7.1 Serialism and Integral Serialism: Boulez and Stockhausen

Post-World War II saw a revolution in music with serialism and integral serialism. These techniques used fixed series of musical elements as composition bases. Serialism focused on pitch, while integral serialism extended to rhythm, dynamics, and more.

Boulez and Stockhausen were key figures in developing these approaches. They pushed boundaries, creating complex, systematized compositions that challenged traditional notions of musical beauty and expression, leaving a lasting impact on contemporary classical music.

Serialism and Integral Serialism

Serialism: A Structured Approach to Composition

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• Serialism uses a fixed series of pitches, rhythms, dynamics, or other musical elements as the basis for a composition
• Emerged in the post-war era as a means of creating a highly structured and organized approach to composition
• The twelve-tone technique, developed by Arnold Schoenberg, uses a specific ordering of all twelve pitches of the chromatic scale (tone row)
  • The tone row serves as the foundation for the entire composition
  • The composer manipulates the row through inversion, retrograde, and retrograde-inversion

Integral Serialism: Extending Serialism to All Musical Elements

• Integral serialism extends the principles of serialism beyond pitch to duration, dynamics, articulation, and other musical parameters
• Results in a highly complex and systematized approach to composition where every aspect of the music is predetermined by the chosen series
• Composers employing integral serialism often use pointillism, isolating individual notes and giving them equal importance
  • Creates a fragmented and atomized musical texture
• The use of extreme ranges, complex rhythms, and extended techniques is common, pushing the boundaries of traditional musical expression

Boulez and Stockhausen's Contributions

Pierre Boulez: A Pioneer of Integral Serialism

• Pierre Boulez was a leading figure in the post-war avant-garde and played a crucial role in the development of integral serialism
• His works, such as "Structures I" (1952) and "Le Marteau sans maître" (1955), exemplify the application of serialist techniques to multiple musical parameters
• Boulez's theoretical writings, particularly "Schoenberg is Dead" (1952), advocated for a more rigorous and systematic approach to serialism
  • Laid the groundwork for the emergence of integral serialism

Karlheinz Stockhausen: Expanding the Boundaries of Serialism

• Karlheinz Stockhausen was another key proponent of integral serialism
• Expanded the concept to include elements such as spatial positioning and electronic manipulation of sound
• His works, such as "Kreuzspiel" (1951) and "Kontra-Punkte" (1953), demonstrate his innovative approach to serialist composition
  • Incorporated a wide range of extended techniques and unconventional sound sources
• Both Boulez and Stockhausen played significant roles in the Darmstadt School, a summer course for new music
  • Became a hub for the development and dissemination of serialist and integral serialist ideas in the post-war era

Serialism vs Integral Serialism

Serialism: Focusing on Pitch Organization

• Serialism primarily focuses on the organization of pitch, using a predetermined series of pitches (tone row) as the basis for a composition
• Allows for some degree of compositional freedom within the structure of the tone row
• Emphasizes the democratization of musical elements, giving equal importance to each pitch in the tone row

Integral Serialism: A Comprehensive Compositional Framework

• Integral serialism extends the serialist approach to other musical parameters beyond pitch, such as duration, dynamics, and articulation
• Seeks to control every aspect of the composition, leaving little room for improvisation or intuitive decision-making
• Applies the principles of equality and systematization to all musical elements
• Often results in a more fragmented and atomized musical texture, as each musical element is treated as a separate entity governed by its own series

Impact of Serialism on Post-War Music

Challenging Traditional Notions of Musical Beauty and Expression

• Serialism and integral serialism represented a radical departure from traditional tonality and compositional practices
• Challenged established notions of musical beauty and expression in the post-war era
• The highly structured and systematic approach influenced a generation of composers
  • Led to the development of new musical languages and techniques that continue to shape contemporary classical music

Divided Reception and Lasting Influence

• The complexity and perceived austerity of serialist and integral serialist works often divided audiences and critics
  • Some praised the intellectual rigor and innovation of these compositions
  • Others found them inaccessible and emotionally detached
• The influence of serialism and integral serialism extended beyond classical music, with composers in fields such as jazz and electronic music incorporating serialist techniques
• The legacy of serialism and integral serialism can be seen in the continued exploration of systematic and mathematical approaches to composition
  • Ongoing debate surrounding the role of structure and organization in musical expression