20th Century Classical Music Flashcards
What is Commercialistic vs idealistic?
Commercialistic is popular music, not seen as “art”. People made money with it because it sold copies.
Idealistic is that music should be beyond a profession; it should be art.
What is Americana vs Avante Garde?
Americana has composers like Charles Ives who are looking to traditional, indigenous sources. They use folk music for inspiration
Avante Garde has composers like John Cage who are experimenters and innovators. New sounds from scratch.
Who is Charles Ives?
Most recognizable musical composer of the 20th century
Features of Charles Ives and his music
- Used indigenous material
- Pastiche & humor - pastiche is a collage so all of the influences overlap and clash together
- Dual career - loved business and music
- Support of new music artists
Who is Henry Cowell?
Started out playing violin and piano. Recognized early because of his talent and went to UC Berkeley to study
Features of Henry Cowell and his music
- Influenced by music around the world
- Extended techniques - played standard instruments in unique ways
- founded and edited New Music Quarterly which was a journal that published music from up and coming composers. Ives funded this too.
Who is Nadia Boulanger?
Famous composition teacher who taught at the French conservatory. Everyone went to her because she taught students to compose about their values and aesthetics
Who is Aaron Copland?
Associated with Americana; one of the most well known American composers but he went to Europe to study with Nadia
Who are two people associated with crossing the popular / classical music divide?
William Grant Still
George Gershwin
Who is William Grant Still?
There is a dichotomy between popular music and classical music. He is the leading African American composer and wanted to create an “Afro-American symphony”. Had a dual career in classical and popular music
Who is George Gershwin?
Another man trying to cross the popular and classical music divide. He was famous for “I Got Rhythm” tune.
What are the WII influences?
- European composers in the U.S. - many European musicians migrate here and teach at universities
- Modernity - reliance on new technology so electronic music is becoming a thing and questioning what constitutes as music or sound
- Academic support for new music- before this a lot of composers were supported by the court or state but now they make a living through the university setting
What are the dominant rationales?
Maximum rational control and minimum rational control
What is maximum rational control?
The idea that the composer controls every aspect of the piece
Example: serialism
What is serialism?
Example of maximum rational control; you must play a set series of notes in order and you cannot repeat a note until you have gone through them all. This is a THE most controlled of all compositional forms.
