Excerpts from Virgil Excerpts from Virgil Thomson’s Score to the Plow Thomson’s Score to the Plow That Broke The Plains That Broke The Plains Full OrchestraTexture light and harmonies clear and

diatonic 72 min documentary about Dust Bowl Tells same story as “So Long Its Been

Good to Know You,” by Woody Guthrie

Meant to gain support for Resettlement Administration

Overview of Music & PlotOverview of Music & PlotPrelude: Narrator introduces

geography and history of Great Plains

Sections describe poor management ruined land and caused farmers to migrate

Section: Pastorale (Grass) I. In major key II.Rising, diatonic motives and robust

brass orchestration brings optimism

More Sections More Sections CattleI. Thomson borrowed 2 cowboy

tunes: “I Ride an Old Paint,” and, “Get Along Little Doggies.”

The Homesteaders, Warning, War and the Tractor, Speculation (Blues), Bought, and Wind and Dust

Conclusion: Devastation

Image and Sound Image and Sound Recurring ImagesI. Horse drawn wagons crossing plainsII.Winds sweeping across sand dunesIII.Broken fenceIV.A desolate building V.Blades of grass bending in the wind Slow paced visual change puts

responsibility on script and music

Audience ResponseAudience ResponseGeorge Stony (Farm Security

Administration Officer)Traveled the Southeast (1936)

showing film and answering questions

Viewers respected and understood the struggles of rural Americans

Other Government Other Government DocumentariesDocumentariesThe River of 1937- government

film that justified construction of massive river dams

Aaron Copland did The City- documentary promoting green towns

I. Built by New Deal to give working class an alternative to city living

The Composers Collective The Composers Collective (1933-38)(1933-38)American Communist PartyAssociated with Workers' Music

LeagueCreate appropriate music for

working class

MembersMembersMembers: Henry Cowell, Aaron

Copland,Marc Blozstein, Charles Seeger, Ellie Siegmeister, & Norman Cazden

Inspired by 2 German Composers linked to German communist movement

Were Kurt Weill & Hanns EislerBelieved modernist music was elitist They were creating music for common

people

Communist Collective Communist Collective Originally wanted to create bold

new musical style Vigorous rhythms and

unapologetic dissonancesPortray rejection of elite values

Folk Music Folk Music Communist in Russia encouraged

national folk traditionsCC turned to folk tunes and harmonic

system to apeal to working classFolk music: “every man’s music”Modernism: “bourgeois elite”Charles Seeger was leader in change Many modernist composers began

using Folk music Ex: Aaron Copland, Charles Seeger,

VirginlThomson, Ellie Siegmeister

The Cradle Will RockThe Cradle Will RockMusic theater work with lyrics

and music By Marc Blitzstein Articulates the central dilemma

to composers:What role should they play in the

helping of their country to recover from its economic collapse?

PlotPlotSet in Steeltown, USASteelworkers vs Wealthy magnate

Mr. MisterMr. Mister creates Liberty

CommitteeAnti-union organization that

suppresses freedomSteelworkers union leader: Mike

Foreman Central tension lies on who middle

class sides with

BlitzsteinBlitzsteinModernist Composer until 1930sChanged after hearing Hanns

Eisler at C.C meetingUsed urban source: Broadway

and American popular songs

The Cradle Will RockThe Cradle Will RockFounded by Federal Theatre

Progect (FTP) adminstrated by WPA

John Houseman = ProducerOrson Welles = DirectorMeant to comment on present

day struggles

DilemmaDilemmaJune 16, 1937 – date of scheduled

premiereYear that US experienced most violent

labor unrest (centered with steal industry)

FTP postponed premier since it may cause riots

WPA closed theatreHouseman and Welles looked for other

theater Actors/Musicians would not perform

unless H&W promised Union Wages

Night of PremiereNight of PremiereActors do routines in front of

theatre to gain crowd20 min later someone finds

theatre 21 blocks awayBlitzstein on stage with piano and

plays all partsActors sing/act from their seats in

audience due to union rules

FilmFilmMade Theatre Legend1999 Film about Premiere

“Cradle Will Rock” Directed by Tim Robbins

Scene Seven Scene Seven Liberty Committee arrested at

labor rallySpying for Mr. MisterMembers: Doctor, Lawyer,

Newspaper Man, & College Proffesor

In jail with Molly the prostitute and Larry Foreman (union organizer)

All are middle class “but with our eyes open”

Foreman believes they are pampered and ignorant

Foreman sings Cradle Will Rock Meant to stir up anger of

oppressed and inspire action against the status quo.

Its march-like bass line, strong rhythms, and emphatic beat = workers chorus

Workers’ Songs Workers’ Songs Not written for everyone to sing For workers with musical interest

and ability; sign up to sing with chorus

Met regularly and performed for larger audience of workers at various labor events