Primitivism in Music – Bartók and Stravinsky

Vocabulary flashcards covering key styles, composers, and major works related to musical primitivism discussed in the lecture.

Primitivism (music)

A 20th-century style that uses powerful rhythms, loud percussion, and unusual sonorities to evoke raw, untamed energy inspired by nature, animals, or ritual dances.

Strong Beats & Loud Drums

Core devices in primitivist music that create a sense of wild power and driving energy.

Béla Bartók

Hungarian composer and folk-song collector (1881–1945) who blended village melodies and modern techniques to produce vibrant, rhythmically complex works.

Ethnomusicology (Bartók’s field)

The scholarly study and recording of traditional folk music; Bartók traveled to rural villages with a phonograph to document songs.

Mikrokosmos

Bartók’s six-volume set of piano pieces that progress from beginner to advanced, serving as a musical adventure book for students.

Concerto for Orchestra

Bartók’s 1943 orchestral masterpiece that gives each section a moment to shine, combining virtuosity with folk-influenced themes.

Romanian Folk Dances

Suite of six short pieces in which Bartók transforms lively village dance tunes into concert music.

Igor Stravinsky

Russian-born composer (1882–1971) known for bold, innovative scores that can sound loud, scary, or strange, redefining modern music.

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Famous Russian composer who taught Stravinsky, encouraging his adventurous orchestration and harmony.

The Firebird

Stravinsky’s 1910 ballet score that tells a magical fairy tale about a mystical bird aiding a prince; noted for its shimmering orchestration.

Petrushka

Stravinsky’s 1911 ballet portraying carnival puppets that come alive, with music expressing joy, jealousy, and sorrow.

The Rite of Spring

Stravinsky’s 1913 ballet featuring savage rhythms and dissonances that depict pagan spring rituals; its premiere famously shocked the audience.