Pulcinella Suite Stravinsky
Learning Objectives To revise the principal features of Neoclassical music To learn about the background of the Pulcinella Suite To study the orchestration of the Sinfonia and compare it with the original
Neoclassicism “Back to Bach” Emotional restraint; balance; clarity Reaction against highly indulgent late Romanticism Use of older techniques to organise 20th century harmonies and rhythms Absolute music Size of orchestra Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Poulenc, Hindemith… EBB much influenced by Stravinsky!
Neoclassicism 2 Prokofiev Symphony 1 “Classical” 1917 What are the “classical” features? What are the 20th century features? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nayn7JS11vU “I thought that if Haydn were alive today he would compose just as he did before, but at the same time would include something new in his manner of composition. I wanted to compose such a symphony: a symphony in the classical style”
Prokofiev Classical 20th century Classical orchestra Antecedent-consequent phrasing Sonata form! Lovely perfect cadences everywhere Unusual modulations Some asymmetric phrases Disjunct melodies Highly detailed markings in score; instrumental techniques “Wrong-note” harmony Syncopation/jazzy rhythms Short
Stravinsky Russian, lived in Paris Wrote lots of ballets: Firebird 1910, Petrushka 1911, Rite of Spring 1913, Pulcinella 1920 Orchestral suite of 8 pieces from the ballet 1922 Arrangements of 18th century pieces by Pergolesi It turned out later that some weren’t by Pergolesi…
Sinfonia Based on a Sonata by Gallo Double WW Baroque-style (no clarinets) Solo string quintet Baroque-style (ish) – like a Corelli Concerto Grosso (what’s the difference?) Listen
Gallo Compare: Harmony Melody Orchestration Markings in the score https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=GO2uW_YyeVU
Sinfonia Questions What is the function of the solo string quintet? How is the horn writing different from Baroque parts for horn? How is Stravinsky’s writing for the double bass different from Gallo’s? Give 3 examples from the score of string writing which would not be found in Baroque music. Find 2 examples of “wrong-note” dissonant harmony.