Download Century “ism`s”

20th Century “ism’s”
Scene from Claude Debussy’s ‘Pelleas et Melisande’
The escape from Romantic music.
What are “isms”
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As mentioned before, a complete study of all the trends after the ‘common practice
period’ (after 1900) would be WAY outside the scope of this class.
Many of the trends were given the suffix “ism.” So many that it’s kind of a joke among
music scholars 
For the purposes of this class, we’re going to study 4 “isms”
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Impressionism (Claude Debussy)
Primitivism (Igor Stravinsky)
Expressionism (Arnold Schoenberg)
Serialism (Anton Webern)
Webern:
Serialism
Stravinksy:
Primitivism
Debussy:
Impressionism
Schoenberg:
Expressionism
Alban Berg:
Weird…
Impressionism
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Impressionism began as a movement in the art world, primarily in France.
The term was first used for a Claude Monet painting known as Impression: Sunrise - the painting
shown below.
The painting begins to show hazy images or ‘impressions’
One theory as to the beginning of impressionism is the invention of the camera – the artists began
to say if you want a clear image – take a picture!
Some musicians began to take these ‘impressionistic’ ideas and apply them to orchestration and
form – distorting traditional forms & harmonies.
The result is a stunning series of compositions, primarily developed by French composers Claude
Debussy & Maurice Ravel.
Several composers of the 20th century, although not classified as impressionists, were profoundly
influenced by this unique music.
Claude Monet
‘Impression: Sunrise’
Claude Debussy Factoids
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Claude Debussy was born near Paris, France in 1862.
Did not come from a musical family – began piano lessons at 7.
Began music studies at the Paris Conservatoire at age 10 – began studying
composition with the top French composers of the day.
Debussy won the Prix de Rome for one of his compositions – awarded a 4 year
residence in Rome, but he hated it there and went back to Paris after 2 years.
His music was not well received at the time – both ‘Prelude to the Afternoon
of a Faun’ and ‘La Mer’ got poor reviews.
Debussy is considered an ‘impressionist’ – he disliked the term. He contends
that he was only trying to do something different.
Debussy’s piano Etudes rival Liszt in their difficulty.
Debussy passed away of liver cancer in 1918.
Debussy’s legacy is significant – leaving behind some of the most beautiful
and unique music ever imagined.
Claude Debussy 1
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Debussy wrote some of the most beautiful piano music ever written – much of it
quite difficult.
Here is a performance of his Arabesque No. 1 – one of his more moderate works,
named for a dance technique.
Claude Debussy 2
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Here is one of Debussy’s impressionistic works for orchestra – Nuages
(Clouds) from his set of Nocturnes (Night).
Claude Debussy 3
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This is one of Debussy’s most famous orchestral works, the three part suite La Mer
(The Sea).
Performing here is the London Symphony Orchestra with Valery Gergiev conducting.
Claude Debussy 4
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Debussy attempted to write an impressionistic style opera, his setting of
Pelleas et Melisande with mixed results. It’s the only opera he composed.
It is infrequently performed today.
Igor Stravinsky Factoids
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Igor Stravinsky was a Russian composer – his years are 1882-1971.
Stravinsky composed masterpieces in almost every genre, most notably an
incomparable series of ballet scores.
“Primitivism” is the term associated with Stravinsky’s ballets in the early
1900’s. The music is meant to sound ‘primitive’ evoking what the rituals and
music of early humans may have sounded like.
Like impressionism, primitivism began as an art movement of the late 1800’s,
notably the work of artist Paul Gauguin.
Stravinsky studied music in Russia with the orchestration master RimskyKorsakov (Flight of the Bumblebee guy).
The premier of the primitive ballet ‘Rite of Spring’ in 1913 is one of the most
infamous events in music history. A ‘riot’ of sorts broke out after the premier.
Accounts of this differ, some say people shouted at each other, others say
actual fights broke out!
Stravinsky lived a long life and wrote in all the other “ism’s” – but the success
of his ballets tends to overshadow his other works.
Igor Stravinsky 1
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Here’s an excerpt from the of Stravinsky’s primitive style ballets –
Petrushka. This is from the orchestral suite (sorry, no dancing here…)
It’s a dance about a puppet. I’m sure the story as more complex – look it
up on ‘Wikipedia’ if interested 
Stravinsky and the
Original Petrushka
Igor Stravinsky 2
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The second of Stravinsky’s primitive ballets is called The Firebird. It’s about a
mythical glowing bird. Again, this is an excerpt from the orchestral suite.
Pop culture alert! There is a fantastic episode of Little Einsteins that feature the music
from this ballet.
Igor Stravinsky 3
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Without a doubt, Stravinsky’s most famous (infamous) work is La Sacre du Printemps
(The Rite of Spring). Presented here is the orchestral suite.
After it’s premier in Paris in 1912, there was a riot outside the theater over the subject
matter of the ballet – mainly human sacrifice (ewww..)
Pop culture alert! This work became so famous that Disney included this composition in
the original Fantasia in 1947.
Arnold Schoenberg Factoids
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Austrian composer and painter (1874-1951), associated with the ‘expressionist’
movement in German culture.
‘Expressionism’ is a movement usually associated with German fine arts of the late
1800’s. Began in poetry and painting (Edvard Munch’s The Scream is a great example)
and continued through music.
Basically, where impressionsim tends to be beautiful and flowing, German
expressionism tends to be harsh and strident.
Schoenberg began in a neo-romantic style, but gradually embraced German
expressionsim – using atonality (absence of a tonal center) for his early works.
Schoenberg took these ideas and formed his own way of composing – basically
developing the 12-tone method, the birth of serialism. This will be covered in more
detail with Anton Webern.
He established the Second Viennese School, teaching this style to his students.
In 1934, he moved to Los Angeles and taught music theory at UCLA, influencing an
entire generation of 20th century composers.
His music was NOT well received and was highly criticized for being too weird.
Schoenberg’s primary legacy is redirecting thought toward music in the early 20th
century, influencing EVERY composer since his time.
Expressionist Art
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Here are some examples of ‘Expressionism’ in the art world.
Portrait of Eduard Kosmack
Egon Schiele
Edvard Munch
The Scream (1893)
Wassily Kandinsky
On White II, 1923
Alvar Cawén
Sokea soittoniekka
(Blind Musician), 1922
Arnold Schoenberg 1
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Here is Schoenberg’s 1st truly 12 tone work – his 5 Pieces for Piano.
This is a performance of the Gavotte.
Arnold Schoenberg 2
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This is one movement of Schoenberg’s famous chamber suite, Pierot Lunaire, Op. 21.
This work features the use of sprechstemme (speech-voice), where the vocal part is half sung and
half spoken (the result is quite creepy…)
This entire work is quite extensive, there are 3 parts that each have 7 movements.
Arnold Schoenberg 3
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Here are Schoenberg’s expressionist & serial techniques extended to an entire orchestra.
The work is a landmark in 20th century orchestra writing, Five Pieces for Orchestra.
Anton Webern Factoids
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Anton Webern (1883-1945) was a German composer and a member of the
Second Viennese School, studying with Arnold Schoenberg.
Webern is associated with total serialsim movement. Where Schoenberg
used math for the pitches, Webern also used math for articulations,
dynamics, etc.
Most of his works are short and to the point. His entire output was recently
recorded by master conductor Pierre Boulez and it only filled 6 compact
discs (around 7 hours).
He was somewhat obscure while alive, there has been new interest in his
music after WWII – especially music historians studying the fascinating
music of the period.
To earn money due to infrequent performances, he worked as an editor and
proofreader for his publisher – Universal Editions.
Webern’s legacy is in the way he influenced the world’s attitude toward
serialism and its effects (whether positive or negative) on music.
Anton Webern 1
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This is one of Webern’s early serial works, his Piano Variations, Op. 27.
This work extends serialsim to include dynamics and rhythms as well as pitch.
Anton Webern 2
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Presented here is Webern’s serial chamber work, Concerto for Nine Instruments, Op. 24.
It’s not a concerto in the traditional sense, there is virtuostic (very difficult) writing for
all instruments.
Anton Webern 3
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Last from Webern is his Six Pieces for Orchestra, Op 6 conducted by master
conductor Zubin Mehta.
Here are all of Webern’s serialistic ideas extended to an entire orchestra.
Alban Berg Factoids
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Alban Berg (1885-1935) was an Austrian composer and member of the Second
Viennese School with Schoenberg and Webern.
Most music historians agree that he was able to combine expressionism and
serialsim to make some of the most effective music of this time.
He was not interested in music until 15, where he began to teach himself. He later
became a student of Schoenberg and began writing works in the serialism style.
Berg served in the Austro-Hungarian Army during WWI and this had a profound
effect on his writing – notably his opera Wozzeck.
Alban Berg passed away in 1935 from blood poisoning caused by an insect sting.
Berg will be remembered as one of the most important composers of the 20th c. He
is considered to have the most success with the 12-tone system.
Many of his works are still performed today.
Alban Berg 1
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Berg basically took the atonal weirdness of Webern & Schoenberg and made
them quite musical for this type of music.
Presented here is his Violin Concerto – one of his most played works. Some
of the most virtuostic violin writing next to Paganini.
Alban Berg 2
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Without a doubt, Berg is best known for his two atonal expressionist operas, Wozzeck and Lulu.
These operas are intended for MATURE audiences, what we we equate to rated ‘R’ in today’s
movies.
Here is an excerpt from Lulu, performed at the Zurich, Switzerland Opera House in 2002 – wow,
the weirdness…….
Alban Berg 2
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To end the “ism’s” presentation – here is an excerpt from Alban Berg’s Wozzeck, from
the Frankfurt Opera House in 1996.
Again – this opera is intended for mature audiences and is quite weird (that may be the
understatement of the presentation… )
The End! 
 Next
– the birth of Popular Music…