Structure and Interpretation of Music Concepts - Essay Example

The onset of the 20th century was also the dawn for innovations and great experimentations in music. Although the transit from the preceding Romanticera was not well demarcated from the succeeding era, the music of the early 20th century had clear distinctions from the previous era. Music in the new century faced two world wars which influenced the compositions in great ways. During the 20th century, expressionism in arts was characterized by the exaggerated visuals bolstered by intensified colors to effectively demonstrate the emotions of the artist (Pioch). Relatively, expressionism in music was evident during the beginning of the new century notably with the emergence of a new twelve-tone technique or dodecaphony introduced by Arnold Schönberg in the early 1920’s. The new technique deviated from the conventional tonal method which has a tonal center or tonic (Structure and Interpretation of Music). The twelve-tone system paved the way to serialism, the composition method wherein pitch, dynamic, color or rhythmic element should only be used in its order in the series and used only once until the series repeats (Serialism). From the 1900’s until the commencement of World War I on 1914, revolutionary changes occurred alongside the gradual transition from the former styles of music to the new and modified styles. It was also in during this period that electronic musical instruments were invented. Some of these musical instruments were the Dynamophone or Telharmonium, Choralcelo Electric Organ, Intonorumori, Rumorarmonio, Enharmonic Piano and the Audion Piano among others (Electronic Musical Instrument 1870 - 1990). Immense transformation was not limited to the field of science but it was also happening on the musical arena. The transit from the earlier styles of music were results of experimentations by composers like Schönberg who had delved into a different method resulting into the twelve-tone system which eventually encouraged his contemporaries to search, create and produce modified forms of music. Another noteworthy composer is Edgard Varèse, who experimented with electronic music. While a sweeping change in music style was taking place during the first half of the 20th century, many composers demonstrated their nationalism by creating folk songs reminiscent of the Romantic period when nationalism was widely patronized by the people. Some of these composers were Raplh Vaughan Williams, Bela Bartok and Heitor Villa Lobos to mention a few. The advent of the First World War slightly hampered the flourishing of innovations even in music. Regardless of the war, Igor Stravinsky produced his controversial piece, ‘The Rite of Spring’. Most of the composers continued their works while some of the musicians gave time to act as army reserves in their respective countries. Two of these composers who served the army were Arnold Schönberg (Arnold Schönberg 1874–1951) and his contemporary Alban Berg. After the First World War has ended, the effect on almost everybody was that they were finally set free. The musicians regained this sense of freedom which was evident in their passionate exploration with atonality in music which in turn was further catapulted by Igor Stravinsky’s ‘Rite of Spring.’ While Schönberg continued to be a prominent figure in the atonal system, a French group lead by Jean Cocteau produced avant-garde music. Their music expresses emotions and to entertain with humor consisting of everyday and ordinary sounds such as music hall sounds, steamships and circus sounds among others. Concurrently, Jazz music was flourishing in the United States which was the outset of the ‘Roaring Twenties’ in the United States and the ‘Golden Twenties’ in Europe. The post-war period was also marked with the inventions of other electronic musical instruments such as the Pianorad , Staccatone, Cellulophone and the Superpiano are among others. In sync with these inventions in the music industry were the advances in technology such as the first radio broadcast made by BBC and the invention of the television are only some of the popular advances in technology during the 1920’s. The period between the First and the Second World War gave rise to Neoclassicism. With the increasing experiments by composers, some composers had resorted to the 18th century musical forms. One of these composers was Igor Stravinsky who earlier created uproar with his ‘Rite of Spring.’ Stravinsky and other composers such as Francis Poulenc, Paul Hindemith, Hurt Weill, Aaron Copland and Bohuslav Martinu adapted the Classical Period style and infused the style with modern elements. Before and during the Second World War, the term ‘degenerate’ was coined by Hitler’s Third Reich and affixed the term to people who are mentally ill, the communists, Gypsies, homosexuals and the Jews perceiving them as second class types of people or people who lower than subordinates (“Degenerate” Music). Musicians were not exempted from this new branding of the specified class of people, thus the term ‘degenerate music’ emerged. A Reich Music Chamber was formed to easily segregate the ‘degenerate’ musicians. Meanwhile, musicians suffered suppression and were forced to create music that will please the Reich. Music of ‘Degenerate’ musicians was banned from being played and some of these musicians were compelled to flee to other places where they will be safe from their oppressors. Several of these musicians who were labeled as ‘degenerates’ were Berthold Goldschmidt, Otto Klemperer, Ernst Krenek, Erik Korngold, Arnold Schönberg, Bruno Walter and Anton Webern. Russian musicians suffered the same suppression as the ‘degenerate’ musicians. During the Second World War, Joseph Stalin reinforced his Socialist Realism beliefs and vehemently implemented his beliefs even to the musicians. Most of the Russian musicians were coerced to comply with this decree which means that the experimentations and ventures into new forms of music will be totally deserted. These musicians were Vladimir Deshevov, Alexei Zhivotov and Lev Knipper. Some dared to continue with the new styles of music but when caught, they would abide by the decree momentarily and later on return to the new style of music. Examples of these musicians are Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev. A number of Russian composers totally disregarded Stalin’s decree and continued exploring the new styles of music. These courageous musicians were Alfred Schnittke, Arvo Part , Giya Kanchelli and Sofia Gubaidulina among others. Alongside this oppression, a number of electronic musical instruments were invented. Some of these are the Trautonium, Ondium Péchadre, Rhythmicon, Terpsitone, Theremin Cello, Westinghouse Organ, the Sonar, Saraga-Generator, "Ekvodin", the Trillion Tone Organ, Variophone, Emiriton, the Emicon, the Rangertone Organ, LOrgue des Ondes, the Electrochord, Syntronic Organ, the Polytone Organ, Hammond Organ, the Photona, the sonothèque, the Heliophon, the Grösstonorgel, the Welte Licht-Ton-Orgel, the Singing Keyboard, the Warbo, the Melodium, the Kaleidophon, the Novachord, the Voder & Vocoder, the Univox, the Multimonica, the Pianophon, the Ondioline, the Solovox and the Electronic Sackbut among others (Electronic Musical Instrument 1870 - 1990). The aftermath of the Second World War, emergence of new forms of music which were far-off and different from the music styles on the beginning of the 20th century. Music styles such as rock, rap and other modern music styles became popular along with the invention of the electronic keyboard. Some musicians adhered to the Classical style of music while the continuous progression of experimentation in music consistently produced new forms of music. Some notable electronic instruments invented after the end of the Second World War were the Monochord, the Free Music Machine, Polychord Organ, the RCA Synthesiser I & II, Milan Electronic Music Studio, Moog Synthesisers, GROOVE System, Allen Digital Computer Organ, Roland Synthesisers, Korg Synthesisers, the Fairlight CMI, Simmons Drum Synthesisers, Casio Synthesisers, the Emulator and Akai Musical Instruments (Electronic Musical Instrument 1870 - 1990). The styles of communicating music over the years had greatly evolved but remarkably, most of the earlier forms lived on and are still utilized as the basis of some musical compositions at present. Music plays an important role to history because music was an important instrument in communicating the sentiments and emotions of the musicians and the listening public during the course of events such as war and the inevitable changes that take place not only in the music world but to the rest of the world as well. WORKS CITED “Arnold Schönberg 1874–1951.” Biography. Arnold Schönberg Center. 15 April 2008 . ““Degenerate” Music.” A Teachers Guide to the Holocaust. University of South Florida. 15 April 2008. . “Electronic Musical Instrument 1870 - 1990.” 120 Years of Electronic Music. 15 April 2008. . Pioch, Nicholas. “Expressionism.” 14 Oct 2002. ibiblio.org. 4 April 2008. . “Serialism.” Introduction. Spiritus-Temporis.com. 14 April 2008. < http://www.spiritus temporis.com/serialism/>. “Structure and Interpretation of Music Concepts.” Carnegie Mellon University. 14 April 2008. < http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~music/392/course-material/lecture-notes/class9-tonality/class9.scm>. Read More