Modernism The Crisis of Tonality Modernism I Modernism

Modernism & The Crisis of Tonality

Modernism

I. Modernism (Background): A. Wright’s Take on Modernism: An Anti-Romantic Movement A Time of Experimentation A Movement of Radical Distortions Modernism: Ives, “Variations High Romanticsm: Verdi “Unondi. America” felice”

I. Modernism (Background): A. Wright’s Take on Modernism: An Anti-Romantic Movement An Age of Extremes A Time of Radical Experimentation B. Examples of Modernism in the Visual Arts

Charles Sheeler, Church Street El

Charles Demuth, Flour Mill Factory

Picasso, Three Musicians

Rockefeller Center

U. N. Secretariat

Angular, stark, assertive

Fragmented

Distorted, Abstract

Angular, harsh

Lean, lacking lushness or ornament

Hard-edged, objective

II. Musical Modernism (general features: see Wright) A. Melodies: Angular, Chromatic; (angular, stark) Symptoms ? B. Harmony: Emancipation of Dissonance (harsh) C. Rhythms: Asymmetrical, irregular, (fragmented) D. Tone color: New sounds; often percussive (hard-edged; lacking lushness) E. Aesthetics: explore formal/mathematical possibilities rather than evoke emotion (objective, abstract)

III. Crisis

III. Crisis A. Brave New World: Atonality Remove: Tonic Triads Functional Harmony

III. Crisis A. Brave New World: Atonality B. Retreat: Late Romanticism or Post-Romanticism C. Alternative Lifestyle: New Scales D. Anarchy: Ives and the American Experimental Tradition

Vermin eaten saints with moldy breath, Unwashed legions with the ways of Death (Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? ) Ev'ry slum had sent its half a score The round world over (Booth had groaned for more). Ev'ry banner that the wide world flies Bloomed with glory and transcendent dyes, Big voiced lasses made their banjoes bang, Tranced, fanatical they shrieked and sang; "Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? ” Hallelujah, Lord! It was queer to see Bull necked convicts with that land make free. Loons with trumpets blown a blare, On, on, upward thro' the golden air! (Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? )

III. Crisis A. Brave New World: Atonality B. Retreat: Late Romanticism or Post-Romanticism C. Alternative Lifestyle: New Scales; Pitch Collections D. Anarchy: Experimentalism (Ives and the American Experimental Tradition) E. Retain but Transform Conventions: Mainstream Modernism (e. g. , Polychords & Polytonality)

“Crisis”= Collapse or Depletion of Tonality

Maurice Ravel, La valse

Format of Exam #4: • 5 Listening IDs from listening list (composer, title, movement as appropriate) • Listening questions on Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastique, “Witches Sabbath, ” based on Wright Listening Guide • 2 additional listening • Objective questions on reading, listening, lecture • Choice of 2 -3 essay questions