20th CenturyApprox. 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 CharacteristicsDifferences 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 CharacteristicsDifferences 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

20th Century Composers“Duke” Edward Kennedy Ellington (1899 – 1974)• 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)• 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)• 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

• 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 - )• 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