Download PP Presentation 20th Century

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20
Century
Approx. 1900 – 1999
20th Century Characteristics
Similarities to Romantic Era:
• continued to write symphonies, concertos, sonatas, and operas (but only in the
early part of the era)
•romantic rules were recognized but not necessarily followed:
•Harmony
•Structure
•Rhythm
•Melody
•Harmonic progression
•Tuning
•Performance practice
• middle class continued to drive music
“business” (mass market)
• civic concert halls and community symphony
orchestras funded by the middle class
20th Century Characteristics
Differences from Romantic Era:
• recording and technology were prominent (mass-produced recordings fed both
“classical” and popular music markets)
• devastation of two world wars led to loss of faith in structure
• composers sought new and adventurous forms and structure to express ideas
• new forms of music (blues, jazz, & rock & roll) came from the “new world” (not
Europe)
• musicals evolved from Opera
Buffa of the Classical Era and
light opera from the Romantic
Era (Songs and stories for
Broadway audiences)
Les Misérables on Broadway
20th Century Characteristics
Differences from Romantic Era:
• invention of Atonal Music
•Musical compositions made from the thought that each semitone was
equally valuable (sounded like there was no key signature) - dodecophony
• introduction of international influences (Africa, India, China)
• flexible and changing rhythm patterns to suit expressiveness of the
composer
Karlheinz Stockhausen
Saharan African musicians
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20
Century Composers
“Duke” Edward Kennedy Ellington (1899 – 1974)
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born in U.S.A. in Washington D.C.
Maternal grandmother had been a slave
Aged seven, Ellington began taking piano lessons. His mom surrounded him with
dignified women to reinforce his manners and teach him to live elegantly.
Started a band in D.C. but moved to New York to be part of the “Harlem
Renaissance” in the 1920s
Formed a band to take over for King Oliver at the famous Harlem Cotton Club &
remained a band leader for the rest of his life, gaining fame in the US and in
Europe. Fought racism and segregation laws in the US.
Composed many band arrangements and songs, (Take the “A” Train), orchestral
suites and one mass.
Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971)
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born in Russia – studied piano – mastered the Mendelssohn Piano Concerto in G
minor at age 14
studied law in St Petersburg – unsuccessfully – after four years studied music
privately with Rimsky-Korsakov
Married and had four children, then moved to Switzerland - did not return to
Russia until 50 years later
Composed “expressionistic” music communicating basic human emotions
Employed dodecaphony (12 tone music)
Lived in France, then moved to the U.S (California)
Composed operas, theatre music, ballets (Rite of Spring), song collections, choral
music & piano works
Scott Joplin (1868 – 1917)
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born in Texas, U.S.A.
naturally gifted as a pianist - "blessed with an amazing ability to improvise at the
piano” – studied privately with an itinerant music teacher – later attended an all
black college in Missouri
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developed syncopation, or “ragged time” – later called “Rag Time”, an important
developmental step toward Jazz
Moved to New York in 1907 - formed his own music publishing company because no
other would publish his weird music
blended both African-American musical styles with European forms and melodies
Recorded piano music for piano rolls (played on air pump “player” pianos)
Contracted syphilis (STD) which steadily deteriorated his brain and killed him
Compositions: forty-four original ragtime pieces (The Maple Leaf Rag), one
ragtime ballet, and two operas
John Williams (1932 - )
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born in Queens, N.Y.C.
Moved to California with family – studied music privately
Drafted into the USAF and served as conductor/arranger of the Air Force Band
After Air Force service, moved back to N.Y. and studied at Julliard School of Music
Worked as a jazz pianist while a student – met Henry Mancini (film music
composer, Peter Gunn, Charade, Pink Panther) & worked with Mancini on many
film scores
Gradually gained fame of his own
composed Star Wars, Superman, Home Alone, the first three Harry Potter
movies and all but two of Steven Spielberg’s feature films including the Indiana
Jones series Schindler’s List, ET the Extra-terrestrial, Jurassic Park, and Jaws as
well as its first sequel, four Olympic Themes, the NBC News Theme
Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra (1980 – 1993) & Composer Laureate
45 Academy Award nominations & 5 wins