music appreciation class #13 richard strauss, sergi rachmanioff, igor stravinsky, karl orff
TRANSCRIPT
Music AppreciationMusic AppreciationClass #13Class #13Richard Strauss, Sergi Rachmanioff, Igor Stravinsky, Karl Orff
BiographyBiographyMusical family
Actively involved with the Dresden opera◦Wagner productions
Politically active◦3rd Reich
Also sprach Zarathustra Also sprach Zarathustra (1896)(1896)Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)◦“God is dead.” ◦Übermensch◦Mimics Christian & Jewish morality,
traditions
2001: A Space Odyssey◦1968
CharactersCharactersHerod, King of Judea
(“Tetrarch”)
Herodias, his wife (former sister-in-law)
Salome, her daughter (14)
John the Baptist (“Jochanaan”)
Operatic/dramatic Operatic/dramatic problemsproblemsOrchestra
◦Wager +
Salome◦Vocally demanding
Look 14 years old Sexually attractive
◦The “Dance of the Seven Veils”
Censored!Censored!New York, 1907
◦Metropolitan Opera
Dress Rehearsal
◦Sunday afternoon Patrons = Astors, Vanderbilts Politicians
Opening Opening DayDay Reviews Reviews
“…one of the most horrible, disgusting, revolting and unmentionable exhibitions of
degeneracy I have ever heard, read or imagined...”
“…A sewer is a necessity of our everyday life, but the fact of its existence does not also
create the necessity for us to bend over its reeking filth and inhale its mephitic
vapours...”
BiographyBiographyFamily of musiciansTwo degrees
◦Violin◦Composition
Interceded with Mussolini on behalf of critics
Recorded with the New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestra
““The Fountains of Rome” The Fountains of Rome” 19161916Fourth Movement: “The Medici
Fountains at Sunset”Symphonic Poem*
◦Program music* expanded to the entire orchestra;
◦One single movementMusical references:
◦Splashing water◦Twinkling stars
BiographyBiographyBorn and raised in Saint
PetersburgInspired by a performance of
Tchaikovsky’s Swan LakeFamily pressure to abandon
music and study lawTravelled extensively and
absorbed local musical traditions
““The Rite of Spring” The Rite of Spring” 19131913Choreography by Vaslav NijinskyPremiere in Paris:
◦Booing◦Loud arguments in the audience◦Fistfights◦Street brawl◦Police called
PulcinellaPulcinella◦Commedia dell’Arte character
Extra-long nose Servant Pretends to be too stupid to understand
the situation; Mean, vicious, crafty
CD #2, Track 16CD #2, Track 16“Pulcinella” Suite – 1913
◦Neoclassical style Inspired by Baroque and Classical forms,
harmonies and melodies
US CitizenUS CitizenSettled in Hollywood
◦Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame◦1st Grammy Award to a classical
musicianArrested!
◦Boston, April 15, 1940 Violation: Federal law prohibited the
reharmonization of the National Anthem.
BiographyBiographyBegan musical studies at 5Interested mainly in new
compositionsWrote his own texts to vocal
musicMusical educator
◦Techniques still in use todayAlmost killed in WWI
33rdrd Reich ReichProbably a memberCarmina Burana was popular with
NazisHired to rewrite incidental music
for A Midsummer Night’s Dream◦Mendelssohn’s music was banned
Betrayed his friend, Kurt Huber, a founder of Die Weiße Rose
Carmina Burana Carmina Burana (1935)(1935)24 Medieval poemsLatin textInspired by Renaissance
compositionsWritten for huge orchestra with
over twenty percussion instruments
Two choirsSoloists