1. Chapter 8
Musical Creators

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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 Grammy Winner.
Imagine that you were to hear just the music of each song without the lyrics. What emotions does the music successfully communicate?

6. 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

7. 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

8. George Gershwin ( )
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

9. 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)

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Aaron Copland ( )
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

14. 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

15. “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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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 ( )

21. 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?

22. 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.

23. 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”

24. 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”