Austin Independent School District
1996/97 Music Memory Selections by Historical Period
The following narrative is from Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia , copyright 1994 Compton's New Media, Inc.
" The story of Western Music begins in the churches of the Middle Ages where composers began writing new melodies on top of the old religious chants. This new musical fabric called polyphony astonished listeners with its changing tonal colors."
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"In the Renaissance, polyphony blossomed into an elaborate system of melodies overlapping and echoing each other in flowing rhythms. A system of counterpoint controlled the way melodies fit together so that the harmony was always clear. Also at this time, instrumental ensembles began to appear, at first imitating the vocal music."
"El Grillo" by Josquin des Pres (1450 - 1521)
"By the Baroque Era, instrumental music became a force of its own. String and keyboard instruments were especially popular. Composers like J.S. Bach wrote music with a faster pulse and rapid chord changes. A new system, tonality, organized chords into modern harmony."
"Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" by Bach (1685 - 1750)
"In the Classical Age, Hadyn, Mozart and Beethoven used tonality to compose extended sonatas and symphonies."
Symphony #40: 1st Movement by Mozart (1756 - 1791)
"In exploring new harmonies, composers in the Romantic Era used music to express stories, ideas, emotions, even national sentiments. The tonal system spread into national dialicts including German, Russsian, French and Italian.
Symphony #5: 1st Movement by Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
"Hungarian Rhapsody #2" by Liszt (1811 - 1886)
Die Walkure: "Ride of the Valkyres" by Wagner (1813 - 1883)
Rigoletto:"La Donna e Mobile" by Verdi (1813 - 1901)
Pictures at an Exhibition:"Hut of Baba Yaga" and "Great Gate of Kiev" by Mussorgsky (1839 - 1881) /Ravel
Pirates of Penzance: "Modern Major General" by Gilbert (1836 - 1917) and Sullivan (1842 - 1900)
"By the end of the 19th century, the color of sound became an end in itself as tonality extended to its farthest limits."
Requiem: Sanctus by Faure (1845 - 1924)
"The tonal system violently collapsed in the early 20th century. Composers like Stravinsky rejected the old styles and unleashed new primal rhythms and dissonant harmonies."
"At the same time, popular music errupted as a powerful creative force. Jazz gripped America with its African rhythms and western harmonies. Rock music burst on the scene in the middle of the century, combining jazz elements with folk music and new electronic instruments. Its' unprecedented popularity has reached every corner of the world. At century's end, classical and popular styles are undergoing an astonishing cross-fertilization. New hybrids promise to carry Western music forward in its continuing evolution."
"Washington Post March" by Sousa (1854 - 1932)
"Don't Get Around Much Anymore" by Ellington (1899 - 1974)
Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra: "Fugue" by Britten (1913 - 1976) / Purcell (1658 - 1695)
Candide: Overture by Bernstein (1918 - 1991)