Definition:
Serialism is a rigorous system of composing music in which various elements of the piece are ordered according to a pre-determined ordered set or sets, and variations on them. The elements thus controlled may be the pitch of the notes, their length, their dynamics, their accents, or virtually any other musical quantity, which, in serial terms is called a parameter. More generally, serialism is any music which uses any ordered sets applied to any musical element.
Whilst researching serialism I came across a quote which I find very relevant to our studies at the moment. The quote reads: “Serial music is like spinach. People grow up hearing others complain about how terrible it is. Some people eventually try it and agree that
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*Listen Boulez – Structures pour deux pianos
When a tone row is turned backwards, its rhythmic pattern is also reversed. For example, a minum followed by a quaver followed by a semi-quaver becomes a semi-quaver followed by a quaver followed by a minum. It is in this way that every conceivable musical element is manipulated.
Although this music is very organized it is often, ironically, perceived to be very chaotic to the listener.
*Listen Stockhausen – Gesang der Junglinge
Serialism was greatly influential in post-War music. Serialism was “revolutionary” and declared itself as a “new tonality”. Serialism created an environment where experimentation with sound was at the forefront of composition, which led to increased use of electronics as well as other applications of mathematical notation to composition.
Joseph Matthias Hauer ( 1883- 1959)
Background
Joseph Hauer was an Austrian composer and theorist. He was an active organist, choral conductor and cellist since his teenage years. At about the age of 23 (1908) he started composing. His first published works are Op 1 -18 (1912 – 1919) and he described these works as “the first onset of [his] 12-tone works”. These pieces range from songs and piano miniatures to the dramatic “Apokalyptische Phantasie” op. 5(1913), which is scored for chamber orchestra and is his most significant early
According to Holmes and Holmes (1997), the key features of serial murders include 1. Repetitive homicide where the serial murderer kills again and again and will continue to kill if not prevented.
Much is unknown about the Zodiac killer, but given what is known about serial killers in general, this man was probably born between 1938 and 1943. That would make his age between 25 and 30 years old at the time of his first murder in Vallejo, California, in 1968. Also, that age estimate works with witness statements and it's supported by Zodiac's references to his victims in younger terms in his letters of 1969. Zodiac wasn't an attractive character from what we know. He may have had to wear glasses throughout his youth and his facial features weren't all that pleasing. So overall he may have been unpopular as a young boy and spent a good deal of time alone. It seems as though rejection is a big issue for Zodiac. No one knows anything
2. The sounds (and silences) that comprise a musical work organized in some way * Music is a form of organized sound
We know the pitches of Hildegard’s music, but not the rhythms. She is the first composer that we know full pitches and music for. One problem with Hildegard’s work is the sources; because there are so many, we do not know which ones are correct and which ones are incorrect. Another is the state of the materials, as some are lost.
“We serial killers are your sons, we are your husbands, we are everywhere. And there will be more of your children dead tomorrow,” is what serial killer, Ted Bundy responded with when an interrogator was shocked how casually he talked about hating women. The Oxford Dictionaries define serial killing as, “A person who commits a series of murders, often with no apparent motive and typically following a characteristic, or predictable behavior pattern.” People hear the term ‘serial killer’ and several questions pop into their heads such as; what kind of person can commit such terrible crimes? Or what drives a person to that point of insanity?
•Counterpoint—a very complex and rule-bound type of polyphony in which the resulting harmony provides the tonal organization for the music—is used extensively.
If people noticed the syncopation they may start listening closer to determine what they are hearing, by doing this they are automatically diving deeper into the music.
In 1963, the entire country of the United States of America and the world was in a wide discussion due to the assassination of one man, John F. Kennedy. There was a wide range of speculation and conspiracy theory of how he was murdered such as how the secret services, the FBI, and the CIA was in a plot to have him killed. Similarly, there was a homicide case in Baltimore, Maryland where an adolescent known as Adnan Syed allegedly killed his girlfriend. The state has convicted him for this crime through the testimony of one man known as Jay. However, after fourteen years, Sarah Koenig a report created a podcast called Serial which broached the subject, resurfacing the subject to the public. Now with this new release of this media of the podcast,
Many artists from the organization came to make their mark on postmodernism as their work reflected a breakdown of styles into their constituent elements, sometimes focusing on one isolated aspect while at other times combining the pieces into surprising new wholes (359). Artists such as Wynton Marsalis took the spotlight in the supplemental reading for the thirteenth week. The article “The Wynton Marsalis Phenomenon”, elaborated upon just how he truly was a role model to musicians. This was not only through his
Have the minimalist been co-opted by popular music? What elements are used and which are discarded? Provide a detailed examination of a particular piece.
This contemporary pop music has a wide melodic range produced by the electronic modified piano. Its melody form highly ornamented notes played at a fast tempo with pitches very close together, in a conjucted motion. Its pitch creates an undulating melody with repetitions forming unsymmetrical phrases. These phrases create a bit of tension and produce unpleasant sounds due to the instability and irregularity of the pitches causing constant change of pitches as various verses are sung. Although irregularity among pitches occurs, repetition of notes still remain catchy and the
The tones and sounds created centered around a central melody that was known as the “monster’s music”. This consistent score motif was characterized by harmonic, loud, crashing cords that featured minor seconds and more drawn-out tones.
Serialism is style of music that subverts the standard form of arranging sounds produced by musical instruments and approaches the composition from an almost mathematical standpoint. It can be described as a compositional strategy in which the composer arranges notes in a particular order based on the characteristics of a sound such as pitch, duration, amplitude or even timbre, but giving no preference to each individual characteristic; all aspects of a sound are equal. Once the notes are arranged the composer uses a pre-determined set of rules to arrange them in to a composition. It could be argued that it originated as a response to composers in the late 19th and early 20th century struggling to stretch the limits of their capability
Salieri acclaimed Schubert as a “musical genius,” and the two would continue working together until separating in 1817 (The Biography). While in the seminary, Schubert attended choir practices, practiced chamber music and piano, and performed as a violinist in the students’ orchestra. He was soon given a leadership role and sometimes conducted when Ruzicka was absent. While Schubert was in the seminary, he wrote his first songs, including “Hagars Klage” (Hagar’s Lament, 1811) and “Der Vatermörder” (The Patricide, 1811), which captivated many of his teachers, with one teacher noting that Schubert “had learned everything from God” (Forney 273). As with most men, puberty altered Schubert’s voice. Unfortunately for Schubert, this meant the end of his early success, as he was required to leave the seminary in 1813 (“SCHUBERT”).
Viennese composer Franz Schubert is often regarded as a master composer of songs. He is also known for creative and unexpected movement between keys in his compositions. Dying at a tragically young age, Schubert managed to release an enormous body of works, publishing over two-hundred songs while alive. Despite this already impressive output of songs, nothing stopped Schubert from composing symphonies, chamber music, and solo works as well. Close analysis of his music reveals how skillfully Schubert was able to set text, move fluidly to foreign keys, and much more. In this paper, Schubert 's vocal piece entitled Erlkönig and his work for solo piano, Moments Musicaux 5 in F minor, will be explored more deeply