20 th Century Music

1. 20th Century Music Impressionism Aleatoric Minimalist

2. 20th Century Music • Music from 1900’s to present day • Composers include, Debussy, Webern and Stockhausen. • This style is distinctive and unusual. • Often has no melody. • Different combinations of instruments at extremes of ranges. • Unusual harmonies.

3. Impressionism • Came from the style of Art • It creates a story and builds images • Music is very vague and hazy. • Has a dreamy sound to it. • Debussy is a famous composer of this style • Created using the Whole tone scale YouTube - Impressionist Art YouTube - Debussy: Nocturne (1892)

4. Aleatoric • A type of Chance Music. It sounds random. • Ways of creating are by rolling dice or using a graphic score. • This music is Atonal. It has no key. • Another feature is Microtones (interval less than a semitone) • YouTube - L. A. M. - 12x20

5. Minimalism • Music is based around repetition • Ostinatos are built up in layers • The music is usually tonal YouTube - Minimalist music, abstract art.

6. Other concepts • Sprechgesang: The music is half-spoken, half-sung, Usually in German YouTube - Schoenberg: Pierrot Lunaire, w/ score - 3te Teil • Note Clusters: A clashing group of notes played together • Cross-rhythms: More than one rhythm played at the same time which clash in timing

7. Concepts to remember • Impressionism • Aleatoric • Minimalism • Sprechgesang • Note Cluster • Cross rhythms • Atonal • Microtone • Whole-tone scale • Chromatic Scale