MUSC 1300 M3 Assigned Listening

Pierrot Lunaire, No. 18, The Moonfleck/Der Mondfleck

Arnold Schoenberg, 1912

• Post-1900

• Part of song cycle set to a collection of poems from Albert Giraud

• Pierrot is disturbed by a white spot of moonlight on his jacket that he cannot get rid of, no matter how hard he rubs

• Sprechstimme: Speech-like melody where the vocals are spoken rather than sung

• Three voice fugue where instruments unfold diminution and retrograde

• Atonality

Rite of Spring, Introduction/Adoration of the Earth

Igor Stravinsky, 1913

• Post-1900

• Writhing bassoon melody played in the uppermost range to depict the awakening of Earth in Spring

Rite of Spring, Augurs of Spring/Dance of the Young

Igor Stravinsky, 1913

• Post-1900

• Series of violent chords and unpredictable accents that veil meter

• Dissonant chords alternating with folk-like melodies

• Music builds to a loud, densely textured climax

Billie’s Blues

Billie Holiday, 1936

• Post-1900

• Twelve bar blues with short introduction and six choruses

• First verse is a typical three line strophe

• Vocal line demonstrates rhythmic flexibility and jazz embellishments

“Noche de Jaranas” (from La noche de los Mayas)

Silvestre Revueltas, 1939

• Post-1900

• White men are welcomed by the Mayans into their festivities

• Tempi di son: Popular Latin American dance genre based on Indigenous, African, and Spanish traditions

• Irregular meter in unpredictable patterns

• Violins play in parallel thirds, answered by brass section to evoke a mariachi ensemble

• Form is a Classical rondo

Suite for Violin and Piano, III

William Grant Still, 1943

• Post-1900

• Flashy, syncopated violin

• Bass that resembles jazz piano style (stride)

• Call and response between violin and piano that keeps returning to opening idea

• Ornamentation and glissandos on violin

• Modal harmonies

Water Walk

John Cage, 1959

• Post-1900

Symphony no. 12, “The Year 1917”, IV.

Dmitri Shostakovich

• Post-1900

Black Angels, “Devil Music” IV.

George Crumb, 1970

• Post-1900

Black Angels, “Danse Macabre” V.

George Crumb, 1970

• Post-1900

Einstein on the Beach

Philip Glass, 1976

• Post-1900