music appreciation final

Steve Reich

American minimalist composer known for phase-shifting, tape loops, and repetitive patterns

Minimalism

Musical style emphasizing repetition, steady pulse, gradual change, and tonal clarity

Phase-shifting

Technique where identical musical patterns gradually move out of sync

Additive process

Minimalist method of adding or subtracting notes to create variation

Come Out (1966)

Steve Reich's first completed tape piece using recorded speech from Harlem riots

It's Gonna Rain

Reich's early tape loop experiment using repeated speech patterns

Pre-recorded synthesizer melodies

Not a primary tool for Steve Reich

Alarm Will Sound

Ensemble known for performing Steve Reich and contemporary minimalist works

Electronic dance music influence

Members of Alarm Will Sound were interested in integrating these rhythms

Yo-Yo Ma

Classical cellist known for collaborations across musical styles and cultures

Silk Road Project

Yo-Yo Ma's initiative to explore musical traditions along the historic Silk Road

Silkroad Ensemble

Musical group blending cultural influences while respecting origins

Appalachian music

Traditional music of the Appalachian region emphasizing fiddle, banjo, and storytelling

Banjo lineage

Derived from African instruments, brought to the U.S. via the Caribbean

Shape-note singing

Hymn-singing tradition using symbols to teach sight-reading

Sacred Harp

Most famous shape-note tunebook used in community singing

Ballad

Storytelling song, often tragic or romantic, with roots in British folk traditions

Call-and-response

Musical pattern rooted in West African traditions, common in spirituals and work songs

Bluegrass

Fast-tempo Appalachian music featuring virtuosic string instruments and tight harmonies

Bill Monroe

Father of Bluegrass, bandleader of The Blue Grass Boys

Bluegrass instrumentation

Mandolin, banjo, fiddle, guitar, and bass

Old-time music

Pre-bluegrass folk tradition emphasizing dance tunes

Clawhammer banjo

Traditional downstroke banjo playing style

Three-finger picking

Modern banjo technique popularized by Earl Scruggs

Steel drum

Percussion instrument from Trinidad, made from oil barrels

Ellie Mannette

Known as "Father of Modern Steel Drum," innovated musical steel drum design

Mountain Stage

Live performance radio show highlighting Appalachian and national artists

West Virginia Symphony Orchestra

Brings classical music to rural communities and preserves regional musical heritage

Appalachian vocal style

Clear tone with minimal vibrato, often in storytelling songs

Folk revival

1950s-60s movement reclaiming traditional music and addressing social issues

Pete Seeger

Folk singer and activist involved in civil rights, labor, and anti-war movements

Woody Guthrie

Singer-songwriter whose music focused on working-class struggles

Hazel Dickens

Bluegrass singer active in labor rights activism

Field holler

Solo work song of enslaved Africans expressing emotion and coordinating labor

Ring shout

Circular dance with singing and clapping, derived from African traditions

Negro spirituals

Songs created by enslaved Africans combining religious faith and coded messages

Call-and-response in spirituals

Interaction between leader and group that encourages participation

Pentecostal gospel influence

Encouraged improvisation and emotional expression in gospel

Thomas Dorsey

Known as the Father of Gospel Music

Mahalia Jackson

Influential gospel singer of the 20th century

Amen Break

Famous drum loop sampled extensively in hip-hop and electronic music

Hip-hop origins

Emerged in 1970s Bronx block parties with DJs and MCs

DJ Kool Herc

Pioneer of hip-hop, extended drum breaks to create danceable beats

Sampling

Reusing portions of preexisting recordings in new music

Golden Age hip-hop

Era of lyrical complexity, dense sampling, and social commentary

Kendrick Lamar

Hip-hop artist addressing race, trauma, and social justice

Disco

Dance-oriented music with steady beats, emerged in 1970s U.S. clubs

House music

Chicago club music characterized by repetitive 4/4 beats

Techno

Detroit electronic music with mechanical rhythms and futuristic sounds

Minimalist harmony

Often static, slow-changing, and modal

Philip Glass

Minimalist composer known for arpeggios, repetition, and steady pulse

Terry Riley

Composer of In C, a foundational minimalist work

John Adams

Post-minimalist composer blending minimalist techniques with more harmonic movement

Caroline Shaw

Composer blending classical techniques with contemporary vocal experimentation

Partita for 8 Voices

Pulitzer-winning work by Caroline Shaw

Aaron Copland

Composer known for accessible, populist American music

Fanfare for the Common Man

Copland piece highlighting everyday heroism with brass and percussion

Duke Ellington

Jazz composer elevating jazz as a sophisticated art form

Wynton Marsalis

Jazz musician emphasizing technical mastery and musical excellence

"What Is Good Music?"

Explores criteria including purpose, originality, skill, comparison, and societal impact

Bernstein's West Side Story

Musical illustrating tension through jazz, Latin rhythms, leitmotifs, and polyphony

Diegetic music

Music that exists within the story world, like a jukebox or live band

Hate Motif

Musical idea representing conflict in West Side Story

Love Motif

Musical idea representing romance in West Side Story

Tresillo

Syncopated rhythm common in Latin American music, originating from West Africa

Yo-Yo Ma collaborations

Worked with Mark O'Connor, Edgar Meyer, and Silkroad Ensemble

East-West musical collaborations

Blends cultural influences while avoiding exoticism

Music for political expression

Songs or compositions used to support or protest causes

Songs in the Key of President C

Video discussing political themes in music

Steve Reich & Harlem Riots

Used tape loops to reflect social events and racial tension

Protest songs

Music addressing injustice, inequality, or political issues

Fanfare & Musical Nationalism

Expresses pride and identity through music

National identity in music

Music reflecting cultural belonging and heritage

Scottish marching music

Uses bagpipes, steady duple meter, and drone tones

Wagner's concerns

Controversial composer with antisemitic views influencing reception

Jewish composers & instruments

Highlight cultural survival and contributions to classical music

My Name Is Lopez

Documentary about Trini Lopez blending folk, rock, and Latin influences

Silk Road Project

Encourages cross-cultural collaboration and preservation of musical heritage

Active listening

Engaging with music thoughtfully, analyzing elements and context

Passive listening

Hearing music without reflection or critical engagement

Questions for evaluating music

Does it fulfill purpose? Is it exceptional? Original? Skillful? Impactful?