The Post-1900s Era (1930-2000)

By jcl067

  • First Black Composer To Have Major Ensemble Perform Music

    William Grant is the first African American to have his symphony and opera performed by a major ensemble. (1931, 1949)

  • Lieutenant Kije

    Profokiev was also commissioned to compose for film scores, like Lieutenant Kije

  • King Kong

    Max Steiner composed the score for King Kong.

  • Porgy and Bess

    The first opera with an all black cast. Composed by Gershwin to be an American Folk Opera.

  • First Black American To Conduct A Major Symphony Orchetsra

    Grant was the first African American to conduct a major Symphony.

  • "Peter and the Wolf"

    "Peter and the Wolf," was an orchestral piece commissioned to cultivate musical taste in young children. It was composed by Sergei Prokofiev

  • Billie's Blues

    A jazz song written by Billie Holiday
  • Period: to

    World War II

  • The Unanswered Question Gets Published

    Although "the Unanswered Question," was composed in 1906, it wasn't actually published until 1940. It was composed by Ives.

  • Schoenberg Writes A Note About Ives

    Schoenberg saw Ives as a monument to artistic integrity, so he wrote a note praising him.

  • Appalachian Spring

    Composed by Copeland for Martha Graham. Is a ballet.

  • Sonatas and Interludes (1946)

    Work prepared for the piano. 16 sonatas, in 4 groups.

  • Pulitzer Prize

    Ives won the Pulitzer Prize for his third symphony

  • "A Black Pierrot"

    "A Black Pierrot" is published by Langston Hughes.

  • Rock N' Roll Created

    Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Fats Domino, and Jerry Lee Lewis blended musical styles of jump blues and honky-tonk to create Rock N' Roll.
  • Period: to

    Korean War

  • Adoration

    Florence Price composes adoration.

  • 4'33" (1952)

    Gage composed this piece that explored silence.

  • Candide (1956)

    Based on Voltaire's books.

  • West Side Story (1957)

    A musical based on Romeo and Juliet. Composed by Bernstein
  • Period: to

    Vietnam War

  • Durey and Protests of War

    Louis Durey wrote with Vietnamese themes in order to protest war.

  • Stokowosky Conducts "The Afternoon of the Faun" by Debussy

    At age 90, very famous conductor, Leopold Stokowosky, conducts Debussy's "The Afternoon of the Faun." Stokowoski lived to be age 95.

  • The Sting (1973)

    Featured some of Scott Joplin's music.

  • Candide (1989)

    Revised by Bernstein.
  • Period: to

    Gulf War

  • Ragtime (1998)

    A Broadway Musical that takes it's style from the 20th-century American style.