Post on 17-Jan-2016
1900-1945
Two world wars!Two world wars!Civil rightsCivil rightsNew technologies:New technologies:
sound recordings, movies, radios, telephones, satellites, and computers created a revolution in communication.
Shock was the goal Shock was the goal of art in the time.of art in the time.Modern dance Modern dance
clashed with clashed with classical balletclassical ballet
Artist like Picasso Artist like Picasso distorted figures in distorted figures in paintingspaintings
Art=mood or Art=mood or emotion, NOT emotion, NOT literal thingsliteral things
Technology inspired all forms of artPlastic, fluorescent lights and TV monitors in
visual artsAudiotapes, synthesizers, and computers for
musicians
Concerns of minorities and woman show up in all arts
All art forms are impacted by the tragedy of world wars and destructions
Sigmund Freud, Interpretation of Dreams (1900)
Albert Einstein, special theory of relativity (1905)
First World War (1914-1918)Russian Revolution (1917)Great Depression (1929)Hitler appointed chancellor of Germany (1933)Second World War (1939-1945)Atomic Bomb destroys Hiroshima (1945)
The twentieth century was a time The twentieth century was a time of revolt.of revolt.
Composers question what can be considered musicThe answer= ANYTHING!
Musical Styles: 1900-1945Folk songs!
New recording technology= composers record peasant music for their compositionsBela Bartok and Igor Stravinsky- researched
folk songsCharles Ives- church music
Musical Styles: 1900-1945Non-Western music had a big impact on
composers of this timeNon-Western refers to music that did not
develop in Europe, USA or surrounding countries
Interested in Asian, African, Latin and Indian music
Jazz Music- big inspiration for all composers
Music Styles: 1900-1945Scholars and historians discover old
composer’s music.
This enables new composers to study it
Remember, Antonio Vivaldi (who wrote The Four Seasons) was not even discovered until the 1900’s.
Characteristics of 20th Century MusicTone color became very important!
Instruments picked for their individual sound
Percussion instruments became very important!Anything is now a percussion instrument
(typewriters, car horns, canons.)Composers write music just for a percussion
ensemble.
There are no longer rules to who plays in an orchestra
Characteristics of 20th Century MusicMost music in the 20th century is atonalAtonal music is music that does
not have a set key that it is in. This ends up making the music sound bizarre and “off key.”
Musical Styles: 1900-1945Characteristics of all 20th Century music1. Push the boundaries of what music
should sound like.2. Use folk songs3. Use non-Western music4. Are able to study music from long ago
because of new technology.
The living room is now the “new concert hall.”
Radio networks formed orchestras
Anything from Medieval music all the way up to Jazz.
Television- SEE the music as well as hear it.
Impressionism: a French style of art and music that gave impression of something through sound
Impressionism came first in paintings- specifically by Claude Monet.Painters wanted to depict the effects of light
and color on objects. Painters obsessed with water!
ImpressionismImpressionism
French impressionist composer (most important one)
Studied piano at the Paris Conservatory
His music really gives the feeling of what he is composing about! Ex: Nuages (Clouds), La cathedrale engloutie
(The Sunken Cathedral), Clair de lune (Moonlight) and Golliwog’s Cakewalk.
Neclassicism: A style that uses old classical forms of music with 20th century harmonies (atonal).
“Back to Bach” was the slogan of this style.
Neoclassic composers rejected dramatic romantic musicWanted to get back to the absolute music of
the Baroque and Classical eras.
Russian Neoclassical Composer, worked with the director of the Russian Ballet, Diaghilev
Diaghilev commissioned three ballets from Stravinsky- Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring
He continued to tour and conduct his works into his 80s.
Expressionism: German and Austrian style of music, artwork, and writing that stressed intense emotion.German reaction to “pretty impressionism”
Art: harsh, bright colors and unpleasant subjects.
Music: very atonal.
Desired effect to was to shock!
Expressionist composerBorn in Vienna, Austria, moved to America
because he was JewishSelf-taught, studied old music scores.
Developed a type of composing called the Twelve Tone System.With the twelve tone system, you pick twelve
different notes and use only those notes in your music, repeating them in different rhythms.
Most important work is his cantata Pierrot Lunaire, using the 12 tone system.
American composer.Studied composition at Yale University, but
eventually opened an insurance agency and became very wealthy
Loved church hymns and American folk songsPut his childhood memories into his music
Village fiddler playing out of tuneChurch organist playing faster than the
congregationTwo marching bands playing different music
passing each other at a parade.
Charles IvesCharles Ives
American Composer, grew up in New York city
Famous for traditional and popular musicJazz
His first successful composition: Rhapsody in Blue.For solo piano and orchestra.
Other successful works: An American in Paris (orchestra) and Porgy and Bess (opera).
Jewish American composer, writer, and university professor
never had any formal training.His music went through phases:
1920 were for Jazz flavored musicLate 20s/early 30s were for atonal musicLate 30s onward, he became obsessed with
American folklore and folk tunes. Most famous pieces are Billy the Kid, Rodeo,
and Appalachian Spring.