Chapter 8 Musical Creators

What you will learn Identify five modern American composers and songwriters Describe how these musical artists use music to communicate Identify the characteristics that make their works American Identify the creative processes and the source of musical ideas that these composers and arrangers use in developing their music

Vocabulary Composition Hook Modulation Fanfare Synthesizer

Musician Profiles George Gershwin Moses Hogan

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 The process can be a struggle (Beethoven) or spontaneous (Chopin and Mozart) 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

Songwriter 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 Interview p. 171

Activity 1, p. 174 CD 5:19-20 Identify the hook: The motive or “grabber phrase in a song that often accompanies the words of the song’s title “Because you Love Me” & “Unbreak My Heart” by Diane Warren How do the melodic and harmonic structures reinforce the lyric message of each song? Imagine that you were to hear just the music of each song without the lyrics. What emotions does the music successfully communicate?

Assignment Write a paragraph outlining the creative processes used by songwriter Diane Warren.

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

Activity 2 & 3, p. 176 CD 5:21 “I Got Rhythm” by George Gershwin From the musical Girl Crazy Lead role catapulted Ethel Merman to fame Gershwin loved this tune so much that he used it as the theme for a theme and variations Activity 3, p. 178 CD 6:1

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 When the show opened, backers didn’t want to use the word opera 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” CD 6:2 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” Made famous by Copland 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” Activity 5, p. 184 CD 6:3 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 The last section is variations on the theme Activity 6, p. 184 CD 6:4

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 Activity 7, p. 185 CD 6:5

New Directions How much technology is acceptable for a band to use? 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 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 Activity 8, p. 188 CD 6:6 “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) Activity 9, p. 189 CD 6:7 Marimba Concerto: After Hampton by Libby Larsen

The Source of Musical Ideas Activity 10, p. 190 - video

Moses Hogan (1957-2003) Late 20th century composer and arranger Focused on promoting and preserving the African American spiritual Activity 11, p. 191 CD 6:8 “I am Gonna Sing ‘Til the Spirit Moves in My Heart” by Moses Hogan 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?

From the Top CD 1:15-16 Sojourner Hodges Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano

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? “Because You Loved Me” “Bess, You Is My Woman Now” Diane Warren “Bess, You Is My Woman Now” George Gershwin “Unbreak My Heart” “Comin’ to Town” Libby Larsen “Rhythm of the Night”

Who composed what? “I Got Rhythm” Marimba Concerto: After Hampton George Gershwin Marimba Concerto: After Hampton Libby Larsen Rhapsody in Blue Fanfare for the Common Man Aaron Copland Appalachian Spring

In Beethoven’s time, what instrument was widely used for composing? piano What is a marimba? An idiophone that is larger than a xylophone with tuned resonating tubes under the tone bars What song catapulted Ethel Merman to fame in 1930? “I Got Rhythm” From what musical, by George Gershwin, was “I Got Rhythm” Girl Crazy

What was Aaron Copland’s compositional style? He used American folk traditions and themes Which musical of Gershwin’s won the Pulitzer Prize? Of Thee I Sing Who popularized spirituals in the 2nd half of the 20th century? Moses Hogan What does Diane Warren usually build her song around? A hook

Who was a late 20th century composer and arranger of gospel music? Moses Hogan Which composers compositions for the concert hall combined American jazz with traditional classical forms? George Gershwin The hymn “Tis a Gift to be Simple,” was used by which composer in what piece? Aaron Copland in Appalachian Spring What word was avoided when advertising Porgy and Bess? opera

Essay How do composers make their musical works sound “American”? Using religious tunes Folk songs Popular melodies Jazz Other themes associated with American culture

Discuss different approaches to creating music. Cite examples. Some composers(Andrew Lloyd Webber or Starving Goliath) rely on inspiration and improvisation Others (Libby Larsen) hear the music in their head first Diane Warren writes every day, completing one song before going on to the next