UNIT 1
CLASSICAL MUSIC in the 20th Century (I) Tonal music
This year you are going to learn about music in the 20th century and we are going to start with classical music. In this period, there were many different kinds of classical music, but in general, they can be classified into two main groups. One was the more traditional music where, despite the great technological advances, composers maintained tonality and the melody. The other group were the more revolutionary composers who favoured atonality and dedicated their time to experimenting with new techniques.
Within the group of tonal music, we find different styles called “isms”.
The musicians in the category of Neoclassicism were mainly inspired by the music composed in the 18th century.
The musicians we classify in Nationalism, exactly like the Romantic nationalists in the 19th century, were inspired by the folk music from their own country.
Other composers continued the Romantic tradition ant the use of tonality and we classify them in the period known as Post-romanticism.
At the same time, Impressionism, a style that incorporated oriental music based on the pentatonic scale became popular. The composer’s intentions where to move away from the melodies and concrete details and create a new kind of music that produced different impressions and sensations in the audience.
Finally, and no less important is the music we classify as Minimalism, which is characterized for using the lowest number of notes possible. This type of music gives us a short melody, or part of a melody that is represented over and over again with a slight variation in its notes.
All this different tonal styles influenced the opera and ballet en the 20th century and gave us nationalist, impressionist and minimalist operas. From this period, we cannot forget the great Russian composer Igor Stravinky who composed both tonal and atonal music which included many well-known operas, ballets and concerts.
UNIT 1 CONTENTS
Revise the musical elements you know:
Stave -Treble Clef – Dynamics – Bar line – Tie – Pause or Fermata – Repetition dots – Double bar line – Time signature – Ledger line – Dot – abbreviations for word directions
Another repetition mar is DA CAPO or D.C. which means that we have to start again from the beginning and usually we finish when the word Fine is read.
Music Texture: Monody - Melody with accompaniment – Polyphonic - Homophonic.
Percussion Instruments: Membranophones
Strike: Snare drum, Bass drum, Kettledrum, Hand drum, Bongos, Congas, Tambourine
Shake: Tambourine
Don’t strike: Zambomba
Composers from this period: Claude Debussy, Gustav Mahler, Igor Stravinsky, Manuel de Falla, Dimitri Shostakovich
UNIT 2
CLASSICAL MUSIC in the 20th Century (II) Atonal music
In the 20th century, while the tonal music was developing, other new kinds of classical music emerged. Amongst these new styles, in contrast to the traditional classical music, the most outstanding was the atonal music.
Little by little, music composed by Wagner and the impressionist music based in the diatonic scale of seven notes was forgotten. At the same time, the different keys, the treble clef or G-clef and the F-clef disappeared alongside the division of beats and a set rhythm. This was the beginning of atonal music.
Instead of a scale of seven notes, atonal music is written using a scale of 12 notes where all the semitones are included. The pioneer in this type of music was the Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg and atonal music played an important role in the avant-grade classical music in the 20th century.
Electronic Music: In 1928, the French composer Maurice Martenot invented an electronic musical instrument that was named the Martenot Waves in his honour. This instrument has a keyboard which produces a sound very much like the human voice. This was the beginning or the electronic music and little by little, many musicians became interested in this new type of music and started recording their music on tape recorders and mixing them create new sounds and even noises. As time passed, synthesizers that created sounds using electric current were developed and finally, computers were used to compose and create music. All these different resources influenced pop music and a new style called Techno Music was developed
Experimental Music: Experimenting with music and the freedom to use instruments in different musical forms played the most important part in the huge changes that took place in the 20th century. Musicians gave concerts that lasted for days. The new music included everything from corporal percussion to the sound or bursting balloons.
The American composer Cage even composed a piece called Four minutes and Thirty Three seconds which was exactly four minutes and thirty three seconds long.
The 20th century Opera and ballet were also influenced by this avant-grade classical music which the general public did not accept easily as they were not used to listening to such daring and even strange music. With so many changes in mind, it is impossible to guess what will happen in the 21st century.
UNIT 2 CONTENTS
Tones: The distance in pitch or interval between one note and its closest neighbor is called tone.
Semitones: If the distance is shorter semitone, because is equal to half tone.
In the scale in DO Major, the souNds are separated by tones or semitones in this sequence: T-T-S-T-T-T-S
Harmony: is the combination of several simultaneous sounds of different pitch that are played a t the same time
Tempo: Tempo refers tothe different speeds of the pieces we have to play. It is indicates by the Italian word we write at the beginning of a piece or music.
Chord: is any harmonic set of three or more notes that are played or sung together.
Arpeggio: is a chord with all its notes arranged in ascending or descending order instead of playing them simultaneously
Composers from this period: Arnold Schoenberg, John Cage,
PERCUSSION: IDIOPHONIC INSTRUMENTS
BANGED TOGETHER: Rhythm Sticks, Chopsticks, Castanets, Finger Cymbals, Txalaparta
HIT: Triangle, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Celesta, Wooden box, Gong, Bells, Mortar
SHAKEN: Maracas, Small bells, Rattles, Shakers, Cow bells
RUBBED: Cut glass bottle, Guiro
SCRATCHED:Glass harmonica, Saw
PLUCKED: Mouth harp, Kalimba
UNIT 3
MUSIC AND FILMS
In the 20th century as the film industry developed, a new musical genre called film music, commonly known as soundtracks became popular.
To compose this kind of music, musicians usually use the tonal classical music technique. Many great 20th century musicians composed for many well-known films and other famous composers also wrote many classical pieces.
Soundtracks, like the music in an Opera or a musical show, have to accompany the action, in other words, what is happening in the film. The special musical arrangements are especially outstanding in horror films where the music helps to create the sensation of fear or that something terrible ins about to happen.
Music helps create emotion, happiness, sadness and to bring the images to life. We usually enjoy the soundtracks we hear because they are composed by professional musicians and interpreted by large symphonic orchestras. Many soundtracks have been given awards, like for example, an Oscar for the best soundtrack. Some soundtracks like the Walt Disney cartoon films or television serials also have songs.
Amongst some or the most famous 20th century soundtracks we can name: Gone with the Wind by Max Stainer. The pink Panther by Henry Mancini or Supperman and Star Wars by John Williams
UNIT 3 CONTENTS
THE ACCIDENTALS: Sharp, Flat and Natural
Accidentals are written before the note and on the same line or space.
Sometimes accidentals are written at the beginning of the stave and this indicate that all the notes of the same kind have to be modified.
Sharp: Highers a note a semitone or half tone
Flat: Lowers a note semitone
Natural: Cancels a sharp or a flat
DYNAMICS
Abbreviations: pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff
Terms: Cres: crescendo, Decres: decrescendo, Dim: diminuendo
Signs:
STRING INSTRUMENTS: CHORDOPHONE INSTRUMENTS
Strings we play with a bow
Strings we pluck with the fingers or a plectrum
Strings we strike
VIOLIN
VIOLA
CELLO
DOUBLE BASS
MANDOLIN
GUITAR HARP
BANJO LUTE
GRAND PIANO
UPRIGHT PIANO
UNIT 4
POPULAR MUSIC in the 20th Century (I)
Just like today, in the first half of the 20th century, there were many different types of music but they were all known world-wide. Some, like many popular Spanish songs, were only known in the country where they were produced.
However, music from other countries became popular almost everywhere in the occidental world thanks to the radio and new styles of dancing soon became very popular. The Argentinean tango, the Cuban mambo and the Brazilian samba were danced everywhere.
At the film industry became more and more important; people all over the world listened and danced to American music and songs. Everybody, everywhere was dancing the Charleston, Fox-trot and the Boogie Woogie.
In 1954 a new musical style and a new way of dancing emerged and changed the whole musical scene. From the fusion of the black, American Blues and Rhythm with Country music, Rock and Roll was born, Bill Haley’s Rock Around the Clock was the first successful rock song. Elvis Presley, the famous American singer was later named the “King of Rock”.
In the second half of the 20th century, new tendencies appeared in popular North American music. In the 1960s, young singers started singing quieter and more realistic songs. One of the most important singers at this time was Bob Dylan whose pacifist songs against war were sung by people all over the world.
In the 1960s Rock and Roll became popular in Europe. In the English cities of Liverpool and London, groups like The Beatles andThe Rolling Stones created new rhythms, based on Rock and Roll that soon became known as rock.
In the United States, another style known as Soul soon became very popular. Soul is variation of the religious African-American music called Gospel and Rhythm & Blues. One if the most famous soul singer of all times is Aretha Frankling.
In the 1960, huge music festivals attended by thousands of teenagers were held all over the world. At these festivals, people saw famous singers like Bob Dylan and the famous Jimi Hendrix known for his Psychedelic rock, Hard rock and Blues.
UNIT 4 CONTENTS
Loud, Moderately loud, Weak Sounds
One beat can be divided into equal parts and they all have different sounds which can be Loud (L), moderately loud (ML) andweak (W), depending on the kind of beat it is.
Accent: ( > ) is the sign we write to give emphasis to a particular note or chord when we what it to sound louder. The most common sign is what musicians call the accent mark.
In other words, sounds are loud or weak depending on their position in the beat and we can modify them by writing the accent to indicate that this particular note has to be played with more force
Rhythm: binary, ternary and quaternary.
Binary: (2/4) 2 by 2 accent; 1st loud and 2nd weak
Ternary: (3/4) 3 by 3 accent; 1st loud, 2nd and 3rd weak
Quaternary: (4/4) 4 by 4 accent; 1st loud, 2nd weak, 3rd moderately loud and 4th weak
WIND INTRUMENTS: AEROPHONE INSTRUMENTS
SOUND IS PRODUCED...
INSTRUMENTS
Mouth hole
Flute, Recorder, Pan flute
Mouthpiece
Trumpet, Trombone, Horn, Tuba
Single Reed
Clarinet, Saxophone
Double Reed
Oboe, Bassoon, Dulzaina
Others
Organ, Accordion, Harmon ica
UNIT 5
POPULAR MUSIC in the 20th Century (II)
Many of the musical styles like Hip Hop, Heavy Rock and Reggae that emerged at the end of the 1960s, were developed from the 1970s onwards and many new singers, groups and DJs appeared on the music scene. At the same time, a new style calledPunk became popular.
From this period, 1970s we can name Bruce Springsteen, one of the greatest and most famous rock stars of all times, that will gives many concerts all over the world today.
A lot of the music in this period wasn’t really music for dancing, so a new music called Disco Music was developed. The best example of this kind of music is the film Saturday Night Fever starring John Travolta with the music by The Bee Gees.
In 1980s, Disco Music changed gradually and people started dancing with electric and robotic movements to the songs by Michael Jackson.
Rap, that was a revolutionary style of music that singers spoke rhythmically instead of singing also became popular. At the same time, Techno Pop, a style influenced by classical electronic music became the craze in the United Kingdom and in Germany with the group Kraftwerk.
In the last years of the 20th century there were few changes in the music scene and although many new voices and groups appeared, the most famous were the people who had started their music career in previous years such as Madonna, Guns N’ Roses and Nirvana.
UNIT 5 CONTENTS
SYNCOPATION: sounds can be Loud, Moderately Loud or Weak. When we move or shift a rhythmic accent from a weak or relatively weak part of a measure to a strong part we call it syncopation. In other words, we alter the pattern of the beat. We use syncopation in many styles, such as Jazz, Afro-American and modern music.
ELECTROPHONE INSTRUMENTS
Electro-mechanic: Electric guitar, Electric bass guitar
Electronic: Synthesizer, Electronic organ
UNIT 6
MUSIC TODAY
Generally speaking, we can say that we are going through a period of transition and walking for a new formulas and styles of music to appear on the music scene.
In classical music, tonal music with the atonal and 20th century avant-grade music is emerging once more. As time goes by, there are many younger people playing classical music. For example, in Venezuela, there are over three hundred thousand young people playing in orchestras and in China.
On the popular music scene, rock music has given way to other types of songs with repetitive and shorter, single melodies with stronger rhythms that are easy to dance to. To the most well-known singers and groups include special effects, audio visual resources and dancers that make their concerts more entertaining. At the same time, electronic music and DJs are giving us more interesting sounds that they produce by using new instruments.
We also have to talk into account the fusion of Pop music with the music from the African, Arabian and Asian countries. From this mixture of formulas and instruments, there is no end to the variety of new sounds and music we can make.
To all this, we have to add the use of the iPad, iPod, iPhone and tablets, etc, that not only help to create new compositions but provide an easy and fast access to all kinds of music.
We do not know what kind of music have in the future. We are only sure of one thing, that we should all listen to the music composed by the great composers in the past and enjoy it in the same way as we enjoy the modern music we listen to today.
UNIT 6 CONTENTS
MUSICAL FORMS
When we want to express an idea, we chose the correct words to write a sentence. This is what happens in music too. A musical phrase is a short group of notes thar together form a unit to express a musical idea. They have a beginning and an end and they have between four and eight beats.
Canon: We play or sing a Theme, but different groups start the song in different times
Round: (ABACADA) We have a Chorus that is alternating with different verses.
Variation on a Theme: we listen to a Main Theme, after that you can listen to some variation of the rhythm, playing more notes, etc.
Minuet: A slow, stately pattern dance in 3/4 time for groups of, originating in 17th century France. It is a movement in 3/4 time that is usually the third, but sometimes the second, of a four movement symphony or string quartet.
Fugue: It is an imitative polyphonic composition in which a Theme or Themes are s stated successively in all of the voices of the contrapuntal structure.
Sonata: It is an instrumental composition, usually in three movements, for piano alone or for any other instrument, with or without piano accompaniment (violin, viola, cello, etc.)
INSTRUMENTAL GROUPS
SMALL: Duet, Trio, Quartet, Quintet...
MEDIUM: Chamber orchestra, Big Band
LARGE: Symphonic orchestras, Bands,
OTHERS: Charangas, Cobla, Dance orchestras, Rock groups...
Copyright: Feel the Music PEARSON ALWAYS LEARNING
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| 1 Uso de la flauta dulce. | 2 Educación musical. | 3 Proyecto PRIMARTIS. | 4 Juego con los sonidos. |
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5 Sonidos mágicos 2.
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6 Mágic Músic.
| 7 Diviértete con la música. | 8 Canciones populares infantiles |
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| 9 La carabela musical. | 10 Aprendo música. |
11 La percusión escolar.
| 12 La orquesta, karoke... |
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