THE “ISMS”

NATIONALISM Nationalism incorporated culture into

music.Until now, French, German, and Italian

music dominated.

RUSSIATHE MIGHTY FIVE Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)

Wrote “Scheherazade” and “Cappriccio Espagnol”

Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) Alexander Borodin (1833-1887) Cesar Cui (1835-1918) Mily Balakirev (1837-1910)

THE MIGHTY FIVE Wanted to promote Russian music Used native instruments, folklore,

legends, history, and folksongs.

The Mighty Five EXCLUDED Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) because he was too cosmopolitan.

TCHAIKOVSKY Composed The Nutcracker, Swan Lake,

1812 Overture

IMPRESSIONISM

Impressionism avoids clear lines, is blurred, and subtle.

It is connected to art – impressionistic paintings by Monet, van Gogh, etc.

IMPRESSIONISM IN FRANCE Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

Born in Paris, FranceStudied piano and composition at the Paris

Conservatory Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

Studied composition at the Paris Conservatory

Was denied the Prix de Rome FOUR times and was outraged

Drove the ambulance at the front lines of WWI

Friends with George Gershwin (jazz influence)

MORE “ISMS” Neoclassicism

New music inspired by the Baroque and Classical periods

IGOR STRAVINSKY(1882-1971)

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia

Father was a bass in the St. Petersburg opera, but urged Stravinsky to pursue a more practical career.

Stravinsky studied law, then composition at the St. Petersburg Conservatory with Rimsky-Korsakov.

STRAVINSKY Composed for the Ballet Russe

(important ballet company in Russia) Escaped to Switzerland during the war 1920 – Lived in France 1939 – WWII (death of his daughter,

wife, and mother)Moved to the US to lecture at HarvardAfter 1 year, he moved to LA, became a US

citized in 1945. 1969 – Moved to NYC (died there)

IMPORTANT COMPOSITIONS Wrote many ballets including:

Rite of SpringFirebird

EXPRESSIONISM Atonal Music Rejection of Impressionism Expressed one’s “inner world” as

described by Freud

Main Composer was Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)

ARNOLD SCHOENBERG (1874-1951)

Born in Vienna Violin, Composed He was self-taught Served in WWI

Known for his 12 tone method – atonal, used 12 note tone rows

1925 – Professor at Berlin Academy of the Arts

Compositions include string music, operas, piano music; “Pierrot Lunaire”

ALEATORIC OR CHANCE MUSIC

Everyday sounds as music Never the same twice

John Cage – wrote a piece called 4 min 33 sec

AMERICAN MUSIC George Gershwin (1898-1937)

Russian-Jewish immigrant parentsBorn in Brooklyn, NYExcelled in sports1910 – started piano lessons Jobs – earned $15/week playing piano and

was a song plugger for Remick Music Co.Compositions – musical theater and jazz

Porgy & Bess, Rhapsody in Blue, I Got Rhythm

GEORGE GERSHWIN

“I Got Rhythm”

AMERICAN MUSIC Aaron Copland (1900-1990)

Born Brooklyn, NY Russian-Jewish Parents Studied music as a child, then in Paris 1924 – Returned to the US Wanted to compose music that would be

identified as “Americana” and appeal to a variety of audiences

Used Jazz and Folk Songs in his music “American Nationalism” Compositions include: Rodeo, Appalachain

Spring, Fanfare for the Common Man, Billy the Kid

AMERICAN MUSIC Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)

Born in Massachusets Parents were Russian Immigrants Age 10 – piano, Age 13 – First piano recital and

barmitzvah (dad gave him a baby grand piano) Music major at Harvard Met Aaron Copland (composition advisor) Studied at Curtis Institute in Philly (PA) Conductor of the NY Philharmonic and

substitute conductor at Carnegie Hall Wrote West Side Story, ballets, Candide Died of cancer (smoker) in NYC in 1990