1. 20th Century Music

2. Stylistic Characteristics
Heavily influenced by modern technology including electronic instruments, recording, and distribution.
Composers became more freely experimental creating a much wider variety of music.
Musical ensembles were much more flexibly defined in numbers and instruments from traditional ensembles.
The traditional rules of music were bent and broken in regard to form, tonality, and instrument use.

3. Igor Stravinsky
Impact on Period: Pushed the concept of form and structure for the modern ballet.  The extreme dissonance, use of rhythm, and choreography sent the premier audience of Rite of Spring to a near riot.
Year range for important compositions in this period:
Composition #1: Rite of Spring
Composition #2: The Firebird

4. Arnold Schoenberg
Impact on Period: The first to use the 12 tone row in composition.  All 12 chromatic notes were treated equally in relation to each other creating complete atonality.
Year range for important compositions in this period:
Composition #1: Variations for Orchestra, Op. 31
Composition #2: Piano Concerto, Op. 42

5. John Cage
Impact on period: Cage’s avant-garde style was largely influenced by psychology and philosophy. Cage aimed to challenge what music could be defined as.   
Year range for important compositions in this period:
Composition #1: 4’ 33”
Composition #2: Sonata II for Prepared Piano