PRAXIS Early 20th Century/Impressionism Time Period

Symbolism

Belgian/French literary movement in the 19th century. Images and their associations convey experiences and words/objects represent abstract ideas.

Suggestion of mood/emotion without direct reference.

Major Compositions of the Impressionist Period

• Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

  • Notable Composition: "Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune" (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun)

• Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

  • Notable Composition: "Boléro" (Orchestral piece)

• Erik Satie (1866-1925)

  • Notable Composition: "Gymnopédies" (Three piano compositions)

Major Compositions of the Early 20th Century

• Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)

  • Notable Composition: "Verklärte Nacht" (Transfigured Night)

• Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)

  • Notable Composition: "The Rite of Spring" (Ballet)

• Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

  • Notable Composition: "La Mer" (Symphonic sketches)

Impressionism

I Centered in France. Emphasis on light and color. Avoidance of dark pigments. Non-dramatic paintings. Shorter pieces of music. Almost dream like. “The Idea of” something.

Claude Debussy

I (1862-1918) Started learning piano young → went to Paris conservatory. Had numerous affairs. Inspired by Javanese Gamelan music at World’s fair. Eventually had a child with a student’s mom.

Expressionism/Atonality

Centered in Germany. Takes emotions to the limit. Intensified realism. Music that lacks a key center. Intensified romanticism, exploration of inner states, heightened emotion, very serious, dissonant, emancipation of dissonance, social/psychological commentary

Serialism

Centered in Germany & USA. Denial of melody. Abstract. Detached from the public. Concentration on technique. Also known as Twelve Tone and Dodecaphony. Denial of melody, dissonant, angular, abstract.

Primitivism

Centered in Russia & France. Use of primitive subjects. Primitive, driving rhythms. Narrow range of melody. Static Harmonies.

Neoclassicism

Centered in Russia, Germany, & USA. Rejection of 19th century principles in favor of a return to 17th and 18th century principles. Detached, objective, absolute music, clear forms, craftsmanship, balanced, controlled. Clear textures.

Igor Stravinsky

(1882-1971) Born in Russia, but didn’t pursue music until his teenage years. Met Sergei Diaghilev (head of Russian Ballet) and started a long partnership. Wrote the Firebird in 1910. Went to Paris to work more with Ballet Rus. Wrote the Rite of Spring, which was poorly received at the time.

• 1910-1913: Primitivism & Ballets

• 1913-1922 (WWI): Chamber Music

• 1923-1951: Neoclassicism

• 1950s: Serialism

Arnold Schoenberg

(1874-1951) Saw his music as a continuation of German style. Unapproachable and formidable. Saw critics as enemies. Self taught theory. Moved to the US right before WWII.

• 1894-1907: Post-Romanticism

• ~1908~1922: Atonality/Pantonality/Expressionism

• ~1922-1951: Serialism

Pantonal

Music that moves freely among many/all keys.

Sprechstimme

Speech & Song. Hinting a pitch without actually singing a pitch.

Anton Webern

(1883-1945). Early music talents in piano, cello, music theory, and conducting. Went to University of Vienna and gravitated towards Serialism. Lived in suburb of Vienna post WWI. Participated in the Society for the Private Musical Performance. Music was banned and restricted by the Nazis. Died in 1945 for being outside during curfew. More rule-following, shorter pieces.

Alban Berg

(1885-1935) Pianist and composer. Worked as a government clerk and then met Schoenberg. Involved in WWI as a guard. Few compositions, but all were major. Died of a bug bite. Wrote the popular opera, Wozzeck.

Bela Bartok

(1881-1954). Born in Hungary and learned piano from his mother. One of the first ethnomusicologists. Studied various elements of folk music and assimilated into own compositions. Left Austria quickly after the Nazis and went to NY. Diagnosed with Leukemia in 1943. Wrote Concerto for Orchestra while in NY.

Sergei Prokofiev

(1891-1953) Born in Ukraine and learned piano from his mother. Wrote 1st opera at 9 years old. Went to St. Petersburg Conservatory at age 133 for 10 years. Left Russia after Russian Revolution and didn’t return until 1938 where he returned to work at the Soviet Conservatory. Wrote 3 war sonatas. Music was temporarily banned, but was also Stalin’s favorite composer.

Prokofiev’s Style

1.) Neoclassical (logical form, clear textures)

2.) Expression of strong emotion

3.) Rhythmic Drive

4.) Lyricism

5.) Jest/Humor

Charles Edward Ives

(1874-1954). Learned composition and organ young. Went to Yale. Music full of quotations of other pieces. Life insurance executive by trade. Very religious. Early use of polytonality. Not heavily influenced by other contemporary musicians (very individualistic). Followed Emerson’s ideas of self-reliance. Early exposure to religious revivalist movements. Quoted hymns and folk tunes because of masculinity, camp meets, and upbringing. Familiarity → Accessibility. Retired from composing in 1930.

Ragtime

For piano or banjo. Syncopations in the treble melody, steady beat in bass. Duple meter. “Ragged time”. Began in 1890s. Early predecessor to Jazz. Not composed for intellectual/development reasons. Accessible.

Scott Joplin

(~1868-1917) “The King of Ragtime”. Raised on a farm by two musical parents. Studied music in Missouri and also taught students.

George Gershwin

(1898-1937). Born in NYC as Jacob Gershwine. Father was a Russian-Jewish immigrant. Worked as a “song-plugger” in Tin-Pan Alley. Much success from compositions and musical comedy writing. Composed “Rhapsody in Blue” for a Paul Whiteman concert. Wrote Concerto in F and Porgy & Bess. Died at age 38 from a Brain Tumor

Aaron Copland

(1900-1990). One of the most popular American composers. Wanted to bring American music to the classical scene. Studied with Nadia Boulanger & learned the Avant Garde style while in Paris (and listening to Stravinsky and French composers). Wrote some music in the new American style (very abstract, percussive). Eventually, focused on accessible music. Wrote Appalachian Spring to great acclaim.

Leonard Bernstein

(1918-1990) Parents were Russian-Jewish immigrants. Went to Harvard to study music. Majority of focus was in conducting. Full-time conductor for the NY Phil. Influenced by Copland. Wrote the music for West Side Story.

Klangfarbenmelodien

Sound-Color-Melody. A musical technique that involves splitting a musical line or melody between several instruments, rather than assigning it to just one instrument, thereby adding color and texture to the melodic line. Coined by Schoenberg. Aka Pointillism.