America’s Musical Landscape 5th edition

PowerPoint by Brenda LeachTowson University

Part 6Tradition and Innovation in Concert

Music

Chapter 24: The Recent Mainstream

© 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

Part 6: Tradition and Innovation in Concert Music Chapter 24: The Recent Mainstream

2© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Elements of Music New approaches to the elements, including

basing music on dissonance only Focus on rhythm and timbre over melody

and harmony Modern forms often based on repetition with

variation Minimalism in music Invention of new forms

Part 6: Tradition and Innovation in Concert Music Chapter 24: The Recent Mainstream

3© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

William Schumann(1910-1992) Major 20th century composer with strong

interest in nationalism

Influenced by jazz and American folk traditions

Strong leader of arts organizations including Lincoln Center, NYC

Part 6: Tradition and Innovation in Concert Music Chapter 24: The Recent Mainstream

4© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Lou Harrison(1917-2003)

Influenced by Gregorian chant and ethnic music including Chinese opera and the music of Spain and Mexico

Served as music critic of the New York Herald Tribune

Sought new timbres Was fascinated by music of Native

Americans

Part 6: Tradition and Innovation in Concert Music Chapter 24: The Recent Mainstream

5© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Minimalism Minimalism in art strips objects to their basic geometric shape.

Restricted color, value, shape, line, texture

Minimalism in music focuses on structure with minimal changes in melody, harmony, rhythm

Tim Riley (b. 1935) – Pioneer of minimalism in music; important works include: In C (1964) – hypnotic effect Sun Rings for String Quartet (2002)

composed for NASA; incorporated

sounds of planets

Part 6: Tradition and Innovation in Concert Music Chapter 24: The Recent Mainstream

6© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Philip Glass(b. 1937) A leading exponent of minimalism Focus on sonority; lingering on sounds for long

periods of time Studied with Ravi Shankar, the great Indian sitar player Focus on repetition Seeks connections in the visual arts, especially sculpture Interest in sound over form Composed score for the film “The Hours”

Part 6: Tradition and Innovation in Concert Music Chapter 24: The Recent Mainstream

7© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Women in Music Women are holding leading positions as composers,

conductors, performers

Important composers include: Joan Tower Ellen Taaffe Zwilich Meredith Monk Libby Larsen Gwyneth Walker