🎵Music of the Modern Era Unit 1 – Origins of Modern Music: Late 19th-Early 20th C.

Key Historical Context

• Late 19th and early 20th centuries marked a period of significant social, political, and technological changes
• Industrial Revolution led to rapid urbanization, economic growth, and the rise of the middle class
• World War I (1914-1918) profoundly impacted society, culture, and the arts
• Advancements in transportation and communication facilitated the exchange of ideas and cultural influences across borders
• Rise of nationalism and the formation of new nation-states influenced musical styles and themes
• Women's suffrage movement gained momentum, challenging traditional gender roles and societal norms
• Emergence of new philosophical and artistic movements (Impressionism, Expressionism, Futurism) challenged conventional aesthetics

Major Musical Movements

• Impressionism (late 19th century) emphasized mood, atmosphere, and color over traditional forms and structures
  • Characterized by the use of whole-tone scales, parallel chords, and blurred harmonies (Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun")
• Post-Romanticism extended and expanded upon Romantic-era ideals, pushing the boundaries of chromaticism and emotional expression (Mahler's symphonies)
• Expressionism (early 20th century) sought to convey intense emotions and inner psychological states through atonal and dissonant musical language (Schoenberg's "Pierrot Lunaire")
• Neoclassicism (1920s-1950s) revived elements of classical forms and styles, often with a modern twist or ironic approach (Stravinsky's "Pulcinella")
• Primitivism drew inspiration from folk and non-Western music, incorporating exotic scales, rhythms, and timbres (Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring")
• Futurism (early 20th century) embraced technology, speed, and innovation, experimenting with noise and unconventional sounds (Russolo's "The Art of Noises")
• Serialism (1920s onwards) used ordered sets of pitches, rhythms, and other musical elements to create highly structured compositions (Webern's "Symphony, Op. 21")

Influential Composers and Works

• Claude Debussy (1862-1918) pioneered Impressionism with works like "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun" and "La Mer"
• Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) expanded the scale and emotional depth of the symphony (Symphony No. 9)
• Richard Strauss (1864-1949) composed large-scale orchestral works and operas ("Also sprach Zarathustra", "Salome")
• Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) revolutionized rhythm and form in ballets like "The Rite of Spring" and "Petrushka"
  • Later adopted Neoclassical style in works such as "Symphony of Psalms" and "The Rake's Progress"
• Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) developed the twelve-tone technique and explored atonality ("Pierrot Lunaire", "Moses und Aron")
• Béla Bartók (1881-1945) incorporated folk music elements into his compositions ("Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta")
• Charles Ives (1874-1954) experimented with polytonality, quotation, and collage techniques (Symphony No. 4, "The Unanswered Question")

Technological Advancements

• Invention of the phonograph (1877) and gramophone (1887) allowed for the recording and distribution of music
• Player pianos and piano rolls popularized the works of composers and made music more accessible to households
• Improvements in instrument design and construction (Boehm system for woodwinds, double-action harp) expanded technical possibilities
• Rise of music publishing and sheet music sales facilitated the dissemination of new works and styles
• Development of larger concert halls and opera houses accommodated growing audiences and required composers to adapt their orchestration
• Advancements in music theory and analysis (Schenker's theories, set theory) provided new tools for understanding and creating music
• Emergence of electronic instruments (Telharmonium, Theremin) paved the way for future innovations in music technology

Changes in Musical Structure

• Expansion of traditional forms (sonata, symphony) to accommodate longer, more complex musical narratives
  • Mahler's symphonies often incorporated vocal elements and lasted over an hour
• Breakdown of tonality and the emergence of atonality, challenging the supremacy of the major-minor system
  • Schoenberg's "Pierrot Lunaire" utilized a highly chromatic and dissonant musical language
• Experimentation with rhythm, meter, and tempo, often inspired by folk or non-Western music
  • Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" featured complex, irregular rhythms and frequent meter changes
• Increased use of programmatic elements and extramusical references to convey narratives or ideas
  • Strauss's tone poems ("Don Juan", "Ein Heldenleben") depicted characters and stories through music
• Exploration of new scales, modes, and harmonic systems beyond traditional Western tonality
  • Debussy's use of whole-tone scales and parallel chords in "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun"
• Blurring of boundaries between genres, with composers drawing inspiration from various sources
  • Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" combined elements of classical music and jazz

Social and Cultural Impacts

• Music reflected and responded to the social and political upheavals of the time, such as World War I and the rise of nationalism
• Composers sought to express the anxieties, hopes, and aspirations of their generation through their works
• Increased cultural exchange and globalization exposed composers to a wider range of musical influences and styles
  • Debussy was influenced by Javanese gamelan music, while Stravinsky drew inspiration from Russian folk traditions
• Rise of music criticism and journalism shaped public opinion and reception of new works
• Emergence of new audiences and patrons, including the middle class and private foundations, changed the economic landscape for composers
• Music became a vehicle for social and political commentary, with some composers using their platform to address issues of the day
  • Shostakovich's symphonies often contained hidden messages and critiques of Soviet regime
• Expansion of music education and the establishment of conservatories and music schools made formal training more accessible

Performance Practices

• Larger orchestras and ensembles required conductors to assume a more prominent role in shaping performances
• Virtuosity and technical proficiency became increasingly important, with composers writing more demanding parts for soloists
• Rise of the celebrity performer, with famous musicians and conductors attracting large audiences and commanding high fees
• Emergence of new performance venues, such as cabarets and music halls, provided opportunities for experimentation and collaboration
• Increased use of rubato, tempo fluctuations, and other expressive devices to convey emotion and individuality
• Historically informed performance practice gained traction, with musicians seeking to recreate the sounds and styles of earlier eras
• Collaboration between composers and performers became more common, with some composers writing works specifically for certain artists
  • Stravinsky composed "The Rite of Spring" for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky

Legacy and Influence on Later Music

• Innovations in harmony, rhythm, and form paved the way for the development of 20th-century music
  • Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique laid the foundation for later serialist and post-serialist composers
• Emphasis on timbre, texture, and unconventional sounds inspired later experimental and avant-garde movements
  • Edgard Varèse's works explored the use of percussion, electronic instruments, and spatial effects
• Incorporation of folk and non-Western elements set the stage for the world music and cross-cultural collaborations of the late 20th century
  • Bartók's research and use of Hungarian and other Eastern European folk music influenced ethnomusicology
• Programmatic and narrative approaches to composition continued to evolve, with later composers exploring new ways to tell stories through music
  • John Cage's "Roaratorio" combined text, music, and environmental sounds to create a multi-layered narrative
• Technological advancements pioneered during this period laid the groundwork for the electronic and computer music of the mid-to-late 20th century
  • Theremin and other early electronic instruments inspired the development of synthesizers and digital music production
• Aesthetic and philosophical ideas that emerged during this time, such as the rejection of tradition and the embrace of the new, continued to shape musical discourse throughout the 20th century and beyond