20th Century Musicians
Claude Debussey
(1862-1918) -French impressionist composer; considered most important French composer of his time. -Not well known until 1902 with opera Pelleas et Melisande -Studied at Paris Conservatory from ages 10-22; exposed to Parisian impressionist paintings. -Music stressed tone color, atmosphere and fluidity (characteristics of impressionism) -Wrote Afternoon of a Faun -Linked Romantic and 20th century eras -1884: Won Prix de Rome
Arnold Schoenberg
(1874-1951) -Famous Austrian composer -self taught; "addict of Wagner" -1904 taught theory/composition at Vienna Conservatory -1908 abandoned traditional tonality system -sprechstimme -Wrote Pierrot Lunaire
Charles Ives
(1874-1954) -American composer -Wrote music for himself; not performed until much later -Uses quotations of familiar tunes -Wrote Three Places in New England
Igor Stravinsky
(1882-1971) -Legendary Russian composer; regarded as world's greatest composer. -Riot at premier of Rite of Spring; disliked by audience -Use of irregular meters and polymeters, ostinatos, and polytonality. -Dramatic changes of style throughout career: Primitivism, Neo Classicism, Neo Romanticism, 12-tone
Scott Joplin
(1896-1917) -American composer and pianist; "King of Ragtime" -Father was a slave. -Trained in "classical" music; wrote one ballet, 2 operas, multiple piano rags. -Wrote Maple Leaf Rag & The Entertainer
Duke Ellington
(1899-1974) -Most important swing-band composer, arranger, and conductor of all time. -Music product of constant experimentation and improvisation. -Composed "It Don't Mean a Thing"
Aaron Copland
(1900-1990) -Leading American composer of his generation. -1921: went to Paris to study with Nadia Boulanger -Early 1930's: highly dissonant workds -Late 1930's: changed style to access larger audience -Use of polychords, polyrhythms, changing meters, percussive effects -After 1950, composed 12-tone music -Wrote Appalachian Spring
Louis Armstrong
(1901-1971) -American trumpeter and singer. -Dixieland legend. -One of greatest jazz improvisers of all time. -Popularized scat singing. -Wrote Hotter Than Hot (1927)
Leonard Bernstein
(1918-1990) -Hugely popular American composer, performer, conductor, educator, and activist. -Leading conductor of his era. -Used musical borrowing -Wrote music for West Side Story
Miles Davis
(1926-1991) -American trumpeter, band leader, and composer. -One of most beloved jazz musicians of all time; Jazz & rock fusion icon. -Studied at Julliard. -Wrote Miles Runs the Voodoo Down (1969)
Sergei Diaghilev
-Director of Russian Ballet -Worked with Stravinsky
