Unit 8: Revolutionary Music

Chapter 33: Disrupting the Conversation: Beethoven and the Symphony in Transition

Beethoven's music is grounded in the Classical tradition but pushes its limits in a way that helped define the emerging Romantic sensibility

Beethoven's nine symphonies exemplify his experiments with Classical conventions. Best known is his Fifth, built on a famous four note motive that permeated all four movements.

Beethoven was hailed as a genius even in his own lifetime

three periods to Beethoven's music: early, middle and late

early: until 1802

symphony 1 and 2

in style of Mozart and Haydn

middle: 1803-1814

symphonies 3-8

symphony 3 begins revolution of changing symphonic sound

originally dedicated to Napoleon

personal narrative of individual heroism

late: 1814-1827

symphony 9: adds choir with final "Ode to Joy"

music transitioned from classical form to Romantic sensibilities

Beethoven was a supporter of democracy

supported Napoleon at first

Great Britain democratic parliament system (Wellington's Victory)

"Ode to Joy" finale used widely for political aims

intense, collective endeavor toward a common purpose

symphony 1: sonata allegro form

begins to explore musical joke, winds becoming more prominent, changing tempo within the form

symphony 3: classical tradition but uprisings begin with

form: scherzo with a trio

length: twice as long as Mozart & Haydn

context: Napoleon

Listening Guide 23: Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67

1807-8

four movements

first movement: Allegro con brio

fiery four note motive, the basis for thematic development, contrasting, lyrical second theme

four note rhythmic idea

C minor, with dramatic shifts between minor and major tonality

mostly homophonic

wide dynamic contrasts, forceful, energetic tempo

second movement: Andante con moto

two contrasting themes, smooth first theme, rising second theme

flowing triple meter

related key: A flat major

mostly homophonic

warm strings, brilliant woodwinds, powerful brass

third movement: Scherzo, Allegro

wide ranging melody, ascending scherzo theme, more conjunct, quick trio theme

quick triple meter throughout, insistent focus on four note rhythm

dramatic C minor scherzo, trio in C major

homophonic texture

ABA' plus a link to the final movement

wide ranging dynamic contrasts, fast tempo

fourth movement: Allegro (without pause from movement 3)

triumphant theme outlining C major triad, energetic second theme

very fast duple meter, four note rhythmic idea

C major, remains in major throughout

mostly homophonic

sonata-allegro form, with long coda, cyclic (return of material from earlier movements)

forceful dynamics

added instruments (piccolo, contrabassoon, trombones)

Chapter 55: War is Hell: Berg and Expressionist Opera

Arnold Schoenberg and his students Alban Berg and Anton Webern became known as a Second Viennese School, of modernist composition, in the first half of the 1900s

Berg's music is rooted in the post-romantic tradition, but he also drew on the twelve tone system devised by his teacher

Berg's most famous work is Wozzeck, an Expressionist opera based on a play about a disturbed man who moves between reality and hallucination in a society that has turned its back on him

artists helping to shed light on social problems that existed in that time

1st Viennese school was Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven

twelve tone method

Schoenberg developed a system to replace tonality

serialism-method of composing with 12 chromatic pitches (all important)

tone row - arrangement of the 12 pitches

Alban Berg (1885-1935)

born in Vienna, studied with Schoenberg

fought in WW1

rose to fame with Wozzeck

active teacher and promoter of Schoenberg school

works banned in Germany during WW2

also known for violin concerto, Lulu, Lyric Suite

opera in 3 acts, 5 scenes, orchestral interludes

originally a play by Buchner

Listening Guide 46: Berg: Wozzeck, Act III, scene 4

1922

opera in 3 acts

based on expressionist play by Georg Buchner

characters

Wozzeck, a solider

Marie, his common law wife

their son

Captain

doctor

drum major

use of a speech like melody, disjunct line

movement alternates between metric and free flowing

both tonal and atonal language, dissonant and chromatic

intensely emotional vocal line, supported by dissonance and surging dynamics

eerie mood created by a celeste and unusual instrument combinations, colorful orchestra effects

Chapter 61: Classic Rethinking: Bartok and the "Neo-Classical" Turn

20th century composers used more authentic folk and traditional elements in their nationalistic music than 19th century composers did

Hungarian composer Bela Bartok collected traditional songs and dances from his native land and incorporated elements from them into his compositions

Bartok's music displays new scales and rhythmic ideas and a modern, polytonal harmonic language, all set in Classical forms. In his programatic concerto for orchestra, the whole ensemble is the "soloist"

revolt against traditions and return to 18th century music idealism of Bach, Handel and Vivaldi

revolt against romantic music and symphonic poem

revival of older forms: fugue and suite

key ideas: absolute music, balance, formality

Modernist nationalism

integration of traditional and folk music into experimental art music

music characteristics meaningful in a certain culture may change meaning when added to another art form

departed from conventions of 19th century music

phonographs were taken to villages to preserve songs as they were meant to be performed

captured original music

Bartok and Kodaly collected over 2000 Eastern European songs and dances

Hungarian Nationalism: Bela Barktok (1881-1945)

born in Hungary

was a musicologist

toured remote villages of Hungary to collect native songs

these songs served as raw material for his neo-classical style

moved to NYC in 1940 due to WW2

used the features of Eastern European traditional music while adhering to classical form

ancient modes

unfamiliar scales

nonsymmetrical rhythms

Listening Guide 54: Bartok: Interrupted Intermezzo, from Concerto for Orchestra

1943

orchestral concerto

comprised of 5 movements

fourth movement: Interrupted Intermezzo

three contrasting themes

folklike and pentatonic

broad and lyrical

harsh descending line in clarinet

shifting meters and irregular rhythms

polytonal and atonal harmonies, dissonant

Rondo like structure (A-B-A'-C-B'-A")

nostalgic and sentimental, violent interruption at the idea of Nazi invasion

solo woodwinds features (oboe, clarinet, flute) darkly colored (violas)

Chapter 69: Reality Shows: Adams and Contemporary Opera

operatic composers sometimes choose historical topics, seeking to convey emotional truths through semi-fictional accounts of past events

American composer John Adam's eclectic approach combines elements of minimalism with traits of neo-romanticism, forging a post-minimalist style in his recent opera Doctor Atomic

contemporary opera is history represented in opera, not a documentary

deeper truths found in stories based on fiction

John Adams (born 1947)

American composer

educated at Harvard

steeped in serialism, but listened to rock in dorm room

moved to San Francisco in 1972

taught at San Francisco Conservatory

advocate for contemporary music

minimalistic style, neo-romantic: accessible and deeply expressive

stage works often topical and controversial

Adam's Doctor Atomic

2005

opera

based on memoirs, government documents, poetry and hindu scripture

focuses on last days and hours before the first atomic test in 1945

hugely complex subject, combining science and art, criticized at the time

Listening Guide 65: Adams: Doctor Atomic, "At the Sight of This"

2005

opera

set in Los Alamos, New Mexico, 1945

short, choppy phrases with declaimed text, much repetition of ideas

syncopated rhythm, with many offbeat accents

sharply dissonant harmony

verse/refrain structure with repeated sections and repeated text

fiery mood, mysterious electronic sounds

the performing voices are a chorus and an orchestra together