Aaron Copland, Appalachian Spring, Excerpt with Variations on Tis the Gift to Be Simple |
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Copland ballet that incorporated the shaker hymn “Simple Gifts.” An example of American folk tunes. |
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William Grant Still, Afro-American Symphony, First Movement |
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Still’s symphony in sonata form that incorporated blues rhythm, spiritual melody, and call and response. |
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Oliver Messiaen, Quartet for the End of Time, First Movement(Liturgie de Cryistal) |
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Messiaen’s quartet that used color and talea(repeated musical patterns). Represents the progression of time in the sense of creation. Composed and performed in concentration camp. |
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Benjamin Britten, Peter Grimes, from Act III, scene 2, “To hell with all your mercy!” |
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Britten’s opera that shows his social activism. Uses bitonality |
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John Cage, Sonatas and Interludes, Sonata V |
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Cage’s suite for prepared piano written in square root form. Objects are inserted into the piano in order to create percussive sounds. Challenges the idea of notation and pitch. |
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Morton Feldman, Projection I |
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Feldman’s solo for cello that uses a “graphic score” and exercises the idea of indeterminate music. |
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Milton Babbitt, Philomel, Section I |
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Babbit’s vocal piece for soprano, recorded soprano, and synthesized sound. Based on story of Ovid and uses word painting. |
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John Adams, Short Ride in a Fast Machine |
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Adams minimalist orchestral fanfare that incorporates frequent, slight changes in rhythm, instrumentation, or harmony create a sense of constant evolution |
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Michael Daugherty, Dead Elvis |
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Daugherty’s work for solo bassoon and chamber ensemble that payed tribute to Elvis. Incorporated modernist ideas with popular music. |
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