🎸Music History – 1850 to Present Unit 10 – Contemporary Classical (1900-Present)

Key Composers and Innovators

• Arnold Schoenberg developed the twelve-tone technique, a method of composition using all 12 notes of the chromatic scale in a predetermined order
  • Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique aimed to avoid tonal hierarchy and traditional harmony
  • Influential works include "Pierrot Lunaire" (1912) and "Moses und Aron" (1932)
• Igor Stravinsky pushed the boundaries of rhythm, harmony, and orchestration in his ballets and orchestral works
  • Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" (1913) caused a riot at its premiere due to its unconventional rhythms and dissonance
  • Other notable works include "Petrushka" (1911) and "The Firebird" (1910)
• Béla Bartók incorporated Hungarian folk music into his compositions, creating a unique blend of traditional and modern elements
  • Bartók's "Concerto for Orchestra" (1943) showcases his distinctive style and virtuosic writing for individual instruments
• John Cage challenged traditional notions of music through his use of chance operations, prepared pianos, and silence
  • Cage's "4'33"" (1952) consists of four minutes and thirty-three seconds of silence, questioning the definition of music
• Karlheinz Stockhausen pioneered electronic music and spatial composition
  • Stockhausen's "Gesang der Jünglinge" (1956) is an early example of electronic music combining synthesized sounds with a boy's voice
• Philip Glass and Steve Reich developed minimalism, characterized by repetitive patterns and gradual changes
  • Glass's opera "Einstein on the Beach" (1976) exemplifies minimalist techniques in a theatrical setting
• Kaija Saariaho explores timbre, texture, and technology in her compositions
  • Saariaho's "L'Amour de Loin" (2000) is a contemporary opera that incorporates electronic elements and extended vocal techniques

Major Stylistic Movements

• Expressionism emerged in the early 20th century, emphasizing intense emotions and subjective experiences
  • Expressionist composers such as Schoenberg and Berg sought to convey inner turmoil and psychological states through their music
• Neoclassicism, a reaction against the excesses of late Romanticism, drew inspiration from the forms and techniques of the 18th century
  • Stravinsky's "Pulcinella" (1920) and Prokofiev's "Classical Symphony" (1917) exemplify neoclassical principles
• Serialism expanded upon Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique, applying serial principles to other musical elements such as rhythm and dynamics
  • Pierre Boulez and Milton Babbitt were notable serialist composers
• Experimentalism encompassed a wide range of avant-garde approaches, including chance music, indeterminacy, and extended techniques
  • John Cage and Morton Feldman were key figures in the experimental music movement
• Minimalism emerged in the 1960s, focusing on repetitive patterns, gradual processes, and a reduced musical vocabulary
  • Terry Riley's "In C" (1964) is a seminal work of minimalism, consisting of 53 short musical phrases played in sequence
• Spectralism, which originated in France in the 1970s, bases compositions on the analysis and manipulation of sound spectra
  • Gérard Grisey and Tristan Murail are notable spectral composers
• Postmodernism in music embraces eclecticism, irony, and the blurring of boundaries between "high" and "low" art
  • Alfred Schnittke and John Zorn incorporate diverse musical styles and references in their postmodern works

Influential Works and Premieres

• Schoenberg's "Pierrot Lunaire" (1912) showcased his groundbreaking use of atonality and Sprechstimme (spoken singing)
  • "Pierrot Lunaire" consists of 21 melodramas set to poems by Albert Giraud, exploring themes of madness and fantasy
• Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" (1913) caused a scandal at its premiere due to its primal energy, complex rhythms, and dissonant harmonies
  • The ballet depicts a pagan ritual in which a young girl dances herself to death as a sacrificial offering
• Varèse's "Ionisation" (1931) was the first concert hall composition to feature solely percussion instruments
  • "Ionisation" explores the spatial and timbral possibilities of an expanded percussion ensemble
• Messiaen's "Quatuor pour la fin du temps" (1941) was composed and premiered in a German prisoner-of-war camp
  • The work's eight movements draw inspiration from the Book of Revelation and Messiaen's Catholic faith
• Cage's "4'33"" (1952) challenged the definition of music by consisting entirely of silence
  • The piece encourages listeners to focus on ambient sounds and question the boundaries between art and life
• Stockhausen's "Gruppen" (1955-57) is a spatial composition for three orchestras, exploring the possibilities of sound movement and perception
• Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians" (1976) is a seminal work of minimalism, featuring a continuous pulse and gradual harmonic changes over its hour-long duration

Technological Advancements in Music

• The invention of the phonograph and gramophone in the late 19th century enabled the recording and reproduction of sound
  • These devices allowed for the dissemination of music beyond live performances and facilitated the growth of the recording industry
• The development of magnetic tape recording in the 1930s and 1940s revolutionized the recording process
  • Tape recording allowed for editing, splicing, and the creation of electronic music through manipulation of recorded sounds
• The introduction of the Moog synthesizer in the 1960s marked a significant milestone in electronic music
  • The Moog synthesizer provided composers with a versatile tool for creating and manipulating electronic sounds
  • Works like Wendy Carlos's "Switched-On Bach" (1968) popularized the use of synthesizers in classical music
• The advent of digital audio workstations (DAWs) in the 1980s and 1990s transformed the way music is composed, recorded, and produced
  • DAWs such as Pro Tools and Logic Pro allow for precise editing, mixing, and processing of audio
• The rise of the internet and digital distribution in the late 20th and early 21st centuries has changed the way music is consumed and shared
  • Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have made vast catalogs of music instantly accessible to listeners worldwide
• Advancements in music notation software, such as Sibelius and Finale, have streamlined the process of creating and publishing musical scores
• The development of virtual and augmented reality technologies has opened up new possibilities for immersive musical experiences and performances

Cultural and Historical Context

• The two World Wars had a profound impact on the development of 20th-century music
  • Many composers, such as Stravinsky and Bartók, were forced to flee their home countries due to political instability and persecution
  • The post-war period saw a surge in experimentation and the emergence of new musical styles, reflecting the social and cultural upheavals of the time
• The Cold War and the division of Europe influenced the musical landscape, with distinct developments in Western and Eastern bloc countries
  • The Darmstadt Summer Courses in West Germany became a center for avant-garde music, attracting composers such as Boulez and Stockhausen
  • In the Soviet Union, composers like Shostakovich and Prokofiev navigated the constraints of socialist realism and government censorship
• The civil rights movement and the counterculture of the 1960s had a significant impact on music, with the rise of protest songs and the incorporation of non-Western musical elements
  • Composers such as Frederic Rzewski and Cornelius Cardew engaged with political themes and sought to break down barriers between performers and audiences
• The globalization of music in the late 20th and early 21st centuries has led to increased cross-cultural exchange and collaboration
  • Composers like Tan Dun and Osvaldo Golijov draw upon diverse musical traditions in their works, reflecting a more interconnected world
• The rise of music festivals and international competitions has provided platforms for the promotion and dissemination of contemporary classical music
  • Events like the Donaueschingen Festival and the ISCM World Music Days showcase new works and emerging composers
• The changing role of women in society has been reflected in the increasing prominence of female composers and conductors
  • Composers such as Kaija Saariaho, Jennifer Higdon, and Anna Thorvaldsdottir have gained international recognition for their contributions to contemporary music

Compositional Techniques and Theory

• Atonality, the absence of a tonal center or key, became a defining feature of much 20th-century music
  • Composers like Schoenberg and Webern sought to break free from the constraints of traditional tonality and explore new harmonic possibilities
• Twelve-tone technique, developed by Schoenberg, involves using all 12 notes of the chromatic scale in a predetermined order (tone row)
  • The tone row can be subjected to various transformations, such as inversion, retrograde, and retrograde-inversion
  • Twelve-tone technique aims to create a sense of equality among all 12 pitches, avoiding the hierarchical relationships of tonal music
• Serialism expanded the principles of twelve-tone technique to other musical elements, such as rhythm, dynamics, and timbre
  • Integral serialism, as practiced by composers like Boulez and Babbitt, involves the systematic application of serial techniques to all aspects of a composition
• Chance operations and indeterminacy, pioneered by John Cage, introduce elements of randomness and unpredictability into the compositional process
  • Cage's "Music of Changes" (1951) uses the I Ching, an ancient Chinese divination text, to determine musical parameters such as pitch, duration, and dynamics
• Minimalism, characterized by repetitive patterns and gradual processes, emerged as a reaction against the complexity of serialist and avant-garde music
  • Minimalist composers like Reich and Glass employ techniques such as phasing, additive rhythms, and gradual harmonic changes
• Microtonality involves the use of intervals smaller than the standard semitones of Western music
  • Composers such as Harry Partch and Ben Johnston have explored alternative tuning systems and microtonal scales in their works
• Spectral music, which originated in France in the 1970s, is based on the analysis and manipulation of sound spectra
  • Spectral composers like Grisey and Murail use computer analysis to derive musical material from the harmonic spectra of sounds, creating complex timbres and textures

Performance Practices and Interpretation

• The rise of historically informed performance (HIP) in the late 20th century has influenced the interpretation of early music and beyond
  • HIP practitioners seek to recreate the original sound and style of a work by using period instruments, tuning systems, and performance techniques
  • Ensembles like the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Freiburger Barockorchester specialize in historically informed performances
• The use of extended techniques has expanded the expressive possibilities of traditional instruments
  • Extended techniques include unconventional playing methods, such as multiphonics on wind instruments, prepared piano, and col legno on string instruments
  • Composers like Lachenmann and Sciarrino have explored the timbral and textural potential of extended techniques in their works
• The role of the performer as co-creator has become increasingly important in contemporary music
  • Many composers, such as Cage and Feldman, have written works that rely on the performer's interpretive decisions and improvisational skills
  • Graphic scores, such as Cardew's "Treatise" (1963-67), provide visual cues for performers to interpret rather than precise musical notation
• The integration of technology in live performances has opened up new possibilities for interaction between performers and electronic elements
  • Works like Boulez's "Répons" (1981) and Saariaho's "Orion" (2002) incorporate real-time electronic processing and spatialization of sound
• The rise of interdisciplinary collaborations has led to the creation of works that blend music with other art forms, such as dance, theater, and visual arts
  • Composers like Glass and Adams have written operas and music theater works that integrate multiple artistic disciplines
• The increasing diversity of performers and ensembles has brought new perspectives and approaches to the interpretation of contemporary music
  • Ensembles like the Kronos Quartet and the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) champion the works of living composers and promote cross-cultural collaborations

Legacy and Impact on Modern Music

• The innovations of 20th-century composers have had a lasting impact on the development of music in the 21st century
  • Contemporary composers continue to build upon and react against the techniques and aesthetics established by their predecessors
• The influence of non-Western musical traditions has become increasingly prevalent in contemporary classical music
  • Composers like Tan Dun and Bright Sheng incorporate elements of Chinese music in their works, while others draw inspiration from Indian, African, and Latin American musical cultures
• The boundaries between classical music and other genres, such as jazz, rock, and electronic music, have become increasingly blurred
  • Composers like John Adams and Thomas Adès have incorporated elements of popular music in their works, while artists like Björk and Radiohead have collaborated with classical musicians and ensembles
• The rise of digital technologies has transformed the way music is composed, performed, and disseminated
  • Composers use software tools to create and manipulate sound, while the internet has enabled the global distribution and promotion of new works
• The increasing importance of music education and outreach has led to the development of programs and initiatives aimed at engaging new audiences
  • Organizations like the New World Symphony and the London Sinfonietta have pioneered innovative approaches to concert presentation and community engagement
• The legacy of 20th-century composers is evident in the works of contemporary composers who continue to push the boundaries of musical expression
  • Composers like George Benjamin, Unsuk Chin, and Thomas Adès have built upon the innovations of their predecessors while developing distinctive voices of their own
• The impact of contemporary classical music extends beyond the concert hall, influencing other art forms and shaping cultural discourse
  • The works of composers like Glass, Reich, and Pärt have found audiences beyond the classical music world, crossing over into film, dance, and popular culture