Chapter 70. Neo-Romantic Evocations: Higdon and Program Music into the Twenty-First Century; Listening Guide 63: Higdon: blue cathedral

In blue cathedral, Higdon incorporates -, effectively evoking an Asian soundscape.

Chinese reflex balls

Listen to the following excerpts and then click on the corresponding cards in the order in which they appear in the C section of Higdon's blue cathedral.

Excerpt X violin-viola dialogue Excerpt W shifting meters Excerpt Z flying theme Excerpt Y prepared piano

Listen to the following four sections and then click on the corresponding cards in the order in which they appear in blue cathedral.

Excerpt Y (flute- clarinet duet) Excerpt Z (wavering horns) Excerpt X (shifting meters) Excerpt W (reflex balls)

Jennifer Higdon's blue cathedral is written for a small orchestra.

False

Which of the following are true about Jennifer Higdon and which are not?

She teaches music composition at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. She won a Pulitzer Prize.

Which of the following statements describe this excerpt from blue cathedral and which do not? 1:00

This is from the C section of the form. It features shifting meters. Swirling winds are featured.

Match the instruments in Higdon's blue cathedral to the persons they represent in the tone poem's program.

Andrew Blue Higdon - clarinet Jennifer Higdon - flute

What approach to composition reclaims nineteenth-century harmonic and melodic language in a new context, one that considers the postmodern world?

Neo-Romanticism

A brief return to the A section immediately follows the B section in blue cathedral.

True

Though there is no strong sense of pulse in blue cathedral, the B section does contain some rhythmic and syncopated figures.

True

For what piece did Jennifer Higdon receive a Pulitzer Prize in 2010?

Violin Concerto

Higdon's blue cathedral ends with a loud and emphatic cadence.

false

This excerpt features a duet of

flute and clarinet

This excerpt features a duet of -.

flute and clarinet

Which instruments have the main melody in the second and third parts of the A section?

flute, then clarinet

Which describes the texture of blue cathedral?

homophonic texture

Listen to this excerpt from blue cathedral, and then match the words with their descriptions.0:19

instrumentation - brass texture - predominantly homophonic form - this is an excerpt from the C Section

Higdon's blue cathedral is performed by large orchestra with many - instruments. It features lyrical melodies and - triads with no strong sense of key center; - texture with a focus on individual lines and duets; and a -, rondo-like structure.

percussion major homophonic sectional

Which instrument family provides the majority of the harmony in this excerpt, from the A section, which begins about 47 seconds into the piece?

strings

Which instrument family provides the majority of the harmony that underpins the melody in this excerpt, from the A section, which begins about 47 seconds into the piece?

strings

Listen to blue cathedral, excerpt, and then match the words with their descriptions. blue cathedral, excerpt 6:27

texture: homophonic melodies: lyrical

Jennifer Higdon credits the music of - for her understanding of music's communicative powers.

the Beatles

Jennifer Higdon's blue cathedral opens with bell-like timbres, a style known as what?

tintinnabulation

Jennifer Higdon's blue cathedral was inspired by the grief over her brother's death.

true

Neo-Romantic composers often include programmatic elements in their music.

true

Neo-Romanticism incorporates the lush harmonic language of the late Romantic era.

true

One of the most prominent exponents of Romantic ideals in twentieth-century music was Samuel Barber.

true

Though there is no strong sense of pulse in blue cathedral, the B section does contain some rhythmic and syncopated figures.

true

Which of the following percussion instruments are heard in Jennifer Higdon's blue cathedral and which are not?

tuned glasses crotales bell tree

After the English horn solo (the first 35 seconds of the excerpt) in the C section, you will hear a series of instrumental solos. Drag and drop the instruments in the correct order of those solos after the English horn.

viola piccolo cello oboe bassoon

Which solo instrument is featured in this excerpt, which begins about two minutes and eighteen seconds into the piece?

violin

Listen to the following music excerpts and drag them to the correct location on the music chart below.

1. Flute Clarinet Duet 2.wavering horns 3. English Horn

Listen to the following excerpts then drag them to the correct location on the accompanying diagram. Approximate where the excerpt falls within each section.

1. Solo Flute 2. Wavering Horns 3. Flying Theme

Which of the following statements describe this excerpt from blue cathedral and which do not? 1:17

It builds to a fortissimo climax that then fades away quickly. It opens with wavering horn chords. This is the B section

Jennifer Higdon studied with - at the University of Pennsylvania.

George Crumb

Neo-Romantic composers like Jennifer - seek to incorporate nineteenth-century characteristics including program music while at the same time aiming to "modernize" the nineteenth-century - tradition.

Higdon orchestral

One of the most prominent exponents of a continued commitment to -musical ideas in the twentieth century was - composer Samuel Barber, as exemplified in his well-loved Adagio for Strings (1936).

Romantic American

The music of those who upheld key elements of - were dismissed as regressive and antiquated by those who considered - the only legitimate artistic pathway in the twentieth century.

Romanticism modernism

Listen to this excerpt from blue cathedral, which begins about 47 seconds into the piece, and then match the words with their descriptions. A section, second part 0:25

Strings - instruments playing harmonic accompaniment Meter - no strong sense of pulse Flute - instrument playing the melody of the beginning

Which describes the meter in this excerpt, which begins about 47 seconds into the piece?

Strings - instruments playing harmonic accompaniment Meter - no strong sense of pulse Flute - instrument playing the melody of the beginning

Jennifer Higdon's blue cathedral is which?

a tone poem

The strings - the flute melody.

accompany

The strings and harp - the clarinet melody.

accompany

Which best describes the volume at end of the B section in blue cathedral?

begins loud and then gets quieter

Which best describes the volume in this excerpt, which begins about two minutes and eighteen seconds into the piece?

begins soft and grows louder by the end

Which describes the volume in this excerpt, which begins about two minutes and eighteen seconds into the piece?

begins soft and grows louder by the end

Which instruments play in the first 46 seconds of blue cathedral?

bells, muted lower strings

Which terms correctly describe the melodies of Higdon's blue cathedral?

languorous, lyrical

The chordal harmony in Jennifer Higdon's blue cathedral is largely made up of - triads

major

Hidgon makes prominent use of - but the piece has no strong sense of key center.

major triads

Which instruments play in the first 46 seconds of blue cathedral and which do not?

muted lower strings, bells

Neo-Romantic composers embraced aspects of which?

nineteenth-century orchestral sound

Which best describes the meter in this excerpt, which begins about 47 seconds into the piece?

no sense of pulse

Which describes the meter in this excerpt, which begins about 47 seconds into the piece?

no sense of pulse

Which best describes the harmony in blue cathedral?

no strong sense of key center

Which describes the harmony in blue cathedral?

no strong sense of key center