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Shostakovich Symphony No.5 premiere
After being reprimanded by the Russian government for previous compositions exploratory use of harmony and other techniques, Shostakovich released Symphony No.5. This piece brought him back in the good graces of the government and he was congratulated for "not giving in to the seductive temptations of his previous 'erroneous' ways". -
Prokofiev Alexander Nevsky (film)
Alexander Nevsky defeated both the Swedes and the Germans (Teutonic Knights) with their invasion in Russia. The movie features a score by Prokofiev, with one of the most iconic moments being "The battle on the Ice." The music starts quiet and bursts into action as the battle begins. Parallels between music and score and that effect on a film is represented by this score. -
Olivier Messiaen's Quatuor pour le fine du temps
Quartet for the end of time, composed for chamber ensemble(and funny enough containing no trumpets regardless pf the name), is a piece that was written by Messiaen while in a concentration camp in German captivity using the instruments he had available to him. -
Copland Appalachian Spring
This piece was a ballet that centers around a young frontier couple on their wedding day. The orchestral suite gained traction as well, and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1945. -
John Cage's 4’33’’
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Edward Varese Poeme Electronique
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Miles Davis Kind of Blue
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George Crumb's Ancient Voices of Children
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John Adams' Short Ride in a Fast Machine