20th Century Music (Grade 10 Music Lesson)

Introduction

• Focus on understanding 20th-century music styles and their characteristics.
• Key musical styles: Impressionism, Expressionism, Neoclassicism, Avant-Garde, Modern Nationalism.
• Influential composers: Debussy, Ravel, Schoenberg, Bartok, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Gershwin.

Impressionism

• Definition: French movement (late 19th - early 20th century).
  • Extensive use of colors, effects, vague melodies, and innovative chords.
  • Creates emotional mood rather than depicting reality.
• Main Composers:
  • Claude Debussy (1862-1918):
    • Influential impressionist composer.
    • Known for innovative harmonies and textures.
    • Famous works: Clair de Lune, La Mer, Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun.
  • Maurice Ravel (1875-1937):
    • Known for intricate, modal melodies, and extended chordal components.
    • Famous works: Pavane for a Dead Princess, Daphnis et Chloé, Boléro.
  • Comparison:
    • Debussy: More spontaneous, liberal, visual imagery.
    • Ravel: Classical structure, formal, exacting.

Expressionism

• Definition: Music expressing extreme emotions (anxiety, rage).
  • Lacks stable and conventional harmonies.
• Main Composer:
  • Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951):
    • Developed 12-tone system.
    • Known for dissonant and atonal music.
    • Famous works: Pierrot Lunaire, Verklärte Nacht.

Primitivism

• Definition: Tonal music with new synthesized sounds by juxtaposing simple events.
  • Links to exoticism, nationalism, ethnicism.
• Main Composers:
  • Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971):
    • Known for rhythmic innovation and polytonality.
    • Famous works: The Firebird, The Rite of Spring.
  • Béla Bartók (1881-1945):
    • Utilized folk songs and rhythms.
    • Famous works: Concerto for Orchestra, Mikrokosmos.

Neoclassicism

• Definition: Partial return to classical styles with modern elements.
  • Combines tonal harmonies with slight dissonances.
• Main Composers:
  • Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953):
    • Known for combining neoclassicism with modern techniques.
    • Famous works: Romeo and Juliet, Peter and the Wolf.
  • Francis Poulenc (1899-1963):
    • Balanced modernity and classical forms.
    • Famous works: Concerto for Two Pianos, Dialogues of the Carmelites.

Avant-Garde Music

• Definition: Associated with electronic music, focused on new sound dimensions.
  • Required improvisation and varied musical continuity.
• Main Composers:
  • George Gershwin (1898-1937):
    • Merged jazz and classical music.
    • Famous works: Rhapsody in Blue, Porgy and Bess.
  • Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990):
    • Known for Broadway musicals and concert music.
    • Famous works: West Side Story, On the Waterfront.
  • Philip Glass (b. 1937):
    • Minimalist composer known for repetitive structures.
    • Famous works: Einstein on the Beach, Satyagraha.

Modern Nationalism

• Focus: Combining modern techniques with folk materials.
• Key Composers: Béla Bartók, Sergey Prokofiev.

Electronic Music

• Definition: Music using electronic devices (synthesizers, tape recorders).
• Main Composers:
  • Edgard Varèse (1883-1965):
    • Known as the father of electronic music.
    • Famous works: Emphasized timbre and rhythm.
  • Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007):
    • Experimental with music concrete and electronic sounds.
    • Famous works: Kontakte, Gruppen.

Chance Music

• Definition: Music that sounds different at every performance due to random techniques.
• Main Composer:
  • John Cage (1912-1992):
    • Known for unconventional compositions and prepared piano.
    • Famous works: 4'33".

Summary

• 20th-century music styles were unique and innovative.
• Experimented with rhythm, melody, harmony, tempo, and timbre.
• New styles emerged, such as electronic music and chance music.
• Influential composers from various countries contributed to diverse musical innovations.