Chapter 8
Modern Music, 1900-1950
By Michelle Miller
Modern Music
 The twentieth century is sometimes referred to as the
era of “isms.”
 Music of this time included dissonance, complex new
rhythmic elements, the use of polytonality, electronic
instruments, and the introduction of random chance
elements.
 Most recent developments include Abstract
Expressionism, Post Modernism, Minimalism, PostMinimalism, Neo-Romanticism, and Eclecticism.
 Most composers wrote their own style of music not
caring what the audience thought about it.
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)
 Lived in Paris
 In 1913 he unleashed a ballet “La Sacre du Printempts”
(The Rite of Spring).
 In this piece he added a new sense of primitive rhythmic
intensity, which, when added to the erotic intensity of
the dance, caused a controversy at the premiere.
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) cont
 The plot line follows the abduction of a young girl who
is eventually forced to literally dance herself to death.
 The ballet is presented in two large sections titled The
Adoration of the Earth and The Sacrifice. (CD 3 Track 7)
 Stravinsky asks various parts of the orchestra to play
music in two or more different key centers at the same
time, a technique called polytonality.
 Almost every wind instrument has complex solo
moments at some point.
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) cont
 Neo-Classical refers to the reduced size and/or
instrumental make-up of a chosen ensemble, a return to
the use of simpler formal structures, consciously altered
melodic and/or harmonic concepts, or any combination
of the above elements.
 Stravinsky was never content to keep writing works in
exactly the same style, and thus Neo-Classical applies to
varying degrees, depending on the composition.
 Arch Form can be thought of as a five- or seven-part
rondo where the thematic order has been altered to
form an arch, for example A-B-C-B-A or A-B-C-D-C-B-A.
 This was used by Bela Bartok (1881-1945).
 Nationalism also became a prominent technique of the
twentieth century music.
Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
 One of his most famous ballets is Rodeo, which tells the story
of a cowgirl trying to capture the fancy of the head wrangler.
 None of the cowboys notice her until she shows up at the end
wearing “girl clothes” instead of the other western outfits.
 Copland adapted the ballet into a four movement symphonic
suite: Buckaroo Holiday, Corral Nocturne, Saturday Night
Waltz, and Hoe Down.
 In the piece Copland uses western folk tunes for melodic
themes as well as new material to capture the “western”
feel.
Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
 Hoe Down: (CD 4 Track 6)
 Simple A-B-A formal structure
 Has a theme based on an old square dance tune Bonaparte’s
Retreat (A)
 Copland plays the melody, writes a variation of that melody,
then returns to the original melody.
 The trumpets introduce the B theme.
Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)
 As Schoenberg incorporated more Expressionism into his
music, his compositions became increasingly dissonant,
with thinner textures and a harsher overall sound.
 He wrote the chamber work Pierrot Lunaire (Moonstruck
Parrot). In this composition he said “The colors meant
everything, the notes nothing at all.”
 Every detail was meant to convey inner thoughts,
emotions, and experiences.
Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)
cont
 In other works he used the 12-tone method, which is a
completely different system of musical organization also
known as serialism.
 It is based on mathematical formulas, with complete
disregard for the old ideas of consonance and
dissonance.
Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)
cont
 Pierrot Lunaire (Moonstruck Parrot): (CD 4 Track 7)
 Written in 1912
 Contains 21 movements
 Avoids any strong sense of a tonal center or harmonic focal
point.
 Schoenberg uses a new half-speaking, half-singing
technique called Sprechstimme.
 This movement is about a clown, Pierrot, who tries to rub a
white spot off his black clothing, but its actually moonlight
shining on his clothing.
 From the mid-point of the movement to the end is an exact
mirror; the instrumental parts form a palindrome, meaning
they are the same forwards and backwards.