Unit XXII The Early Twentieth Century

Unit XXII: The Early Twentieth Century (chaps. 61-64)

LESSON INDEX

Overview

We will see in this unit that the early twentieth century is characterized by a reaction against Romanticism and an increased interest in non-Western music, especially in new treatments of rhythm. We will also note the influence of other artistic trends (Expressionism, New Classicism, Nationalism) on music and hear the new elements of the era’s musical style in the works of the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky and the Austrian master Arnold Schoenberg.

Lesson 61. Discovering the main currents in early twentieth-century music

Lesson 62. Discovering new elements of twentieth-century musical style

Lesson 63. Discovering Stravinsky and the revitalization of rhythm

Lesson 64. Discovering Schoenberg and the Second Viennese School

Evaluating your knowledge

In the Online Tutor, select Listening Quiz 20 (Stravinsky and Schoenberg). Complete the quiz, grade yourself, and review any questions you missed. Or, complete Study Guide exercises 75 and 77 (skip the questions on Berg and Webern).Test your grasp of the terms and concepts from this unit by completing the Reviewing Quiz 24: Elements of Twentieth-Century Style.

Assignment

Review the text of the song we studied from Pierrot lunaire, listen to the work again, and write a short essay on those textual and musical elements that can be related to the Expressionist movement.

Online Resources

[Unit Index]