the “isms”
DESCRIPTION
The “ISMS”. Nationalism. Nationalism incorporated culture into music. Until now, French, German, and Italian music dominated. RUSSIA. THE MIGHTY FIVE Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) Wrote “Scheherazade” and “ Cappriccio Espagnol ” Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
THE “ISMS”
NATIONALISM Nationalism incorporated culture into
music.Until now, French, German, and Italian
music dominated.
RUSSIATHE MIGHTY FIVE Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)
Wrote “Scheherazade” and “Cappriccio Espagnol”
Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) Alexander Borodin (1833-1887) Cesar Cui (1835-1918) Mily Balakirev (1837-1910)
THE MIGHTY FIVE Wanted to promote Russian music Used native instruments, folklore,
legends, history, and folksongs.
The Mighty Five EXCLUDED Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) because he was too cosmopolitan.
TCHAIKOVSKY Composed The Nutcracker, Swan Lake,
1812 Overture
IMPRESSIONISM
Impressionism avoids clear lines, is blurred, and subtle.
It is connected to art – impressionistic paintings by Monet, van Gogh, etc.
IMPRESSIONISM IN FRANCE Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Born in Paris, FranceStudied piano and composition at the Paris
Conservatory Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Studied composition at the Paris Conservatory
Was denied the Prix de Rome FOUR times and was outraged
Drove the ambulance at the front lines of WWI
Friends with George Gershwin (jazz influence)
MORE “ISMS” Neoclassicism
New music inspired by the Baroque and Classical periods
IGOR STRAVINSKY(1882-1971)
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia
Father was a bass in the St. Petersburg opera, but urged Stravinsky to pursue a more practical career.
Stravinsky studied law, then composition at the St. Petersburg Conservatory with Rimsky-Korsakov.
STRAVINSKY Composed for the Ballet Russe
(important ballet company in Russia) Escaped to Switzerland during the war 1920 – Lived in France 1939 – WWII (death of his daughter,
wife, and mother)Moved to the US to lecture at HarvardAfter 1 year, he moved to LA, became a US
citized in 1945. 1969 – Moved to NYC (died there)
IMPORTANT COMPOSITIONS Wrote many ballets including:
Rite of SpringFirebird
EXPRESSIONISM Atonal Music Rejection of Impressionism Expressed one’s “inner world” as
described by Freud
Main Composer was Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)
ARNOLD SCHOENBERG (1874-1951)
Born in Vienna Violin, Composed He was self-taught Served in WWI
Known for his 12 tone method – atonal, used 12 note tone rows
1925 – Professor at Berlin Academy of the Arts
Compositions include string music, operas, piano music; “Pierrot Lunaire”
ALEATORIC OR CHANCE MUSIC
Everyday sounds as music Never the same twice
John Cage – wrote a piece called 4 min 33 sec
AMERICAN MUSIC George Gershwin (1898-1937)
Russian-Jewish immigrant parentsBorn in Brooklyn, NYExcelled in sports1910 – started piano lessons Jobs – earned $15/week playing piano and
was a song plugger for Remick Music Co.Compositions – musical theater and jazz
Porgy & Bess, Rhapsody in Blue, I Got Rhythm
GEORGE GERSHWIN
“I Got Rhythm”
AMERICAN MUSIC Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
Born Brooklyn, NY Russian-Jewish Parents Studied music as a child, then in Paris 1924 – Returned to the US Wanted to compose music that would be
identified as “Americana” and appeal to a variety of audiences
Used Jazz and Folk Songs in his music “American Nationalism” Compositions include: Rodeo, Appalachain
Spring, Fanfare for the Common Man, Billy the Kid
AMERICAN MUSIC Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Born in Massachusets Parents were Russian Immigrants Age 10 – piano, Age 13 – First piano recital and
barmitzvah (dad gave him a baby grand piano) Music major at Harvard Met Aaron Copland (composition advisor) Studied at Curtis Institute in Philly (PA) Conductor of the NY Philharmonic and
substitute conductor at Carnegie Hall Wrote West Side Story, ballets, Candide Died of cancer (smoker) in NYC in 1990