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Ives (1874-1954)
An American composer, who was one of the most creative, and innovate in the 20th century. He worked virtually in isolation, and made a living in insurance. Some of his works include orchestra sets, chamber music, symphonies, band music, etc. -
N. Boulanger (1887-1979)
Nadia was a conductor and a teacher to the most prominent American composers of the first half of the 20th century. She helped composers like: Bernstein, Copland, and Piazzolla find their voice. Her younger sister is Lili Boulanger, who was a french composer. Nadia's teacher methods were inspired by her sister's early death. -
Price (1887-1953)
American composer; adapted Juba folk dance and idioms of black spirituals.She was the first African American female to win widespread fame as a composer. Price was omitted from the New Grove Dictionary in 1980. -
Prokofiev (1891-1953)
A Russian composer, conductor and pianist. Important as a Russian voice in Western culture. His works include: symphonies, concertos, film scores, ballets, piano, etc. One of his most famous works include "Peter and the Wolf". -
Taillefere (1892-1983)
French composer; too modest; beautiful music. The only female member of the group Les Six. -
Period: to
Ragtime
This is a musical style that originated in African American communities. The characteristics included syncopated or "ragged rhythm". The sales of pianos were boosted due to the popular demand of ragtime. -
Still (1895-1978)
American composer; first African American to composer to have his symphony performed by a leading orchestra, as well as the first African American to conduct a major orchestra. He incorporated folk idioms, jazz, and spirituals. -
Copland (1900-1990)
Most popular American composer; teacher, critic, conductor, and sponsor of concerts. He studied with Nadia Boulanger for 4 years. Copland's works include: 2 operas, 3 symphonies, 6 ballets, 8 ilm scores, and 25 piano works. -
The Unanswered Question
An orchestral work, no specific genre. This work was composed by Ives for three contrasting groups of instruments. The strings played all throughout the piece, while the solo trumpet interjects five times throughout the piece with "The Unanswered Question". The winds were responsible giving an answer to the solo trumpet's question. -
Shostakovich (1906-1975)
Soviet-era Russian composer who was versatile. His works include: 15 symphonies, operas, ballets, chamber music, piano works, etc. -
Cage (1912-1992)
An American composer who innovated many modern compositional techniques. Cage helped change the definition of music to "organized sound". -
Jazz
Rooted from West African music. Included call and response singing, and 19th century African-American ceremonial and work songs. -
Bernstein (1918-1990)
American composer, conductor, pianist, teacher, etc. The most influential American musician of the 20th century. He brought classical music to the public through media.Bernstein's works included: film works, chamber, and choral music, documentaries, etc. -
Blues
An American genre of folk music based on a simple, repetitive, poetic-musical form. The form includes 3-line text strophes set to a repeating harmonic pattern of 12 (or 16) bars. -
Les Six
A group "Les Nouveaux Jeunes" of five french composers, and one Swiss. Created by Erik Satie. Members include: Georges Auric, Louis Durey, Arthur Honegger, Darius Milhaud, Francis Poulenc, and Germaine Tailleferre. -
Period: to
Harlem Renaissance
This period was considered the golden age for African American culture, as an emergence of literature, dance, art, music, and stage performance in Harlem, New York. -
12 Tone Method (Serialism)
Begins with an arrangement of 12 chromatic scale tones. This is the tone row, the pitch must stay the same. The piece is based on this row, following counterpoint guidelines. -
Crumb (1929-2022)
American composer of modern, classical and avant-garde music. He was most popular for expressing despair during the Vietnam War. Crumb's works included: string quartets, vocal, sonatas, madrigals. -
Tull (1934-1994)
American composer, teacher and conductor. His works include: orchestral, chamber, and vocal. Fun fact: He served as a faculty member at Sam Houston. -
Appalachian Spring
A ballet for Martha Graham, who was the dance lead, and written by Aaron Copland. The ballet portrays a pioneer celebration in spring around a newly-built farmhouse in the Pennsylvania hills in the early 1800s. -
Period: to
Cold War
An ongoing political rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, which developed after WWII. -
4'33
A composition by American composer John Cage. This work consists of three movements in which the performer plays nothing.Cage notes that the title of the work, "is the total length in minutes and seconds of its performance" which can vary at any performance. Many people found this to be a joke, but it was the real deal for Cage. -
Period: to
Vietnam War
This war was a conflict between nationalist forces who tried to unify the country of Vietnam under a communist government and the U.S. This was an attempt to prevent the spread of communism. -
Holiday (1815-1959)
One of the leading female jazz singers, who broke racial barriers by performing with white bands. Known for renditions of blues songs. -
Cassette Tape
Cassette Tapes were developed by the Phillips company in Belgium. -
Joplin (1867/68-1917)
An African American composer and pianist, who popularized ragtime. Known as the "King of Ragtime". -
Email
The first system able to send mail between users on different hosts across the ARPANET was developed by Ray Tomlinson. -
CDs
The compact disc was developed by the companies Sony and Phillips. It was created to play and store digital audio recordings. -
Disposable Camera
The disposable camera was developed by Fujifilm in 1986. -
Xenakis (1922-2001)
French composer of Greek parentage and Romanian birth. Avant-garde composer, who advocated Stochastic music (based on mathematical calculations). Works included: orchestral, vocal, chamber, and writings.