MUSIC AS AN ART IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Musical Movements

Romantic Impressionism Expressionism Neoclassicism Aleatory Music

Romantic

Ended about 1910 Tried to make pieces more passionate

and expressive Experimented with remote keys and

modulation Dissonance became a primary element Claude Debussy

Impressionism

Vague in form Delicate in nature Had a mysterious atmosphere. Suggestion Moved away from the Romantic

movement. Claude Debussy

Expressionism

Atonal and dissonant. German movement. Moved away from French impressionism. Emotional, romantic feeling. Arnold Schoenberg

Neo-Classicism

Incorporated music of the Classical era. Mixed with Renaissance, Baroque, and

modern trends as well. Sought to re-evaluate the old ways of

music. Igor Stravinsky and Aaron Copland

Aleatory Music

Aleatory = elements of chance. Improvisation, randomness. No rules. The stranger, the more unique. Famous for having the audience

improvise along with the performer. Jazz as a classic form of aleatory music. John Cage Charles Ives

Composers who defied paradigms of their time. Pushed music beyond the expectations. More than auditory art.

What is Music?

Claude Debussy

Lived from1862-1918. One of the most prominent figures in the

Impressionist music movement. Influenced by Bayreuth and Javanese music. Music revolved around one key or pitch. Focused on Romantic music throughout his life.

“ I am sure the institute would not approve, for naturally, it regard the path which it ordains as the only right one. But there is no help for it! I am too enamoured of my freedom, too fond of my own ideas.” – Claude Debussy

Debussy

Clair De Lune

Arnold Schoenberg

Lived 1874-1951. Began composing at age 8 w/o formal

training Founded the Society for Private Musical

Performances in 1920. Forced to leave Berlin, as a Jew Taught music at UCLA. Returned to expressionism, and wrote

religious choruses in 1945. Friends with Kandinsky who was an abstract

expressionist

Igor Stravinsky

Lived 1882-1971. Influenced by French Impressionists (ex.

Debussy, Maurice Ravel.) Mixed clean orchestral music with bright

instrumentation and irregular rhythms. Firebird’s Infernal Dance of the King

Katschei. Music was constantly evolving. Most famous: Rite of Spring. Neoclassical.

John Cage

Lived 1912-1992. Wrote aleatoric music. Had an underlying desire to create. Replaced harmony as the basis of his music

with rhythm. Experienced silence as an aspect of music.

Thus his most infamous piece, 4’3’’ was born.

“ Until I die there will be sounds. And they will

continue after my death. One need not fear about the future of music.” –John Cage

John Cage Music

4’33’’ Imaginary Landscape #4 Suite for Toy Piano

Charles Edward Ives

Lived 1874-1954. Considered greatest American musician. Understood the value of vernacular music. Combined American and European elements. Music represented as a symbol of human life. Was never accepted by other musicians.

“What has sound got to do with music!” –Charles Ives