Modern Classical Music

Modern Era of Music Music Appreciation A Short Introduction to Modern Classical Music The Fast and Friendly Guide to the Modern Era of Classical Music Characteristics  A break with the past / “rules” are made to be broken  Dissonance / atonal  Aleotoric Music = Chance Music  Use of prepared pianos, sprechstimme, & musical use of non-instruments

Modern Era of Music Music Appreciation Notable Composers:  Neo-classicist: Stravinsky  Modernist: Schoenburg  Neo-Romantic: Mahler  Aleotoric composer: Cage  Minimalist: Glass  Electronic: Stockhausen  Many composers write music for films: John Williams

Igor Stravinsky Seen as the musical counterpoint to Picasso Changed his style many times Firebird Suite

Arnold Schoenberg Developed twelve- tone music Fled from Germany to escape Hitler’s reign Pierrot Lunaire (see next slide) Note use of “sprechstimme” in song

John Cage Aleotoric composer Known for “prepared piano” pieces & avant-garde music 4’33’’ Read as “4 minutes and 33 seconds” AND now…a live performance by your Queen…or Mrs. Fritts

Karlheinz Stockhausen Known for electronic & aleatoric music Gesang der Junglinge “Song of the Youths” Gesang der Junglinge

Is this music? Reading Article A & B Instructions: 1. Find one partner 2. Decide who will be Reader 1 & who will be Reader 2 3. Find a piece of blank paper, a writing utensil, & your article 4. Reader 1 reads 1 st paragraph out loud to Reader 2, Reader 2 listens carefully & takes notes 5. Reader 2 reads next paragraph & Reader 1 takes notes 6. Reader 1 & 2 keep switching roles until entire article is read.Questions 1. Both articles are titled “Why Do We Hate Modern Classical Music?” Do they agree? 2. What does “sound like bus crashes” refer to & do you agree? 3. Retell a story from the articles that you remember/thought was interesting.

Additional Examples of Modern Classical Music “Einstein on the Beach” by Philip Glass “Einstein on the Beach” by Philip Glass “Helicopter Quartet” “Helicopter Quartet” by Karlheinz Stockhausen “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy – example of Impressionism “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy Six Bagatelles by ANTON WEBERN – example of Twelve Tone music Six Bagatelles by ANTON WEBERN

20 th Century American Classical Music A brief list of American Classical Composers with musical examples A brief list of American Classical Composers with musical examples Discussion Question: Why are these composers not included in the “Modern Classical Composers” section of this unit?

Modern Classical Review What do you know? Classical/Romantic era rules broken Atonal is _______ Dissonance sounds like ________ Major Genres / Styles are ________ Aleotoric music is ________ Major modern & American composers are _________ What is the genre/style of each composer? Give examples of each genre Perform your own sprechstimme – ready go!

Modern Popular Music

Modern Pop Music Reading “What is pop music”? Instructions: 1. Find one partner 2. Decide who will be Reader 1 & who will be Reader 2 3. Find a piece of blank paper, a writing utensil, & your article 4. Reader 1 reads 1 st paragraph out loud to Reader 2, Reader 2 listens carefully & takes notes 5. Reader 2 reads next paragraph & Reader 1 takes notes 6. Reader 1 & 2 keep switching roles until entire article is read.Questions 1. What is the difference between “pop” and “popular” music? 2. According to the article, define “pop” music. 3. What does “Pop Music Melting Pot” refer to? 4. What does “art is not a concern” mean? 5. What characterizes a “pure pop” song?

Popular Music Presenation Instructions You be assigned one popular song from the following eras: Pre-1920’s 1930’s 1940’s 1950’s 1960’s 1970’s 1980’s 1990’s 2000’s – today You will make a Prezi powerpoint including the following information: Title of your song Name of artist Name of lyricist Name of music composer Publishing company (record company) Year song was released Genre Analysis of the lyrics A 2 minute clip 3 “Did you know…” facts

Popular Music Presenation Instructions (continued) Based on your performance on the modern classical music assessment, each student will be given the chance to choose one song from the following eras: Pre-1920’s 1930’s 1940’s 1950’s 1960’s 1970’s 1980’s 1990’s 2000’s – today The song that you choose must: Be approved by your teacher Be from an era that is different from your first song NOT be from the same artist as someone else’s song Must be presented in a Prezi that included all the same info as your first song (see previous slide) READY???

Modern Popular Music Pre -1920’s

John Phillip Sousa “The March King” Emphasized brass instruments Stars and Stripes Forever

WC Handy “Father of the Blues” Introduced a new style of music to the world Did not invent the blues but brought them to a worldwide audience 1 st blues song– Memphis Blues Beale Street

Modern Popular Music 1920’s

Jimmie Rogers “Father of Country Music” Guitar, voice Yodel In the Jailhouse Now

Modern Popular Music 1930’s

Robert Johnson “King of the Delta Blues” Used voice and guitar only Dubbed father of rock and roll Crossroads

Billie Holliday “Lady Day” Along with Fitzgerald, considered one of greatest jazz voices of all time Strange Fruit

Modern Popular Music 1940’s

Bill Monroe The Father of Bluegrass Music High lonesome sound Mandolin with bass, guitar, and fiddle Blue Moon of Kentucky

Woody Guthrie Noted for his identification with  the common man  the poor  the downtrodden Hated fascism and exploitation This Land Is Your Land

Thelonius Monk Pianist who used “stride” piano techniques along with more “avant garde” approach Used the entire keyboard, not just those notes “in tune” ‘Round Midnight

Ella Fitzgerald “The First Lady of Song” Three octave range How High The Moon

Duke Ellington Jazz musician Focused on Big Band sound Take the A Train

Modern Popular Music 1950’s

Buddy Holly Rock and roll chords (C, G, E) 15 #1 hits on the Billboard Top 40 in one year Peggy Sue

Elvis Presley King of Rock and Roll Huge teen idol and heart throb Performed older African- American blues songs Jailhouse Rock

Ray Charles Rhythm and blues Added gospel sound to rock and roll Piano and boogie-woogie sound Mess Around

Johnny Cash “The Man in Black” Boom-chick-a- boom sound Folsom Prison Blues

Louis Armstrong “Satchmo” Trumpet player and singer Reinvented himself as both Big Band performer, pop singer, and jazz trumpeter Summertime

Miles Davis Bebop– Throttled notes Cool jazz—Improvisation Modal jazz– No keys, just notes. Jazz fusion—Soul, R&B, and jazz added with electric instrumentation Tempus Fugit

Modern Popular Music 1960’s

Frank Sinatra/ The Rat Pack Big Band Sound One lead singer with full orchestral arrangement Strangers in the Night My Way Other?

Bob Dylan Influenced heavily by Woody Guthrie Became most popular folk musician since Guthrie, but lost folk audience for going electric Blowin’ in the Wind

The Beatles The British Invasion Experimentation with musical instruments I Want to Hold Your Hand Hey, Jude

Beach Boys The California Surf Sound Experimentation with musical time signatures, music Good Vibrations

Motown Berry Gordy Black sound Back-up singers and doo-wop groups I Heard it Through the Grapevine

Modern Popular Music 1970’s

James Brown “The Godfather of Soul” Soul music Funk music Get Up Offa That Thing

Led Zepplin Hard rock/ heavy metal Volume to 11 Kashmir

Bee Gees Disco genre Known for 3 part vocal harmonies Stayin’ Alive

Sugar Hill Gang MC– Master of Ceremonies A mix of spoken word, sampled melodies, and “scratching” records Rapper’s Delight

Modern Popular Music 1980’s

Bob Marley Reggae genre Kettle drums with basic electric guitar Redemption Song

Michael Jackson Changed pop music into upbeat numbers with synthesized beats “The King of Pop” Thriller

Modern Popular Music 1990’s

Modern Popular Music 2000’s - now