Modern Classical Music

Modern Era of MusicMusic Appreciation

• A Short Introduction to Modern Classical MusicThe Fast and Friendly Guide to the Modern Era of Classical Music

Characteristics

A break with the past / “rules” are made to be broken Dissonance / atonal Aleotoric Music = Chance Music Use of prepared pianos, sprechstimme, & musical use of

non-instruments

Modern Era of MusicMusic Appreciation

Notable Composers:

Neo-classicist: Stravinsky Modernist: Schoenburg Neo-Romantic: Mahler Aleotoric composer: Cage Minimalist: Glass Electronic: Stockhausen Many composers write music for films: John Williams

Igor Stravinsky

• Seen as the musical counterpoint to Picasso

• Changed his style many times

• Firebird Suite• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZkIAVGlfWk

Arnold Schoenberg

• Developed twelve-tone music

• Fled from Germany to escape Hitler’s reign

• Pierrot Lunaire (see next slide)

Note use of “sprechstimme” in song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4v3dPG-hec

John Cage

• Aleotoric composer• Known for “prepared

piano” pieces & avant-garde music

• 4’33’’ • Read as “4 minutes and 33 seconds”

• AND now…a live performance by your Queen…or Mrs. Fritts

Karlheinz Stockhausen

• Known for electronic & aleatoric music

• Gesang der Junglinge “Song of the Youths”

Is this music?

Reading Article A & BInstructions:1. Find one partner2. Decide who will be Reader 1 & who will be

Reader 23. Find a piece of blank paper, a writing utensil,

& your article4. Reader 1 reads 1st paragraph out loud to

Reader 2, Reader 2 listens carefully & takes notes

5. Reader 2 reads next paragraph & Reader 1 takes notes

6. Reader 1 & 2 keep switching roles until entire article is read.

Questions1. Both articles are titled “Why Do We

Hate Modern Classical Music?” Do they agree?

2. What does “sound like bus crashes” refer to & do you agree?

3. Retell a story from the articles that you remember/thought was interesting.

Additional Examples of Modern Classical Music

• “Einstein on the Beach” by Philip Glass

• “Helicopter Quartet” by Karlheinz Stockhausen

• “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy – example of Impressionism

• Six Bagatelles by ANTON WEBERN – example of Twelve Tone music

20th Century American Classical Music

• A brief list of American Classical Composers with musical examples

• Discussion Question: Why are these composers not included in the “Modern Classical Composers” section of this unit?

Modern Classical Review

What do you know?

• Classical/Romantic era rules broken• Atonal is _______• Dissonance sounds like ________• Major Genres / Styles are ________• Aleotoric music is ________

• Major modern & American composers are _________

• What is the genre/style of each

composer?• Give examples of each genre• Perform your own sprechstimme –

ready go!