Music History and Composer Study Spring 2015 Lake Nona MS Ms. Hobbs

Introduction  Music has been a part of culture for thousands of years. It has evolved over time to have a variety of sounds and uses.  People who study music have divided history into SIX general time periods of music.  Each time period has certain characteristics and composers that help define their era.

The six time periods are (in chronological order): Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20 th Century (Modern)

Medieval ( ) Most medieval music was vocal. Any instrumental music was usually folk-like and social The church was an important place for musicians

Medieval ( ) Gregorian Chant Originally created and sung in monasteries by monks. Chants were religious, often psalms or scripture. Named after Pope Gregory the Great.

Renaissance ( )

Rebirth and Re-discovery Art and music become more important in society Renaissance fairs are held today, and are a spectacle of art, music, and theatre. Time of Christopher Columbus, Leonardo da Vinci, and Shakespeare

Giovanni da Palestrina ( )  Italian composer of sacred music  He greatly influenced the music of the Catholic Church. (He wrote over 100 masses!)  One of the first well-known composers of polyphonic music (music with harmonies)

Missa Papae Marcelli Pope Marcellus Mass  Pope Marcellus Mass by Pro Cantione Antiqua Pope Marcellus Mass by Pro Cantione Antiqua  Composed in honor of Pope Marcellus II  Written for six a capella voices – SATTBB (Soprano and Alto parts were not sung by women!)  Like all masses, consists of multiple movements (Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei)

Baroque ( )

Baroque Characteristics The Baroque period was a time of extravagance in all forms. Art, music, and architecture reflect a new sense of drama and excess. Instrumental music becomes more important. Music in general continues to be more expressive, less tied to religion.

Johann Sebastian Bach ( ) Born in Germany to a musical family Played many instruments, but was considered a virtuoso on the organ Church musician throughout his life. Composed an enormous amount of music for the church. Had 20 children!

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor  Written by Bach for his most beloved instrument  A toccata is a composition written for a keyboard instrument composed in a ‘free style’ (no set structure).  A fugue is a very structured piece that repeats one particular theme/melody many times throughout, harmonized with different melodies. 

George F. Handel ( )  Originally studied law because his father did not approve of his son becoming a full-time musician.  Lived in Germany, Italy, and England at different times in his life and composed in German, Italian, and English

Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah  Part of an oratorio (a musical work written for chorus, vocal soloists, and orchestra). Often with a religious text.  Most often performed during the Christmas season.  King George II stood upon hearing its magnificence; many audiences still stand today. 

Antonio Vivaldi ( )  Italian composer, also ordained as a priest. Because of this and his fiery red hair, he was nicknamed ‘ The Red Priest’  Spring from The Four Seasons  Violin Concerto  A concerto is a musical work for solo instrument, often accompanied by an orchestra  Po Po

Classical ( )

The Classical Time Period Music becomes more formalized, structured, and ‘classical’ in the sense of the word as we use it today The orchestra as we know it today begins to form in terms of instrumentation and size The American Revolution takes place during this period

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ( )  Child musical prodigy from Austria.  Wrote his first composition at the age of 5, and his first symphony at the age of 8 !  A symphony is a large-scale composition usually with 3-4 movements. Almost always performed by an orchestra.

Eine kleine nachtmusik  ‘A Little Night Music’ or ‘A Little Serenade’  Written for string chamber ensemble of full orchestra  Four movements:  I. Allegro  II. Romanze: Andante  III. Menuetto: Allegretto  IV. Rondo: Allegro  nachtmusik nachtmusik

Ludwig Van Beethoven ( ) German composer Began losing his hearing at the age of 20, and eventually became completely deaf. Wrote 9 symphonies His music is thought to be a sort of transition from the Classical period to the Romantic period

Symphony no. 5  Four movement symphony written for orchestra  Four movements:  I. Allegro con brio  II. Andante con moto  III. Scherzo: Allegro  IV. Allegro  One of the best known symphonies of all time  First four notes are very memorable and reappear throughout the piece (BABABABAAAA) 

Bonus! Symphony no. 9  Beethoven’s last completed symphony  “Ode to Joy”  Performed by orchestra, chorus, and vocal soloists. Symphony no. 9 is the first major example of a composer using voices in a symphony  Composed when Beethoven was completely deaf 

Romantic ( )

Romantic Characteristics  Music in the Romantic era was more expressive, emotional, and reflective.  Composers began to let go of some of the strict structure of the Classical era  Music becomes more available to the common person (not as many “royalty-only” performances)

Johannes Brahms ( ) Composer from Germany. Wrote vocal and instrumental music. Though he was a musician his whole life, he achieved little success until he was 40 years old. He was a perfectionist, and was known to destroy pieces that he did not deem good enough

Wiegenlied: Guten Abend, Gute Nacht  Widely known as ‘Brahms’ Lullaby’. Literal translation from German to English is ‘Lullaby: Good Evening, Good Night’  Performed by only piano and solo voice  A melody known around the world  One of Brahms’ most simple compositions, though arguably his most famous 

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky ( ) Composer from Russia Composed mostly orchestral music Thought of as the first Russian composer to be known and loved internationally Helped create and popularize the Russian classical sound Composed the suites for the famous ballets The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty

The Nutcracker  Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker is a ballet suite. The story of the ballet is taken from E.T.A. Hoffman’s story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King  Performed by orchestra  Most often performed during the Christmas season  Premiered in 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia  

20 th Century Jackson Pollock

The Modern Age  Composers begin experimenting with new and different sounding harmonies and keys (not just major or minor).  Some composers even write atonal music (Music without a key!)  Electronic music takes on a larger role.  Film scores become their own genre.  Jazz flourishes, beginning in the United States (specifically African American communities). Jazz music features improvisation, lively rhythms, and specific instrumentation (often brass, woodwind, piano, and string bass)

George Gershwin ( )  American composer and piano player.  Wrote both popular and classical music. Often combined many different styles, such as jazz and classical.  Tragically died of a brain tumor at the age of 38.  Composed the opera Porgy and Bess (Summertime is from this opera) and many other compositions with his brother Ira.

Rhapsody in Blue  Written for solo piano and jazz band. (A “jazz concerto”)  Featured in Disney’s Fantasia 2000  Combines elements of classical music and jazz  “ It was on the train, with its steely rhythms, its rattle-ty bang, that is so often so stimulating to a composer... And there I suddenly heard, and even saw on paper – the complete construction of the Rhapsody, from beginning to end…I heard it as a sort of musical kaleidoscope of America, of our vast melting pot, of our unduplicated national pep, of our metropolitan madness.” 

Aaron Copland ( ) Composer from the United States. Often incorporated American folk and jazz melodies into his music. Nickname: the “Dean of American Composers” Copland wrote for a variety of genres and performing ensembles: orchestra, choir, band, vocal solos, instrumental solos, ballets, operas…

Appalachian Spring  Orchestral piece written for the ballet of the same name.  Won the Pulitzer Prize for music.  The ballet is about American pioneers of the 19th century celebrating after building a new Pennsylvania farmhouse.  The most famous segment samples the Shaker melody ‘Simple Gifts’

What happened after the year 2000?  Music in the classical style is still being composed!  Music continues to be composed and transformed to this day. We don’t know what music historians centuries from now will label our time period yet!  Some composers from the 21 st century you may know: Alan Menken (Disney), Andrea Ramsey (Hallelujah for the Day, Dream Keeper), Michael John Trotta ( Make Space for Life to Live), Jim Papoulis (Give Us Hope), Eric H. Thiman (Path to the Moon), Patricia Runkle (Trouble, Fly)