🎼Intro to Music Unit 6 – 20th-21st Century Western Classical Music

Key Composers and Movements

• Igor Stravinsky, a Russian-born composer, was a central figure in the modernist movement and known for his revolutionary works (The Rite of Spring)
• Arnold Schoenberg developed the twelve-tone technique, a method of composition that treated all 12 notes of the chromatic scale equally, and was a leader of the Second Viennese School
  • The twelve-tone technique aimed to break free from traditional tonality and create a new musical language
• Béla Bartók, a Hungarian composer, incorporated folk music elements from his native country and Eastern Europe into his compositions, creating a unique blend of modernism and nationalism
• Minimalism emerged in the 1960s with composers like Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and Terry Riley, who focused on repetitive patterns, gradual processes, and reduced musical materials
  • Minimalist composers often employed techniques such as phasing, additive rhythms, and ostinatos to create hypnotic and immersive soundscapes
• Neo-Classicism, a movement that flourished between the two World Wars, sought to revive the clarity, balance, and formal structures of 18th-century classical music while incorporating modern harmonies and rhythms
  • Igor Stravinsky's works (Symphony of Psalms) exemplified the Neo-Classical style
• Post-World War II avant-garde movements, such as serialism, electronic music, and aleatoric music, pushed the boundaries of musical composition and challenged traditional notions of sound and structure

Stylistic Innovations

• Atonality, the absence of a tonal center or key, became a prominent feature in many 20th-century compositions, allowing for greater harmonic freedom and experimentation
• Polytonality, the simultaneous use of multiple keys or tonal centers, added complexity and ambiguity to musical works (Stravinsky's Petrushka)
• Extended techniques, such as prepared piano, multiphonics, and extended string techniques, expanded the sonic possibilities of traditional instruments
  • John Cage's prepared piano pieces involved placing objects between the strings to alter the instrument's timbre
• Microtonality, the use of intervals smaller than a semitone, allowed for more precise tuning and explored the spaces between conventional pitches
  • Composers like Harry Partch and Ben Johnston developed microtonal systems and instruments to realize their musical vision
• Graphic notation, the use of non-traditional symbols and visual elements to represent musical ideas, provided composers with new ways to communicate their intentions to performers
• The incorporation of non-Western musical elements, such as African rhythms, Indian ragas, and Japanese scales, enriched the palette of 20th-century composers and fostered cross-cultural exchange

Influential Works and Premieres

• Igor Stravinsky's ballet "The Rite of Spring" (1913) caused a riot at its premiere due to its unconventional rhythms, dissonant harmonies, and provocative subject matter
  • The work's primal energy and innovative orchestration marked a turning point in the history of music and dance
• Arnold Schoenberg's "Pierrot Lunaire" (1912), a groundbreaking work for speaking voice and chamber ensemble, showcased the composer's expressionistic style and use of Sprechstimme (a technique between speaking and singing)
• Alban Berg's opera "Wozzeck" (1925) adapted Georg Büchner's play into a powerful and psychologically intense work that explored themes of poverty, oppression, and madness
• John Cage's "4'33"" (1952), a piece consisting of four minutes and thirty-three seconds of silence, challenged the very definition of music and the role of the composer, performer, and audience
  • The work emphasized the importance of ambient sounds and the listener's perception in the musical experience
• Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians" (1976) exemplified the minimalist aesthetic with its pulsating rhythms, gradual transformations, and mesmerizing textures
• György Ligeti's "Atmosphères" (1961) employed dense clusters of notes and micropolyphony to create otherworldly soundscapes that defied traditional melodic and harmonic conventions

Technological Advancements in Music

• The invention of the phonograph and gramophone in the late 19th century allowed for the recording and reproduction of music, making it more accessible to a wider audience
• The development of magnetic tape recording in the 1940s and 1950s revolutionized the music industry, enabling multitrack recording, editing, and the creation of new sounds through tape manipulation
  • Composers like Pierre Schaeffer and Karlheinz Stockhausen explored the possibilities of tape music and musique concrète
• The introduction of the Moog synthesizer in the 1960s marked the beginning of the era of electronic music, providing composers with a vast array of new timbres and sound-shaping possibilities
  • Works like Wendy Carlos's "Switched-On Bach" (1968) popularized the use of synthesizers in classical music
• The advent of digital technology in the 1980s and 1990s, including MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), digital audio workstations (DAWs), and software synthesizers, further expanded the creative possibilities for composers
  • Composers like Brian Eno and Aphex Twin pushed the boundaries of digital sound manipulation and generative music
• The internet and streaming platforms have transformed the way music is distributed and consumed, allowing for instant access to a vast library of recordings and facilitating global collaboration among musicians

Cultural and Historical Context

• The two World Wars had a profound impact on the development of 20th-century music, with many composers responding to the horrors of war and the changing social and political landscape
  • Works like Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem" (1962) and Krzysztof Penderecki's "Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima" (1960) reflected on the tragedies of war and the human condition
• The Cold War and the division of Europe influenced the musical output of composers on both sides of the Iron Curtain, with some embracing avant-garde techniques as a form of artistic freedom, while others adhered to more conservative styles
• The Civil Rights Movement and the struggle for racial equality in the United States inspired composers to address social and political issues in their works
  • Julius Eastman's "Evil Nigger" (1979) and "Gay Guerrilla" (1980) confronted racism and homophobia through provocative titles and powerful musical statements
• The rise of globalization and cultural exchange led to an increased interest in non-Western music and the incorporation of diverse musical traditions into contemporary classical works
  • Composers like Toru Takemitsu and Tan Dun blended elements of their native musical cultures with Western classical techniques
• The environmental movement and concerns about climate change have prompted composers to create works that raise awareness about ecological issues and the relationship between humans and nature
  • John Luther Adams's "Become Ocean" (2013) evokes the immensity and fragility of the ocean through slowly evolving soundscapes

Performance Practices

• The rise of historically informed performance (HIP) in the latter half of the 20th century led to a renewed interest in authentic performance practices and the use of period instruments for Baroque, Classical, and early Romantic music
  • Ensembles like the Academy of Ancient Music and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment specialize in historically informed performances
• The development of extended techniques and the exploration of unconventional playing methods required performers to adapt to new demands and acquire specialized skills
  • Compositions like Luciano Berio's "Sequenza" series (1958-2002) showcase the virtuosic potential of extended techniques for solo instruments
• The increasing importance of improvisation in contemporary classical music has blurred the lines between composition and performance, with some works relying heavily on the performer's creative input
  • Composers like George Lewis and Anthony Braxton have incorporated elements of jazz and free improvisation into their works
• The use of multimedia and interdisciplinary collaborations has expanded the role of the performer, often requiring them to engage with visual elements, dance, or theatrical components
  • Works like Philip Glass's opera "Einstein on the Beach" (1976) and Meredith Monk's "Vessel" (1971) integrate music, movement, and visual art into immersive performance experiences
• The growth of music festivals and specialized contemporary music ensembles has provided platforms for the performance and promotion of new works, fostering a vibrant and diverse contemporary classical music scene
  • Festivals like the Darmstadt Summer Courses and ensembles like the Kronos Quartet have been instrumental in championing the works of living composers

Critical Reception and Legacy

• Many 20th-century works initially faced criticism and resistance from audiences and critics due to their radical departure from traditional musical norms
  • Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" and Arnold Schoenberg's early atonal works were met with hostility and incomprehension at their premieres
• The influence of music critics and scholars in shaping public opinion and canonical status of works has been significant, with figures like Theodor Adorno and Pierre Boulez championing certain composers and styles while dismissing others
• The establishment of the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1943 and the Grawemeyer Award in 1985 has helped to recognize and promote outstanding contributions to contemporary classical music
  • Recipients of these prestigious awards, such as Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and Thomas Adès, have gained increased visibility and recognition for their works
• The legacy of 20th-century composers is evident in the continued performance and study of their works, as well as in their influence on subsequent generations of composers
  • The innovations of composers like Stravinsky, Schoenberg, and Cage have become an integral part of the contemporary classical music canon and continue to inspire new works and interpretations
• The reevaluation and rediscovery of marginalized composers, particularly women and people of color, has led to a more inclusive and diverse understanding of the 20th-century musical landscape
  • Composers like Florence Price, William Grant Still, and Ruth Crawford Seeger have gained increased recognition and programming in recent years

Contemporary Relevance and Influence

• The techniques and aesthetics developed by 20th-century composers continue to shape the musical language of contemporary classical music, with many current composers building upon and expanding these innovations
• The influence of 20th-century classical music extends beyond the realm of art music, with elements of atonality, minimalism, and electronic music being incorporated into film scores, popular music, and experimental genres
  • The use of minimalist techniques in film scores by composers like Philip Glass (Koyaanisqatsi) and Michael Nyman (The Piano) has brought contemporary classical music to a wider audience
• The increasing diversity and globalization of the contemporary classical music scene has led to a greater exchange of ideas and collaborations between composers from different cultural backgrounds
  • Composers like Osvaldo Golijov and Bright Sheng have created works that bridge Western and non-Western musical traditions, reflecting the interconnected nature of today's world
• The rise of digital technologies and the internet has transformed the way contemporary classical music is created, disseminated, and experienced, with composers exploring new forms of interactivity, virtual performances, and online collaborations
  • The YouTube Symphony Orchestra, which brought together musicians from around the world to perform virtually, exemplifies the potential of digital platforms to connect and showcase contemporary classical music
• Contemporary classical music continues to engage with pressing social, political, and environmental issues, serving as a powerful medium for artistic expression and commentary on the challenges facing our world
  • Works like Julia Wolfe's "Anthracite Fields" (2014), which explores the history of coal mining in Pennsylvania, and John Luther Adams's "Become Desert" (2018), which reflects on the fragility of the natural world, demonstrate the ongoing relevance and impact of contemporary classical music