Music of the 20th Century Essay Example

transitions. The warmth of the composition brings back memories of a summer romance.
2.(Festivals), also composed by Debussy, is a subdued yet joyous celebration that creates lasting memories without disturbing neighbors.
3.Sirenes<(Sirens)/Sirenes> by Debussy builds upon a simple two-note motif to immerse the audience into his river, reminding us of the dangerous allure of mythical beauties who have lured countless sailors to their demise throughout history.Bela Bartok (1881-1945), a Hungarian composer, gained fame for his innovative and contemporary musical compositions. Alongside being a highly accomplished pianist, teacher, and researcher, Bartok played a prominent role in the advancement of Hungarian nationalism by infusing traditional Hungarian folk melodies into his music – much like Stravinsky. Notably, he successfully merged modern sounds with authoritative structures. Bartok's style is recognized for its percussive and intricate qualities influenced by Magyar dance forms.

Dr. Antonio Molina, a composer of the twentieth century, was renowned for incorporating polyrhythm and polytonality into his works. His music often drew comparisons to Claude Debussy due to the integration of Impressionist techniques. One standout composition showcasing these techniques along with the use of the whole tone scale is "Hatinggabi."

Another significant figure from this era was Arnold Schoenberg, who developed the revolutionary twelve-tone method of composition. Despite being self-taught as a musician, Schoenberg's work marked a pivotal moment in twentieth-century music.

During this time period, expressionism also had a profound impact on music. It involved conveying emotions through exaggeration rather than depicting reality and reflected a belief that tension permeates the universe while individuals possess irrational and rebellious traits by nature.During this era, many artists across different disciplines explored intense and subjective emotions in their work. The expressionists rejected traditional

cuteness and aimed to represent inner emotions rather than outward visual aspects.

One notable composer, Arnold Schoenberg, is known for his radical sound. His song "Pierrot Lunaire" showcases a style of singing called Sprechstimme that combines speaking and singing. This half-sung, half-spoken vocal technique is referred to as Sprechgesang, meaning speech voice.

Another musical concept is multimeter, which is identified by a time signature with a numerator specifying the beats per bar and a denominator indicating the note value assigned to one beat.

Lastly, syncope refers to the accent created by suppressing an expected rhythmic pattern with the continuation of a sustained tone that begins just before it.

Igor Stravinsky, a Russian composer who later obtained French and American nationality, is widely regarded as one of history's greatest composers. His groundbreaking works were influenced by Debussy and Schoenberg among others and became modern classics. Stravinsky embraced new musical tendencies while also incorporating traditional elements into his compositions.

Electronic Music involves using electronic devices for sound production and manipulation during composition and performance.With the advancements in technology, composers are now experimenting with new sound sources such as electronic and environmental sounds that are non-tonal. Despite the continued use of traditional instruments, they often play different roles. Computers, cassette tape recording equipment, and synthesizers are also being utilized.

Concrete Music involves creating music by transforming natural sounds recorded on vinyl records or tapes.

Filipino contemporary composers Nicanor Abelardo (1893-1934), Dr. Lucrecia Kasilag (1918-), and Dr. Jose Maceda (1917-) each brought their own innovations to the world of music. Abelardo showcased elements of modernism in works like "Cinderella Overture" and "Sinfonietta for Strings." Kasilag uniquely blended Eastern and Western musical styles in pieces like "Tocatta,"

incorporating piano, clarinet, oboe, kulintang, and turiray. Maceda is known as a trailblazer and advocate for avant-garde music in the Philippines; during his time in France, he became part of the Music Concrete movement. One prime example of his work is the piece "Ugnayan" (1974), which often incorporates a large number of people and elements from the environment into his compositions.

Dr.Ramon Santos (1941-) also explores a unique blend of Western and non-Western materials and structures in his compositions.Drawing from what he learned during his studies abroad, he incorporates Asian elements into his innovative style of composition.A group of young composers, consisting of Ryan Cayabyab, Chino Toledo, Laverne Dela Pena, Arlene Chongson, and Jonas Baes, is actively promoting the New Music movement.