Characteristics+of+the+style

Make notes here on the Characteristics of the Style of this work.

These should begin with __general characteristics__ of 20th century music, then move onto s__pecific characteristics__ of __Stravinsky's style__, then how these are seen and heard in the first two movements of 'Symphony of Psalms' - __with musical examples.__  __Characteristics of 20th century Art music seen/heard in Symphony of Psalms__ 2nd movement Instrumental fugue - tonal fugue vocal fugue - real fugue. - they use exposition and developments of fugue form but not the recapitulation.

-Rhythm USED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. the opening sequence uses a vast block chord which disrupts the flowing melody of the oboes nad bassoons. this creates an irregular feel and gives a dis-joined effect - Rhythmic value is quite complex - at fig. 9. between piano 1 + 2 there is semi-quaver patter s going agains quaver patterns. this creates a complex sound.

- Tonality is another important quality - there is no strong emphasis on tonlity. there is considerable use of chromaticism such as oboe solo beofre fig 6. use of octotonic sclae at fig 4. - opening block chord of E minor helps assert a tonality for melody to work off. using gregorian chants, modes such as dorian and phrygian modes.

- Tone Colour - The importance of tone colour. - Movt 1- Having 2 piano's cretaes a cold- metallic, no upper strings or clarinet. - The use of double-Reed instruemtns- 4 Oboes, cor anlglias, 4- BAssoons cretaes a dry- organ liek ritualistic tone colour.

__Characteristics of Stravinsky's style seen/heard in Symphony of Psalms__ Orchestral disonance

Rhythmic- time signature changes- unusual times signatures 1/4 bar befor figure 1 and 2. 4/8 start of second movement. 3/2 figure 10.

-his Russian Heritage. -impact of impressionism and Jazz music. moved to him using smaller ensembles and exploring soloistic tone colourls. And also an unconventional combination for instrumentation. - How he liked the ways of 18th Century style. - Up unitl the 1950's he made sure he used a tonal centre within his works. after then he adopted the 12-tone system. - extensive use of time signature changes. - Neo-Classicism, - Using forms and concepts of pre- 19th century style eand elements. - Contrapuntal - Polyphonic texture, within vocal and ochestra. -

__Specific examples from movement 1& 2 of 'Symphony of Psalms'.__

Examples of neo-classicism - Use of the fugue form in movement 2 (vocal figure 5 to figure 12) and (instrumental bar 1 till figure 5) - Use of Grigorian chant at figure 4