Late Nineteenth Century Controversy
The "isms"
Carl and Friends
Random Songs and Terms
BYE
100
How were popular and classical music of the late nineteenth century compared?
Classical music and popular music were characterized as opposite ends of continuum. Classical music was thought to be more difficult, where pop music was thought to be simple and not reflective. The consensus was that popular music got worn out quickly, where classical music endures and is still listened to hundreds of years later. The idea that popular music is superficial and classical music is profound was paired with commercialism, where popular music is written for the purpose of being bought and sold. Classical music was written for reasons having nothing to do with money.
100
What was the French language literary movement on drama and poetry and who are some writers associated with this movement?
Symbolism; Mallarme, Baudelaire, Verlaine
100
Who is Carl Maria von Weber? Include a famous piece that he wrote.
Carl Maria von Weber lived from 1786-1826. He was the most important German operatic composer between Mozart and Wagner. He wrote "Freischautz" in 1821.
100
What is a symphonic poem? Who originated the idea of a symphonic poem and who later picked up the idea?
A symphonic poem is a piece of orchestral music where the content of a poem is revoked. It was originated by Liszt and picked up by Schoenberg.
100
What are some prerequisites of dance music? Give an example of dance music by Johann Strauss.
Some of these prerequisites are clear and regular metrical structure, colorful and readily accessible melodies, and regular phrase structure. An example of dance music by Johann Strauss is "Blue Danube Waltz" or "An der schonen blauen Donau", composed in 1867.
200
What was the "War of the Romantics"?
The "War of the Romantics" debated upon traditional versus new musical forms and the issue of program versus absolute music.
200
What did Stephane Mallarme write and what movement is he associated with?
He wrote French symphonic poems including the poetry that was influential in Debussy’s composition of Prélude à l'Après-midi d'une faune. PS: His style was similar to Baudelaire's.
200
Describe the story of Carl Maria von Weber's "Der Freischütz".
"Der Freischütz" is the story of a hunter who strikes a bargain with the Devil to win a shooting contest that will allow him to marry the woman that he loves. "Der Freischütz" includes the use of melodrama, and audiences responded to its folk-like arias, choruses, and dance scenes.
200
What is the "Rossini Crescendo"?
The "Rossini crescendo" is a quietly stated rhythmic motif repeated many times with the addition of instruments and voices with each repetition and increased dynamics in every few bars (occurs in Rigoletto).
200
What is the music of Mahler's "Symphony #1" connected with and how did Mahler instruct the musicians to play this piece?
The music is connected to Mortiz von Schwind's "How the animals bring the hunter his grave" and, along this same idea, Mahler instructed his musicians to play the music as a parody.
300
What composer was an ardent nationalist for Finland even though his mother-tongue was Swedish?
Jan Sibelius
300
What is expressionism and a music example of this movement?
Expressionism is an artistic style in which the artist attempts to depict not objective reality but rather the subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse in him. An example of an expressionist piece is “Pierrot lunaire” by Schoenberg.
300
Describe the Wolf's Glen Scene from Carl Maria von Weber's "Der Freischütz".
Wolf’s Glen Scene takes place at the end of Act II. It is known for its combination of music and special effects, such as diminished seventh chords played on low strings and the offstage chorus paired with shadowy figures and a burning wagon wheel careening across the stage.
300
What is singspiel? Provide an example.
Singspiel is German spoken dialogue with only occasional recitatives. An example of singspiel is Mozart's "The Magic Flute".
300
List some of the musical aspects of Schoenberg's "Pierrot lunaire".
This piece has definite rhythm, but not pitch. It was not really singing, but more like speaking or chant. The texture, orchestration, and tonality create an odd relationship with music of the past.
400
Who wrote Finlandia and what was it written about? What made it epic?
Jan Sibelius; Finland had been colonized and its culture was central to nationalist/independence movement of the 19th century. Finlandia's status as a "national chorale" made it an epic piece.
400
What is impressionism? Provide a musical example from this movement.
Impressionism is based on a blurring of distinct harmonies, rhythms and forms. It makes more use of color or timbre than any other previous style. Few composers used it but it is still considered influential to composers such as Debussy and Maurice Ravel. An example is Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune by Debussy.
400
Who was Richard Strauss?
Richard Strauss lived from 1864-1949. He was a German composer known for his operas, lieder, and Romantic styles. He combined subtleties of orchestration with advanced harmonic styles.
400
Describe the dramatic context of the last song sung by Isolde in "Tristan and Isolde", entitled "Liebestad".
This is a beautiful song about languishing and homeland that Isolde sings when Tristan is suffering from his wound after waiting for Isolde’s arrival. Isolde arrives with King Marke and others, and Tristan tears off his bandages and bleeds to death in Isolde’s arms. Isolde then hallucinates that Tristan is alive and transfigured, and dies after singing this at the end of the opera.
400
Mahler felt compelled to leave Vienna. What year did he leave, where did he go, and why did he feel this need to go? What did he do after that?
Mahler left in 1908 to go to NYC. He felt the need to go because of the anti-Semetic remarks made about him. In NYC, he became the conductor of the New York Philharmonic and toured with them to branch out. He went back to Vienna before he died.
500
Describe the three ideals of nationalism in the late nineteenth century and their respective realities involving politics, culture and music.
Ideally, the world should be divided into nation-states, each one unified to language, race and culture. In reality, political boundaries rarely respond to these boundaries. Ideally, authentic sources of culture lie in the past. In reality, authentic sources of culture need to be created. Ideally, each nation would have its own musical identity. In reality, music is always being passed between groups.
500
What is primitivism and a musical example from this movement?
Primitivism is a purifying force in the arts that involves a rejection to self-imposed arbitrary conventions of Western culture. An example is Stravinsky’s "Le sacre du printemps" or "The Right of Spring".
500
What was "Also sprach Zarathustra"?
"Also sprach Zarathustra" was a symphonic poem based on the philosophy of Frederick Nietzsche paired with music composed by Richard Strauss in 1896.
500
*Special 2-part Question!* Describe the cultural and political significance of Stravinsky's "Le sacre de printemps" as well as the musical elements (melody, rhythm, texture, etc).
Stravinsky's "Le sacre du printemps" ("The Right of Spring") premiered in 1913 and was commissioned by Diaghliev for his "Ballet Russes". The ballet scenario included the sacrificing of a virgin, which was thought necessary in order to ensure the renewal of the earth in Spring. This caused a riot at the premiere, which may have been as much caused by the choreography as the music. The melody includes ostinato figures, noodling melodies, and non-progressive functions. It features rhythmic complexity and irregularity, new kinds of orchestral textures, and primitivism as critique of the bourgeois/capitalist order.
500
What are the Native American aspects in the "New World Symphony" from? Describe the techniques used to evoke each.
The Native American aspects are from the transcription by Theodore Baker in his book "On Music of North American Savages". The scherzo is representative of the Native American culture. The allegro con fuoco that uses a pentatonic scale is also reflective of that. Dvorak also took inspiration from the Longfellow poem "The Song of Hiawatha".
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