12.2 20th century American classical music

American classical music in the 20th century was a melting pot of styles and influences. Composers blended traditional forms with jazz, folk, and experimental techniques, creating a uniquely American sound.

From Copland's iconic "Appalachian Spring" to Cage's boundary-pushing "4'33"," this era saw incredible innovation. Minimalism, serialism, and electronic music emerged, reshaping the classical landscape and challenging listeners' expectations.

Styles and Genres of 20th Century American Classical Music

Diverse Musical Approaches

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• 20th century American classical music encompassed neoclassicism, minimalism, serialism, and experimental music
• Neoclassicism revived and reinterpreted elements of 18th-century classical music (Igor Stravinsky during his American period)
• Minimalism focused on repetitive patterns and gradual transformations of musical material (Steve Reich, Philip Glass)
• Serialism utilized a systematic approach to composing with all twelve tones of the chromatic scale (Milton Babbitt)
• Experimental music challenged traditional notions of composition, performance, and the role of the composer (John Cage)
• Electronic music and musique concrète expanded sonic possibilities for composers
  • Tape manipulation techniques
  • Synthesizers and computer-generated sounds

American Musical Identity

• Incorporated elements of folk music, jazz, and indigenous American musical traditions
• Created a unique national voice in classical music
• Utilized distinctly American themes and subject matter
  • Landscapes (Copland's "Appalachian Spring")
  • Urban life (Gershwin's "An American in Paris")
• Explored American history and culture in compositions
  • Native American influences (Lou Harrison's "Song of Quetzalcoatl")
  • African American spirituals (William Grant Still's "Afro-American Symphony")

Modernism and Experimentation in American Classical Music

Innovative Compositional Techniques

• Rejected traditional tonality and formal structures
• Embraced dissonance and atonality as valid means of expression
• Introduced indeterminacy allowing for elements of chance and improvisation (John Cage's "4'33"")
• Expanded boundaries with experimental techniques
  • Prepared piano (objects placed on piano strings to alter sound)
  • Tape music (manipulating recorded sounds)
  • Graphic notation (visual representations of music instead of traditional notation)
• Explored microtonality and alternative tuning systems (Harry Partch's 43-tone scale)
• Pioneered complex polyrhythms and metric modulation (Elliott Carter's String Quartet No. 1)

Broadening Musical Horizons

• Integrated non-Western musical elements and philosophies (Henry Cowell's "The Tides of Manaunaun")
• Developed interdisciplinary collaborations
  • Composers working with visual artists (John Cage and Robert Rauschenberg)
  • Choreographers (Merce Cunningham's collaborations with various composers)
• Created new forms of multimedia performances and installations
  • La Monte Young's "Dream House" (continuous sound and light environment)
  • Nam June Paik's TV-based musical sculptures

Key Composers of American Classical Music

Aaron Copland's American Sound

• Developed a distinctly American sound incorporating folk melodies and open harmonies
• Composed iconic works ("Appalachian Spring", "Fanfare for the Common Man")
• Created influential ballet scores ("Billy the Kid", "Rodeo")
• Addressed American themes and landscapes in his music
• Utilized simple diatonic melodies and wide-interval harmonies
• Incorporated elements of jazz and popular music into his compositions

George Gershwin's Genre-Bridging Compositions

• Successfully bridged the gap between classical and popular music
• Composed groundbreaking works ("Rhapsody in Blue", "An American in Paris")
• Created the influential American opera "Porgy and Bess"
• Integrated jazz elements into classical forms
• Utilized blues scales and syncopated rhythms in orchestral works
• Brought African American musical traditions into the concert hall

Leonard Bernstein's Multifaceted Contributions

• Spanned multiple genres in his compositions
• Created the groundbreaking musical "West Side Story"
• Composed significant symphonic works ("Chichester Psalms", "Symphony No. 2: The Age of Anxiety")
• Conducted major orchestras and educated the public about classical music
• Hosted televised "Young People's Concerts" to increase music appreciation
• Addressed social and political issues in his compositions ("Mass", "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue")

Jazz and Popular Music Influences on American Classical Music

Jazz Elements in Classical Compositions

• Incorporated jazz harmonies and rhythms into classical works
• Utilized improvisation techniques within composed pieces
• Explored aleatoric methods inspired by jazz improvisation
• Integrated big band orchestrations into classical instrumentation
• Created extended jazz compositions bridging jazz and classical traditions (Duke Ellington's "Black, Brown and Beige")
• Developed Third Stream music fusing jazz and classical elements (Gunther Schuller)

Popular Music Integration

• Incorporated popular song forms and melodies into classical compositions
• Blurred lines between "high" and "low" culture in American music
• Utilized syncopation and polyrhythms inspired by popular music
• Explored cross-genre collaborations (Philip Glass working with David Bowie)
• Adapted popular music instrumentation for classical ensembles (electric guitar in orchestral works)
• Created classical arrangements of popular songs (William Bolcom's "Graceful Ghost Rag")