Chapter 8 Musical Creators

Composers and Songwriters The art of composition: The craft of putting together sounds to create a musical work Exteriorizing inner feelings Most use musical notation – some create with electronics Composers must be able to convey feelings and meanings to the audience

The creative process Inspiration Beethoven – Agonized over music. Revision after Revision Chopin – Music magically flowed from fingers to the piano keys Inspiration A creative force that awakens the creative voice within the artist Where do composers begin? Some composers work randomly Some start with the form

Diane Warren Writes music for films, TV and singers First hit was “Rhythm of the Night” from the movie The Last Dragon in 1984 Songs have been in dozens of TV shows and movies Recorded by Aerosmith, Toni Braxton, Gloria Estefan, Celine Dion, and Rod Stewart

Hook The motive or “grabber phrase” in a song that often accompanies the words of the song’s title “Un-break My Heart” by Diane Warren as recorded by Toni Braxton. 1996 Grammy Winner. Imagine that you were to hear just the music of each song without the lyrics. What emotions does the music successfully communicate?

Hook to “Un-break my Heart” Un-break my heart Say you’ll love me again Undo this hurt you caused When you walked out the door And walked out of my life Un-cry these tears I cried so many nights

American Masters At one time American music was considered inferior to European music Most performances in America were of European music WWI brought American popular music to Europe – especially jazz European composers began using American elements in their music

George Gershwin (1898-1937) Prolific American composer of popular songs, Broadway musicals, and concert music The child of Russian-Jewish immigrants Taught himself to play – then studies formally Worked in Tin Pan Alley – a section of New York City where musicians could play their songs for publishers and producers

George Gershwin His first hit song was “Swanee” He took American music further by fusing jazz chords and motives with classical meters and orchestration He combined American jazz with traditional classical forms for the concert hall Rhapsody in Blue (1924) An American in Paris (1928)

Gershwin’s musicals He wrote his first musical at age 19 – La, La Lucille He composed over 30 musicals with lyrics written by his brother Ira One of his most popular was Girl Crazy(1930) Of Thee I Sing (1931) won the Pulitzer Prize

An American Opera Gershwin’s most ambitious work was the opera Porgy and Bess (1935) Based on a novel by DuBose Heyward It portrays the struggles of two African Americans living in the racially segregated South in the early 1900’s Gershwin wrote the words in Gullah (a regional dialect of English spoken by descendants of enslaved Africans living in the coastal South) for authenticity

Porgy and Bess The show wasn’t fully appreciated until after Gershwin’s death in 1937 Songs from the opera became popular “Summertime” “Bess You Is My Woman Now” Duet between Porgy and Bess Modulation: Change of key

Aaron Copland (1900-1990) Experimented and studied for years before becoming successful Studied in France Explored jazz rhythm then harsh dissonant music Had a bold, brash compositional style Used American folk music and jazz style

Appalachian Spring: Copland’s “Gift for Simplicity” One of the characteristics of his style is simplicity Ballet Appalachian Spring (1944) Based on the song “Tis a Gift to be Simple” Played at the inaugurations of President Reagan and President Clinton Listed by the National Association for Music Education as one of the songs that every American should know

“Simple Gifts” The ballet was written for the dancer and choreographer Martha Graham It celebrates a newly married pioneer couple’s moving into a home built for them

Fanfare for the Common Man (1942) A short, showy tune, usually written for brass, played to honor important people or announce an important event During WWII, Eugene Goossens, then conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, commissioned several American composers to write fanfares Copland’s was one of the most successful

New Directions Electronic Music The development of the integrated circuit or chip opened up technology for musicians Synthesizer An electronic device, usually with a keyboard, capable of producing sounds in almost any range, tone quality, and volume Invented by Robert Moog

Libby Larsen (b. 1950) Incorporates synthesized sound into her music Writes for many genres Makes use of video images and other multimedia effects The Settling Years

The Settling Years Expresses life in the untamed West in the 19th century Choral Piece in 3 movements “Comin’ to Town” – details the experience of a Western town overrun by cowboys “Beneath These Alien Stars” describes the great western expanse “A Hoopla” celebrates good times with country fiddling “Comin’ to Town” from The Settling Years

Marimba Concert: After Hampton Marimba is an idiophone made of wooden bars and resonating tubes Its roots are in Africa and South and Central America Made famous by jazz musician Lionel Hampton (1908-2002)

Moses Hogan (1957-2003) Late 20th century composer and arranger Focused on promoting and preserving the African American spiritual “I am Gonna Sing ‘Til the Spirit Moves in My Heart” How does the composer create a sense of growing intensity toward the end of the composition Describe Hogan’s use of a contrasting style of rhythm to end the composition What is the emotional effect of this contrasting style Do you think this composition would be difficult to sing? Why?

Review - Terms Modulation Fanfare Synthesizer Composition Hook A change of key Fanfare A short, showy tune, usually written for brass, played to honor important people or announce and important event Synthesizer An electronic device capable of producing sounds in almost any range, tone quality, and volume Composition The craft of putting together sounds to create a musical work Hook The motive or “grabber’ phrase in a song that often accompanies the words of the song’s title.

Who composed what? “Bess, You Is My Woman Now” George Gershwin “Rhapsody in Blue” Who wrote the lyrics for George Gershwin’s musicals? Ira Gershwin “Unbreak My Heart” Diane Warren “Rhythm of the Night”

Who composed what? “The Settling Years” Libby Larsen “Marimba Concert: After Hampton” “I am Gonna Sing ‘Til the Spirit Moves in My Heart” Moses Hogan “Fanfare for the Common Man” Aaron Copland “Appalachian Spring”