensations, rather than representations of objects

Impressionist music: blurring of harmonies, rhythms, forms; avoiding clear cadences ad rhythmic patterns

Orchestral Colors: delicate sounds preferred: flutes, oboes, clarinets, muted strings, harp, muted brasses, antique cymbals and triangles, gentle percussion sounds



Impressionism in Music Scales: nontraditional scales: tendency to

avoid key center Debussy exposed to these at Paris

Expositions of 1878 and 1889 Pentatonic: 5 notes to octave Whole tone: all intervals equal: 7 tones to

octave Chromatic: using half steps; 12 tones in

the octave



Impressionism in Music Rhythms

Asymmetrical and vague beats with complex subdivisions (7, 11, 13)

Harmony: extended chords stacked in 3rds: the 13th chord has all notes of diatonic scale;, Chords move in parallel motion (forbidden in traditional harmony

Melody: wandering, relaxed, unstressed



Claude Debussy(1862 - 1918)

Born just outside of Paris during the U.S. Civil War and died just before the end of WWI--life straddled 2 centuries.

Studied piano and composition at the Paris Conservatory. Won Prix de Rome and studied there for a while, but returned

to Paris. Rejected many of the conventions of composition and sought

to create new sounds. A master of orchestration Expanded the limits of harmony. Didn’t like the term “Impressionism.”



Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, 1894

“Free illustration of the beautiful poem by Stephane Mallarme”



Claude Debussy in 1911



A Caricature of Stravinsky at the Keyboard



Igor Stravinsky The Rite of Spring Part One

A ballet--premiered in 1913 in Paris and caused a riot

Commissioned for the Ballets Russes (The Russian Ballet in Paris).

The scenario (story): young girl dances herself to death while sage elders look on.

Divided into 2 parts: The Adoration of the Earth The Sacrifice



The Rite of Spring First performed in 1913 in Paris at the Theatre of

the Champs-Elysées by prestigious company, Ballet Russes.

Audience was unaccustomed to dissonant sounds, shocked by Nijinsky’s avant-garde choreography and pagan rituals.

First laughing, then heckling and protesting, finally breaking into a riot that spilled out into streets of Paris.




Harmony--polytonal--2 tonalities going on at the same time Difficult to hear either tonal center. Each harmony sounds good alone, but put them

together and they are dissonant. Melody--many are pentatonic

Captures a folk-like sound From Russian folk songs Brief and full of repetitions--small fragments

repeated and varied many times




Rhythm--very irregular at times Frequent meter changes Offset by frequent ostinato figures--a single

rhythmic or rhythmic-melodic figure is repeated over and over again.

Timbre--the Mega-Orchestra A huge ensemble with large woodwind, brass, and

percussion sections, as well as a string section




A musical choreographic work Represents pagan Russia. Unified by a single idea--the mystery and great

surge of creative power of Spring. Has no real plot.

Form: Through-composed in two parts The Adoration of the Earth--many dancers

represent various spring rites and rituals. The Great Sacrifice--a young girl sacrifices herself

while the old men watch. Little repetition between sections of the work



The Rite of SpringPerformed by the Kirov Ballet



Igor Stravinsky (1882 - 1971) Stravinsky--constantly reinvented himself. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia. Father was a famous operatic bass singer. Studied composition with Rimsky-Korsakov Was a neoclassicist--a composer who retained musical elements

from the past while experimenting with new ones. Came to Los Angeles at beginning of WWII. Lectured at Harvard, moved to Los Angeles; citizenship in 1945. Later in life, he started writing 12-tone music--a break from his earlier

style. One of the century’s 2 greatest composers (Schoenberg) Connected well with audiences. Died in New York City; buried in Venice, his favorite city.



Stravinsky Visits Debussy



Expressionism Music, painting, poetry developed in Vienna in early

20th century. Rejection of “Impressionism” with its focus on the

“outer” world; focus on “inner” world, described by Sigmund Freud; desperate intensity of feeling.

Three leading composers: Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern, Alban Berg

Three leading painters: Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee

Three leading writers-Frederich Nietzsche, Tennessee Williams, James Joyce



Expressionism



Expressionism: Musical Characteristics

Atonality--careful construction of melodies and harmonies to avoid a tonal center, “absence of key”

The 12-tone system of composition Developed by Schoenberg circa 1923 Also called serial or dodecaphonic method Involves creating a set of pitches in a certain

order (register--which octave pitch is in--doesn’t matter)

No pitch repeats until entire row has been heard



Arnold Schoenberg Pierrot lunaire “Columbine”

“Columbine”--one of a set of 21 songs for soprano and a small ensemble of instruments--Pierrot lunaire

A piece that represents expressionism--an artistic movement in music, painting, and literature--concerned with expression of inner moods and thoughts, giving voice to the unconscious, to humanity’s deepest and darkest emotions.



A Modern Pierrot Note the facial

expression depicting longing and anxiety.

Pierrot’s character was subject to many mood changes.




Pierrot--a clown in an improvisational type of theater that originated in the Renaissance in Italy but spread throughout Europe--commedia dell’arte Other characters--Harlequin, Punch, and Judy Pierrot is the lovesick character who is always pining

away. Based on Albert Giraud’s Pierrot lunaire--a cycle of

poems. “Columbine”--another character--a sharp-witted

maidservant linked romantically to Harlequin. Pierrot laments that she has rebuffed him.




Timbre--soprano sings throughout in a manner that is between speech and song--called Sprechstimme (“Speech-voice”). Singer hits precise pitches but doesn’t hold them. Creates an eerie, disassociated sort of sound that

fits with the text of Pierrot lunaire. Different from earlier recitative--notes are

delivered slowly so sound of voice trails off at end of each word--sounds like slow, exaggerated talking.




Harmony--completely atonal No sense of tonal center No sense of resolution or harmonic closure

Word-Music Relationships--Pierrot is anguished and expresses this through his song. He sings of “miraculous white roses” that he

wants to spread on Columbine’s hair. The music mimics petals dropping--flute and

clarinet play a repeated three-note figure.



Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) Grew up in Vienna; learned violin. Worked in a bank to support

family after father passed away. Mostly self-taught as composer,

started as Neo-Romantic, moved toward Expressionism.

Became music director at Berlin cabaret.

Returned to Vienna, but served in Austrian army in WWI.



Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) Formulated 12-tone method between 1918

and 1923, used exclusively for all works. Appointed professor of composition at Berlin

Academy of Arts. Fled to U.S. from Germany when Hitler

seized power because he was Jewish. Lived in Southern California and became a

U.S. citizen. Taught at Univ. of Southern CA and UCLA.



Arnold Schoenberg (1874 - 1951)

A tortured soul who never felt he fit anywhere He believed he was extending the work of Bach,

Beethoven, and Brahms, but he was not accepted. Born Jewish, converted to Christianity, and then went

back to Judaism. Searched for a new system of organizing music--

founded the twelve tone system. All 12 notes in octave played before any is repeated. All notes equally important.

Appointed to faculty of California universities.



Arnold Schoenberg Other Compositions

Variations for Orchestra--a series of variations on a 12-tone theme

A Survivor from Warsaw--a cantata for narrator, male chorus, and orchestra



A Survivor from Warsaw, Op. 46 (1947)

Cantata for narrator, male chorus, orchestra

Deals with single episode in murder of 6 Jews by Nazis

Schoenberg wrote text, based on direct report by one survivor

Uses sprechstimme, twelve-tone, 6 minutes



12-Tone Composition The most widely used and systematic means

for avoiding repetition to avoid tonality; also called serial composition.

The melody is called a tone row. Rows could be manipulated:

Forward Backward (retrograde) Inverted (inversion) Backward and inverted (retrograde inversion)



Matrix for Serial Composition



Serial Music Serial Music is composed systematically--somewhat like

following a mathematical formula. Once the tone-row is established, the composer decides

how to transform it. Pieces tend to be short and concise. For example, Webern’s Symphony only lasts 10 minutes

(compare to Mahler’s Third (1 hr. 20 min.). Sounds fragmented and dissonant; difficult for audience to

follow. Klangfarbenmelodie-”Tone Color Melody”

Instruments maintaining constant pitches drop in and out of an orchestral texture, creating a melody of different tone colors



Alban Berg (1885-1935) Born in Vienna; worked as a

government accountant. Studied composition with

Schoenberg at 19. Chronically ill, did not perform

or conduct Served in Austrian army

during WWI. Composed opera, Wozzeck,

to capture turmoil of common people during wartime.



Wozzeck Opera, libretto

adapted from Georg Buchner play

Three parts I. Exposition II. Development III. Recapitulation Different from

Sonata Form



Wozzeck Each act contains five scenes organized

around specific musical form or compositional technique(Ex. Act III-Theme & Variations) Scene 1-on theme Scene 2-on single tone Scene 3-on rhythm pattern Scene 4-on chord Scene 5-continuous running noteDid not intend for audience to be aware of forms



Wozzeck Plot

Franz Wozzeck, incompetent soldier, persecuted by captain, guinea pig for demented doctor; Mistress Marie cheats on him, he stabs her then drowns trying to wash away blood



Neoclassicism: An Approach to Composition

A creative approach to producing new music by using resources from former musical style periods

Idea = composer could incorporate any aspect of music from any/several previous style period(s) in a piece

“Back to Bach” attitude; turning away from program music & large orchestras



Neoclassical Composers and Compositions

France Erik Satie Francis Poulenc Darius Milhaud

United Kingdom Edward Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance Ralph Vaughan Williams Gustav Holst: The Planets Benjamin Britten: The Young Person’s Guide to the

Orchestra



Important Neoclassical Composers and Some

Compositions Germany

Paul Hindemith Carl Orff: Carmina burana

Central Europe Bela Bartók

Latin America Heitor Villa-Lobos Carlos Chávez



Bela Bartok(1881-1945) Hungary Studied piano & composition at

Budapest Royal Academy of Music

Concert pianist & teacher Collected folk songs with Zoltan

Kodaly Used fokd melodies in

nationalistic music Fled to US upon Nazi occupation Taught at Columbia University Died of leukemia



Concerto for Orchestra(1943) $1000 commission from Boston Symphony Orchestra Called concerto because single instruments and sections

are treated in concerted way(Baroque style) Movements independent of each other, no themes

carried over Five movements

I. based on interval of fourth II. “Games of Pairs”-instruments paired off at specific pitch intervals III. “lugubrious death-song”-folklike melody, oboe IV. “Interrupted Intermezzo”-opening melody, Hungarian folklike quality

pentatonic scale; 3rd theme adapted from Shostakovich 7th Symphony, display revulsion of Nazis

V. Large three part form, running notes, contrapuntal



Charles IvesThe Unanswered Question

Timbre--performed by 3 contrasting groups of instruments. Strings--small string orchestra of violins,

violas, cellos, and double basses plays throughout the piece.

Solo trumpet--plays “The Unanswered Question.”

Wind quartet--(two flutes and two clarinets) responds to question with a different answer each time.




Texture--layered using contrasting instruments Groups of instruments in dialogue with

one another (trumpet vs. winds) while strings play on obliviously.

Three blocks of sound result; each moves independently of the others.




Harmony--conflict between 2 different harmonic languages--tonal and atonal Tonal = having a tonal center Atonal = having no tonal center

Notes sound “wrong” Sound is called dissonance, as opposed to notes that

sound “right” which are consonance. Strings play tonal music--like a very slow hymn. Solo trumpet plays 5-note figure that has no

harmonic center. Wind quartet plays atonally and is rhythmically

independent of the other sections.



Charles Ives(1874 - 1954)

Grew up in Danbury, Connecticut; father was a bandmaster.

Exposed to many types of music. Had a “day job” as an insurance salesman,

where he contributed to development of actuarial tables.

Composed in his spare time; gave it up in 1918 when his health declined.

By time of his death, recognized as a pioneer in music.



A Photo of Charles Ives

Experimental and Technological Music



New Compositional Techniques: Composer Control

Increased use of 12-tone system Serialism

Total serialism-expanded further by Pierre Boulez, Luciano Berio, Milton Babbitt, Karlheinz Stockhausen

Musique Concrète: use of everyday sounds captured and manipulated with tape recorders

Electronic Music: sounds produced on electronic oscillators; recorded, stored, and used in compositions

Computer and Mixed Media: use of digital formats to create, manipulate, and organize sounds into compositions



New Compositional Techniques: Composer Control

Electronic Music Pioneers-Edgard Varese & Karlheinz Stockhausen Varese-French, lived in US

1st work, Ameriques, unusual combo of percussion instruments; Poeme electronique, World Fair 1958

Ionisation-37 different percussion instruments played by 13 musicians, Density 21.5(flute)

Trained in engineering & mathematics Contact with Bell Telephone Co. to create machines to

synthesize musical sounds First to explore magnetic tape recorders’ potential for music

making Stockhausen- Gesang der Junglinge



New Compositional Techniques: Performer Control

Aleatoric Music: many important performance decisions left to performer, although specific instructions are given regarding some aspects of music; interdeterminancy

Chance Music: less precise notation than aleatoric music; instructions very general

Silence: forces audience to focus on other aspects of experience

Deck of Cards: shuffle deck, pull cards, numbers and suits determine aspects of music

Throw music on floor Based on “no such thins a progress”-existential philosophy &

Asian religions, things just “happen”



Chapter 53: John Cage4’33”

Probably the most controversial composition ever written

Said to be 4’33” of silence, but not truly silence Audience sounds, ambient noise, etc.

create the “piece.” Cage was attempting to get the audience

to listen carefully to sounds around them.



John Cage(1912 - 1992)

Born in Los Angeles. Studied composition with Arnold

Schoenberg but moved on to composing in a radically modern manner.

Audiences were forced by his music to rethink the nature of music and of the world around them.



John Cage Gathering Wild Greens--1971



Other Experimentalists and Compositions

Pierre Boulez: athematic, atonal music that is highly organized but dissonant

Krysztof Penderecki: combines elements from Polish music with mainstream and experimental techniques: e.g., Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima for orchestra and narrator

Steve Reich: A minimalist using musique concrète techniques, but playing music “off track”; Octet



Minimalism Minimalism-music intentionally limited to

complexity of rhythm, melody, harmony, and media of performance Consists of cyclic & repetitive patterns of

hypnotic rhythms, constant harmonies, repeated phrases, ostinatos

Influenced by Javanese & Balinese music, “canned” rhythms, melodic patterns of synthesizers & rock music



Philip Glass(b. 1937)

Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. Studied flute at the Peabody Conservatory. Studied composition at the Juilliard School of

Music and worked in Paris with Nadia Boulanger--a composer/teacher.

Traveled in Asia studying music with the sitar player, Ravi Shankar.

Established the Philip Glass Ensemble--to assist modern music in reaching out to bigger audiences.



Philip Glass Composing at the Piano



Philip GlassOther Compositions

Etudes--technical piano studies

Violin Concerto--for violin and orchestra

A Descent into the Maelstrom--a dance theater piece based on Edgar Allen Poe’s short story

10 operas Akhnaten--set in

Egypt

Soundtracks for movies The Illusionist The Secret Garden The Truman Show Candyman The Hours Notes on a Scandal Kundun