chapter 8. what you will learn identify five modern american composers and songwriters describe...
TRANSCRIPT
MUSICAL CREATORS
Chapter 8
What you will learn
Identify five modern American composers and songwriters
Describe how these musical artists use music to communicate
Identify the characteristics that make their works American
Identify the creative processes and the source of musical ideas that these composers and arrangers use in developing their music
Vocabulary
Composition Hook Modulation Fanfare Synthesizer
Musician Profiles
Moses Hogan
George Gershwin
Composers and Songwriters
The art of composition:The craft of putting together sounds to
create a musical workExteriorizing inner feelingsMost use musical notation – some create
with electronicsComposers must be able to convey feelings
and meanings to the audience
The creative process
The process can be a struggle (Beethoven) or spontaneous (Chopin and Mozart)
InspirationA creative force that awakens the
creative voice within the artistWhere do composers begin?
○ Some composers work randomly○ Some start with the form
Songwriter Diane Warren
Writes music for films, TV and singers First hit was “Rhythm of the Night” from
the movie The Last Dragon in 1984 Songs have been in dozens of TV
shows and movies Recorded by Aerosmith, Toni Braxton,
Gloria Estefan, Celine Dion, and Rod Stewart
Interview p. 171
Activity 1, p. 174 CD 5:19-20 Identify the hook:
The motive or “grabber phrase in a song that often accompanies the words of the song’s title
“Because you Love Me” & “Unbreak My Heart” by Diane Warren
How do the melodic and harmonic structures reinforce the lyric message of each song?
Imagine that you were to hear just the music of each song without the lyrics. What emotions does the music successfully communicate?
Assignment
Write a paragraph outlining the creative processes used by songwriter Diane Warren.
American Masters
At one time American music was considered inferior to European musicMost performances in America were of
European musicWWI brought American popular music to
Europe – especially jazzEuropean composers began using American
elements in their music
George Gershwin (1898-1937)
Prolific American composer of popular songs, Broadway musicals, and concert music
The child of Russian-Jewish immigrants Taught himself to play – then studies formally Worked in Tin Pan Alley – a section of New
York City where musicians could play their songs for publishers and producers
George Gershwin
His first hit song was “Swanee” He took American music further by
fusing jazz chords and motives with classical meters and orchestration
He combined American jazz with traditional classical forms for the concert hall
Rhapsody in Blue (1924) An American in Paris (1928)
Gershwin’s musicals
He wrote his first musical at age 19 – La, La Lucille
He composed over 30 musicals with lyrics written by his brother Ira
One of his most popular was Girl Crazy(1930)
Of Thee I Sing (1931) won the Pulitzer Prize
Activity 2 & 3, p. 176 CD 5:21 “I Got Rhythm” by George Gershwin
From the musical Girl CrazyLead role catapulted Ethel Merman to fame
Gershwin loved this tune so much that he used it as the theme for a theme and variations
Activity 3, p. 178 CD 6:1
An American Opera
Gershwin’s most ambitious work was the opera Porgy and Bess (1935)
Based on a novel by DuBose Heyward It portrays the struggles of two African
Americans living in the racially segregated South in the early 1900’s
Gershwin wrote the words in Gullah(a regional dialect of English spoken by descendants of enslaved Africans living in the coastal South) for authenticity
Porgy and Bess
When the show opened, backers didn’t want to use the word opera
The show wasn’t fully appreciated until after Gershwin’s death in 1937
Songs from the opera became popular“Summertime”“Bess You is My Woman Now” CD 6:2
○ Duet between Porgy and BessModulation:
○ Change of key
Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
Experimented and studied for years before becoming successful
Studied in France Explored jazz rhythm then harsh
dissonant music Had a bold, brash compositional style Used American folk music and jazz style
Appalachian Spring: Copland’s “Gift for Simplicity”
One of the characteristics of his style is simplicity
Ballet Appalachian Spring (1944)Based on the song “Tis a Gift to be Simple”
○ Made famous by Copland○ Played at the inaugurations of President
Reagan and President Clinton○ Listed by the National Association for Music
Education as one of the songs that every American should know
“Simple Gifts”
Activity 5, p. 184 CD 6:3 The ballet was written for the dancer
and choreographer Martha Graham It celebrates a newly married pioneer
couple’s moving into a home built for them
The last section is variations on the theme
Activity 6, p. 184 CD 6:4
Fanfare for the Common Man (1942) Fanfare:
A short, showy tune, usually written for brass, played to honor important people or announce an important event
During WWII, Eugene Goossens, then conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, commissioned several American composers to write fanfares
Copland’s was one of the most successful Activity 7, p. 185 CD 6:5
New Directions How much technology is
acceptable for a band to use? Electronic Music
The development of the integrated circuit or chip opened up technology for musicians
Synthesizer○ An electronic device, usually with a
keyboard, capable of producing sounds in almost any range, tone quality, and volume
○ Invented by Robert Moog
Libby Larsen (b. 1950)
Incorporates synthesized sound into her music
Writes for many genres Makes use of video images and
other multimedia effects The Settling Years
The Settling Years
Expresses life in the untamed West in the 19th century
3 movements“Comin’ to Town” – details the experience of a
Western town overrun by cowboys“Beneath These Alien Stars” describes the great
western expanse“A Hoopla” celebrates good times with country
fiddling Activity 8, p. 188 CD 6:6 “Comin’ to Town” from The Settling Years
Marimba Concert: After Hampton
Marimba is an idiophone made of wooden bars and resonating tubes
Its roots are in Africa and South and Central America
Made famous by jazz musician Lionel Hampton (1908-2002)
Activity 9, p. 189 CD 6:7Marimba Concerto: After Hampton by Libby
Larsen
The Source of Musical Ideas Activity 10, p. 190 - video
Moses Hogan (1957-2003) Late 20th century composer and arranger Focused on promoting and preserving the African
American spiritual Activity 11, p. 191 CD 6:8
“I am Gonna Sing ‘Til the Spirit Moves in My Heart” by Moses Hogan
How does the composer create a sense of growing intensity toward the end of the composition
Describe Hogan’s use of a contrasting style of rhythm to end the composition
What is the emotional effect of this contrasting styleDo you think this composition would be difficult to sing? Why?
From the Top CD 1:15-16
Sojourner HodgesTrio for Violin, Cello, and Piano
Review - Terms Modulation
A change of key Fanfare
A short, showy tune, usually written for brass, played to honor important people or announce and important event
SynthesizerAn electronic device capable of producing sounds in
almost any range, tone quality, and volume Composition
The craft of putting together sounds to create a musical work
HookThe motive or “grabber’ phrase in a song that often
accompanies the words of the song’s title.
Who composed what? “Because You Loved Me”
Diane Warren “Bess, You Is My Woman Now”
George Gershwin “Unbreak My Heart”
Diane Warren “Comin’ to Town”
Libby Larsen “Rhythm of the Night”
Diane Warren
Who composed what? “I Got Rhythm”
George Gershwin Marimba Concerto: After Hampton
Libby Larsen Rhapsody in Blue
George Gershwin Fanfare for the Common Man
Aaron Copland Appalachian Spring
Aaron Copland
In Beethoven’s time, what instrument was widely used for composing?piano What is a marimba?
An idiophone that is larger than a xylophone with tuned resonating tubes under the tone bars
What song catapulted Ethel Merman to fame in 1930?“I Got Rhythm” From what musical, by
George Gershwin, was “I Got Rhythm”Girl Crazy
What was Aaron Copland’s compositional style?He used American folk
traditions and themes
Who popularized spirituals in the 2nd half of the 20th century?Moses Hogan
Which musical of Gershwin’s won the Pulitzer Prize?Of Thee I Sing
What does Diane Warren usually build her song around?A hook
Who was a late 20th century composer and arranger of gospel music?Moses Hogan
Which composers compositions for the concert hall combined American jazz with traditional classical forms?George Gershwin
The hymn “Tis a Gift to be Simple,” was used by which composer in what piece?Aaron Copland in Appalachian
Spring What word was avoided when advertising Porgy and Bess?opera
Essay
How do composers make their musical works sound “American”?Using religious tunesFolk songsPopular melodiesJazzOther themes associated with American
culture
Discuss different approaches to creating music. Cite examples.Some composers(Andrew Lloyd Webber or
Starving Goliath) rely on inspiration and improvisation
Others (Libby Larsen) hear the music in their head first
Diane Warren writes every day, completing one song before going on to the next