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Impressionism to Modernism A synopsis of music history
Impressionism to ModernismA synopsis of music history
Impressionism: An overviewComposers tried to create a dreamlike
quaility that mimicked the art of the eraClaude Monet and Vincent van Gogh were
two important Impressionistic paintersArt tended to appear unfocused up close,
but gained focus as you moved away, so music also could appear unfocused at first listen
Music used musical elements to evoke a particular mood or image in the mind of the listener, much like a painting
Visual Art Example 1: Monet
Visual Art Example 3: Cassatt
Musical CharacteristicsAtonal- Lacking a tonal center or key Whole Tone- A musical interval of two
semitones (half step) Modes- Similar to the old church
modesLydian-C D E F G A B CDorian-D E F G A B C DPhrygian C Db Eb F G Ab Bb C
Claude Debussy1862-1918, FrenchStudied at the Paris Conservatory and in
Rome, but influences ranged from Wagner to Javanese music
Used to Phrygian mode along with other lesser known modes
Main works were orchestral pieces, piano sets, and songs
Associated his later music with visual impressions of the East, Spain, landscapes etc, in a sequence of sets of short pieces.
Died of cancer
Maurice Ravel1876-1937Studied at the Paris ConservatoryFailed to win the Prix de Rome 5 times and
left to work as a freelance musicianFascinated with creating music that
evoked a far away place or ideaWrote everything from piano pieces to
ballet to operaHis last major effort was a pair of piano
concertos, one joyful and urban, one(for left hand only) more dark and solid.
Modern MusicA bit more atonal than
Impressionistic musicDevelopment to the 12-tone
music12-tone music: all 12 notes of
the chromatic scale is used in a particular, reoccurring order
Anton Schoenburg1874-1951Born in Vienna, Austria but moved to L.A.Played and composed from a young age, but
didn’t have formal training until his teensDeveloped the “Serial” method of 12-tone musicSerial Method: A mathematical formal
comprised of tone rows that dictated the form in which the notes were composed
Also developed Sprechgesang, or singing-speechOnce in America, returned to more of a tonal
soundTaught a UCLA
Tone Row Matrix
Anton Webern1883-1945AustrianStudied composition under SchoenburgMade a career as a conductorWas obsessed with 12-tone music and
once learned, never composed any other way again
Was accidentally shot by a soldier at the end of WWII
Left only about 3 hours worth of music
Bela Bartok1881-1945Hungarian, moved to New YorkAttended Budapest Academy and studied
under a former student of Franz LisztTranscribed a lot of Hungarian folk songsMade a career as a pianistInfluenced by Debussy and SchoenburgWrote his final work, Piano Concerto no. 3
to provide his widow with income when he died
Igor Stravinsky1882-1971RussianParents wanted him to be a lawyerMoved to New York, then L.A.Lived near SchoenbergDabbled in 12-tone serialismWrote modern symphonies in a neo-
classical mannerMusic sometimes caused rioting, as in
“Rite of Spring” and his version of “The Star Spangles Banner”
