Discussion Activities

Questions on the Text

1. Along what general lines did Western music develop in the period from about 1890 to about 1915? And between the two world wars?

2. What are the most important styles and trends in Western music since 1900?

3. When did Schoenberg produce his first atonal works? Name some of them.

4. When did Schoenberg apply the twelve-tone (dodecaphonic) system in practice?

5. What major trend is exemplified by Stravinsky's compositions of the 1920s? How would you define its main characteristics?

6. In what way did composers seek to expand the materials of music to produce new tonal effects?

7. What is musique concrete? Who is its main exponent in France?

8. What changes did the technological revolution cause in the de­velopment of musical culture in the post-war years?

9. Who contributed to the development of serial and aleatory music in the post-war period?

Discussion Points

1. What does the term "Impressionism in music" imply? De­scribe some of the most characteristic technical devices of impressionist music. Why, in your opinion, did Debussy object to being called an impressionist? Do you agree that there is a close relationship between musical Impressionism and Impressionism in art?

2. What orchestral composition by Debussy can be regarded as the first full and convincing realization of musical Impres­sionism? Describe some of the most important technical de­vices of impressionist style.

3. How do you understand the following statement: "Debussy's harmony, which was influenced by both Wagner's chromat­icism and Mussorgsky's modal harmony, had an immediate impact on musical tradition"?

4. What composers in Europe and Russia were influenced by Debussy's impressionist style?

5. The term "New Music" is often used of the various radical and experimental trends in 20th century music, beginning about 1910. Do you remember what similar names for somewhat parallel movements in music history were used 300 and 600 years ago?

6. Find in the text the passage about experimentation in the early 20th century. What other experimental composers do you know? Consult reference books if necessary.

7. What were the effects of the dissolution of tonality on sequent music?

8. What European composers may be regarded as belonging to the expressionist school in music? Define the distinguishing features of expressionist style in music. What other represen­tatives of Expressionism in Western art do you know? Name some masterpieces of expressionist music.

9. What composers besides Stravinsky contributed to the develop­ment of the neoclassical style in Europe and in the Soviet Union? What symphony by Prokofiev is regarded as one of the earliest examples of neoclassicism? In what way was music of the past treated?

10. Describe some of John Cage's innovations. What compositions by him do you know? In your opinion, do they require spe­cially-trained performers? Explain.

11. How would you interpret Cage's paradoxical approach to composition? "My purpose is to eliminate purpose"? Do you accept his point of view? Give reasons for your answer.

12. What are the distinguishing features of Boulez's style? Have you heard any of his compositions performed live? What do you think of his music?

13. Do you agree with the classification proposed by the author of the passage "Western music of the twentieth century"? If not, give your reasons.

14. In what direction do you think music will develop in future?

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 889