This vs That
The baroque period saw the emergence of this genre as a distinct art form, in contrast to previous traditions which had heavily favored vocal music.
What is instrumental music?
Challenging centuries of engrained prejudice and oppression, this 20th-century campaign advocated for equal rights for Black Americans under the law.
What is the Civil Rights Movement?
Listening Example 1
20th Century - Living Room Music (John Cage)
One of the most well-known composers of western art music, this man's works ushered in the transition from the classical to the romantic period.
Who is Ludwig van Beethoven?
Spanning from 1600 to 1750, this era of western art music history saw instrumental music emerge as a stand-alone art form.
What is the baroque period?
Developed in the classical period, this instrument's strings were struck instead of plucked, allowing for dynamic changes which were impossible on its predecessor the harpsichord.
What is the fortepiano?
Rejecting the absolute monarchies of the baroque period, these two revolutionary wars occurred during the classical period.
What are the American and French revolutions?
Listening Example 2
Baroque - Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 (Bach)
Known as "the father of the string quartet," this composer's works were central to the development of sonata form in the classical period.
Who is Joseph Haydn?
This violent conflict raged from 1789-1799 in France, giving rise to a new wage of nationalistic music "of the people".
What is the French Revolution?
The philosophical antithesis of program music, this romantic period concept advocated for the value of music free from the confines of an explicit plot line.
What is absolute music?
Enjoying a reign of over 72 years, this baroque-era French monarch became the poster boy of the Age of Absolutism.
Who is King Louis XIV?
Listening Example 3
The debut of this composer's work, "The Rite of Spring," is said to have caused a riot in the audience, and has become emblematic of the 20th century artistic trend called primitivism.
Who is Igor Stravinsky?
1888 saw the first musical recording, "The Lost Cord," etched onto this Edison device.
What is the phonograph?
In harsh contrast to the standardized chord structures and progressions of their predecessors, some 20th-century composers sought to create music that lacked this.
What is a tonal center? (or tonality, key)
During the romantic period, Charles Darwin published his book "On the Origin of Species by this".
What is natural selection?
Listening Example 4
Romantic - Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg (Wagner)
A leader in the 20th century experimentation with atonality, this man developed a compositional technique that relied on the ordering and re-ordering of the 12 tones of the chromatic scale.
Who is Arnold Schoenberg?
What is the American Transcontinental Railroad?
Partially a reaction to the naturalist views of the classical period, this romantic-era philosophy describes the physical world as a manifestation of human perception.
What is idealism?
Confirming the hypotheses of his predecessor, Nicolaus Copernicus, regarding the relationships between the heavenly bodies, this baroque-era scientist used the recently invented telescope to observe the cosmos.
Who is Galileo Galilei?
Listening Example 5
20th Century - An Outdoor Overture (Copeland)
An accomplished musician who often performed violin repertoire on cello, this composer is credited for bringing the cello into a more prominent role in the string quartet.
Who is Luigi Boccherini?
One of many tragic and challenging events of the 20th century, this began on October 29th, 1929, a date which would become known as "Black Tuesday."
What is the Great Depression?