Mod 23 Flashcards
(47 cards)
Who was John Philip Sousa?
A composer and conductor famous for patriotic marches. He was the conductor of the U.S. Marine Band before forming his own Sousa Band in 1892.
What was the Sousa Band?
A professional concert band formed by Sousa that toured extensively for 39 years. It was not a marching band but performed concerts across the U.S. and internationally.
What is a march?
A musical composition with a strong, regular rhythm, often used in parades and military settings. Sousa was known as the ‘March King’.
What is a strain in music?
A melodic section in a march, usually repeated and alternated throughout the composition.
What is a trio in a march?
A section in a march that is lighter in texture, softer, and more melodic than the other strains.
What is a break strain (dogfight)?
A dramatic, unstable, and strongly rhythmic section in a march that contrasts with the smoother Trio.
What is ‘The Stars and Stripes Forever’?
Sousa’s most famous march, composed in 1897. The Trio section features a well-known melody, with piccolo and trombone countermelodies added for contrast.
What is Tin Pan Alley?
A district in Manhattan known for music publishing, where many composers and lyricists created songs primarily for sheet music sales. It played a crucial role in the development of American popular music.
What is sheet music?
The primary way Tin Pan Alley songs were distributed, allowing amateur musicians to play the latest hits at home.
What is vaudeville?
A type of variety show featuring multiple acts, including musicians, comedians, and dancers. Tin Pan Alley publishers relied on vaudeville performers to promote their songs.
What is a song plugger?
A person hired by Tin Pan Alley publishers to perform and promote new songs, often playing for vaudeville performers in publisher showrooms.
Who was Charles Harris?
A composer known for writing ‘After the Ball,’ one of the first big Tin Pan Alley hits. His success demonstrated the commercial potential of sheet music sales.
What is ‘After the Ball’?
A sentimental ballad written by Charles K. Harris in 1892. It became the first million-selling song and was a defining hit of early Tin Pan Alley.
Who was Theodore Thomas?
A conductor who founded his own orchestra in 1865. He believed in educating American audiences about classical music and toured extensively, playing concerts in places like Central Park to introduce the public to classical music.
Who was Amy Beach?
A child prodigy and successful concert pianist who shifted to composing after marriage. Her compositions were performed by major ensembles like the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
What is the Gaelic Symphony, Second Movement?
Composed by Amy Beach, this movement is based on the traditional Irish melody ‘The Little Field of Barley.’ It follows an ABA form, with contrasting tempos and moods, and reflects musical nationalism by incorporating folk music.
Who was Edward MacDowell?
A composer and pianist who studied in Europe for 12 years before returning to the U.S. He became the first music professor at Columbia University and composed in a Romantic style, favoring program music.
What is program music?
Instrumental music that tells a story or represents an idea, poem, or painting. MacDowell’s works, such as those in New England Idyls, reflect American history and landscapes.
What is nationalism in music?
The idea of incorporating elements of a country’s culture, folklore, or folk music into compositions. Both Beach and MacDowell attempted to create music that reflected American identity, though their music was still heavily influenced by European styles.
What is ‘To a Wild Rose’?
A well-known piece by MacDowell in ABAC form. It features a simple melody with some dissonance, symbolizing the contrast between the beauty of a rose and its thorns.
Who was Charles Ives?
An innovative American composer from Danbury, Connecticut. He was influenced by his father’s open-minded approach to music and later became a successful businessman while composing in his free time.
Who was George Ives?
Charles Ives’ father, a town musician who taught him music and encouraged experimental techniques. He valued all types of music equally and conducted musical experiments to develop his son’s ear.
What is the ‘Weekend Composer’?
A term used to describe Charles Ives because he composed music only in his free time while working full-time in the insurance industry.
What does substance mean in music according to Ives?
A term Ives used to describe the emotional and spiritual essence of music. He believed that the passion and sincerity of a performance mattered more than technical perfection.
