2020thth Century Century ““ismism’’ss””

The escape from Romantic music.

Scene from Claude Debussy’s ‘Pelleas et Melisande’

What are What are ““ismsisms”” As mentioned before, a complete study of all the trends after the ‘common practice

period’ (after 1900) would be WAY outside the scope of this class. Many of the trends were given the suffix “ism.” So many that it’s kind of a joke among

music scholars For the purposes of this class, we’re going to study 4 “isms”

– Impressionism (Claude Debussy)– Primitivism (Igor Stravinsky)– Expressionism (Arnold Schoenberg)– Serialism (Anton Webern)

Debussy:Impressionism

Stravinksy:Primitivism

Schoenberg:Expressionism

Webern:Serialism

Alban Berg:Weird…

ImpressionismImpressionism Impressionism began as a movement in the art world, primarily in France. The term was first used for a Claude Monet painting known as Impression: Sunrise - the painting

shown below. The painting begins to show hazy images or ‘impressions’ One theory as to the beginning of impressionism is the invention of the camera – the artists began

to say if you want a clear image – take a picture! Some musicians began to take these ‘impressionistic’ ideas and apply them to orchestration and

form – distorting traditional forms & harmonies. The result is a stunning series of compositions, primarily developed by French composers Claude

Debussy & Maurice Ravel. Several composers of the 20th century, although not classified as impressionists, were profoundly

influenced by this unique music.

Claude Monet‘Impression: Sunrise’

Claude Debussy FactoidsClaude Debussy Factoids Claude Debussy was born near Paris, France in 1862. Did not come from a musical family – began piano lessons at 7. Began music studies at the Paris Conservatoire at age 10 – began studying

composition with the top French composers of the day. Debussy won the Prix de Rome for one of his compositions – awarded a 4 year

residence in Rome, but he hated it there and went back to Paris after 2 years. His music was not well received at the time – both ‘Prelude to the Afternoon

of a Faun’ and ‘La Mer’ got poor reviews. Debussy is considered an ‘impressionist’ – he disliked the term. He contends

that he was only trying to do something different. Debussy’s piano Etudes rival Liszt in their difficulty. Debussy passed away of liver cancer in 1918. Debussy’s legacy is significant – leaving behind some of the most beautiful

and unique music ever imagined.

Claude Debussy 1Claude Debussy 1 Debussy wrote some of the most beautiful piano music ever written – much of it

quite difficult. Here is a performance of his Arabesque No. 1 – one of his more moderate works,

named for a dance technique.

Claude Debussy 2Claude Debussy 2 Here is one of Debussy’s impressionistic works for orchestra – Nuages

(Clouds) from his set of Nocturnes (Night).

Claude Debussy 3Claude Debussy 3 This is one of Debussy’s most famous orchestral works, the three part suite La Mer

(The Sea). Performing here is the London Symphony Orchestra with Valery Gergiev conducting.

Claude Debussy 4Claude Debussy 4 Debussy attempted to write an impressionistic style opera, his setting of

Pelleas et Melisande with mixed results. It’s the only opera he composed. It is infrequently performed today.

Igor Stravinsky FactoidsIgor Stravinsky Factoids Igor Stravinsky was a Russian composer – his years are 1882-1971. Stravinsky composed masterpieces in almost every genre, most notably an

incomparable series of ballet scores. “Primitivism” is the term associated with Stravinsky’s ballets in the early

1900’s. The music is meant to sound ‘primitive’ evoking what the rituals and music of early humans may have sounded like.

Like impressionism, primitivism began as an art movement of the late 1800’s, notably the work of artist Paul Gauguin.

Stravinsky studied music in Russia with the orchestration master Rimsky-Korsakov (Flight of the Bumblebee guy).

The premier of the primitive ballet ‘Rite of Spring’ in 1913 is one of the most infamous events in music history. A ‘riot’ of sorts broke out after the premier. Accounts of this differ, some say people shouted at each other, others say actual fights broke out!

Stravinsky lived a long life and wrote in all the other “ism’s” – but the success of his ballets tends to overshadow his other works.

Igor Stravinsky 1Igor Stravinsky 1 Here’s an excerpt from the of Stravinsky’s primitive style ballets –

Petrushka. This is from the orchestral suite (sorry, no dancing here…) It’s a dance about a puppet. I’m sure the story as more complex – look it

up on ‘Wikipedia’ if interested

Stravinsky and theOriginal Petrushka

Igor Stravinsky 2Igor Stravinsky 2 The second of Stravinsky’s primitive ballets is called The Firebird. It’s about a

mythical glowing bird. Again, this is an excerpt from the orchestral suite. Pop culture alert! There is a fantastic episode of Little Einsteins that feature the music

from this ballet.

Igor Stravinsky 3Igor Stravinsky 3 Without a doubt, Stravinsky’s most famous (infamous) work is La Sacre du Printemps

(The Rite of Spring). Presented here is the orchestral suite. After it’s premier in Paris in 1912, there was a riot outside the theater over the subject

matter of the ballet – mainly human sacrifice (ewww..) Pop culture alert! This work became so famous that Disney included this composition in

the original Fantasia in 1947.

Arnold Arnold Schoenberg Schoenberg FactoidsFactoids Austrian composer and painter (1874-1951), associated with the ‘expressionist’

movement in German culture. ‘Expressionism’ is a movement usually associated with German fine arts of the late

1800’s. Began in poetry and painting (Edvard Munch’s The Scream is a great example) and continued through music.

Basically, where impressionsim tends to be beautiful and flowing, German expressionism tends to be harsh and strident.

Schoenberg began in a neo-romantic style, but gradually embraced German expressionsim – using atonality (absence of a tonal center) for his early works.

Schoenberg took these ideas and formed his own way of composing – basically developing the 12-tone method, the birth of serialism. This will be covered in more detail with Anton Webern.

He established the Second Viennese School, teaching this style to his students. In 1934, he moved to Los Angeles and taught music theory at UCLA, influencing an

entire generation of 20th century composers. His music was NOT well received and was highly criticized for being too weird. Schoenberg’s primary legacy is redirecting thought toward music in the early 20th

century, influencing EVERY composer since his time.

Expressionist ArtExpressionist Art Here are some examples of ‘Expressionism’ in the art world.

Edvard MunchThe Scream (1893)

Portrait of Eduard KosmackEgon Schiele

Wassily KandinskyOn White II, 1923

Alvar CawénSokea soittoniekka

(Blind Musician), 1922

Arnold Arnold Schoenberg Schoenberg 11 Here is Schoenberg’s 1st truly 12 tone work – his 5 Pieces for Piano. This is a performance of the Gavotte.

Arnold Arnold Schoenberg Schoenberg 22 This is one movement of Schoenberg’s famous chamber suite, Pierot Lunaire, Op. 21. This work features the use of sprechstemme (speech-voice), where the vocal part is half sung and

half spoken (the result is quite creepy…) This entire work is quite extensive, there are 3 parts that each have 7 movements.

Arnold Arnold Schoenberg Schoenberg 33 Here are Schoenberg’s expressionist & serial techniques extended to an entire orchestra. The work is a landmark in 20th century orchestra writing, Five Pieces for Orchestra.

Anton Anton Webern Webern FactoidsFactoids Anton Webern (1883-1945) was a German composer and a member of the

Second Viennese School, studying with Arnold Schoenberg. Webern is associated with total serialsim movement. Where Schoenberg

used math for the pitches, Webern also used math for articulations, dynamics, etc.

Most of his works are short and to the point. His entire output was recently recorded by master conductor Pierre Boulez and it only filled 6 compact discs (around 7 hours).

He was somewhat obscure while alive, there has been new interest in his music after WWII – especially music historians studying the fascinating music of the period.

To earn money due to infrequent performances, he worked as an editor and proofreader for his publisher – Universal Editions.

Webern’s legacy is in the way he influenced the world’s attitude toward serialism and its effects (whether positive or negative) on music.

Anton Anton Webern Webern 11 This is one of Webern’s early serial works, his Piano Variations, Op. 27. This work extends serialsim to include dynamics and rhythms as well as pitch.

Anton Anton Webern Webern 22 Presented here is Webern’s serial chamber work, Concerto for Nine Instruments, Op. 24. It’s not a concerto in the traditional sense, there is virtuostic (very difficult) writing for

all instruments.

Anton Anton Webern Webern 33 Last from Webern is his Six Pieces for Orchestra, Op 6 conducted by master

conductor Zubin Mehta. Here are all of Webern’s serialistic ideas extended to an entire orchestra.

Alban Berg FactoidsAlban Berg Factoids Alban Berg (1885-1935) was an Austrian composer and member of the Second

Viennese School with Schoenberg and Webern. Most music historians agree that he was able to combine expressionism and

serialsim to make some of the most effective music of this time. He was not interested in music until 15, where he began to teach himself. He later

became a student of Schoenberg and began writing works in the serialism style. Berg served in the Austro-Hungarian Army during WWI and this had a profound

effect on his writing – notably his opera Wozzeck. Alban Berg passed away in 1935 from blood poisoning caused by an insect sting. Berg will be remembered as one of the most important composers of the 20th c. He

is considered to have the most success with the 12-tone system. Many of his works are still performed today.

Alban Berg 1Alban Berg 1 Berg basically took the atonal weirdness of Webern & Schoenberg and made

them quite musical for this type of music. Presented here is his Violin Concerto – one of his most played works. Some

of the most virtuostic violin writing next to Paganini.

Alban Berg 2Alban Berg 2 Without a doubt, Berg is best known for his two atonal expressionist operas, Wozzeck and Lulu. These operas are intended for MATURE audiences, what we we equate to rated ‘R’ in today’s

movies. Here is an excerpt from Lulu, performed at the Zurich, Switzerland Opera House in 2002 – wow,

the weirdness…….

Alban Berg 2Alban Berg 2 To end the “ism’s” presentation – here is an excerpt from Alban Berg’s Wozzeck, from

the Frankfurt Opera House in 1996. Again – this opera is intended for mature audiences and is quite weird (that may be the

understatement of the presentation… )

The End! The End!

Next – the birth of Popular Music…