20th Century Nationalists: Americans

 

The United States evolved a national style in 20th century, with special effort in the20Õs. 

á        There had been some previous efforts to establish American style with music invoking Native Americans, African-Americans (e.g. through spirituals)

á        Americans had traditionally gone to Europe to study music; we have a prominent generation in Paris in the 20Õs; especially well-known are Aaron Copland, George Gershwin

á        George Gershwin(1898-1937): from Brooklyn, grew up on Tin Pan Alley, his songs were in popular idiom,; he wrote several successful musical comedies

á        In 1923 he was invited to participate in ÒAn Experiment in Modern Music,Ó NY concert project. He composed his first piece for the concert hall, Rhapsody in Blue; sketched for piano, arranged by Ferde GrofŽ, arranger for Paul Whiteman band. Orchestration was borrowed from Jazz, as were harmony, blue notes, etc.

á        Soon after he wrote a piano concerto, the Concerto in F.  Melodies are reminiscent of show tunes from his musicals. 

á        This music gives a valid option in the search for an American Style of concert hall music; other countries used native style, and jazz was a native American style. 

á        Aaron Copland(1900-1990) 

á        Copland went to Paris in 1920, studied with Nadia Boulanger(1887-1979); studied works of Stravinsky and FaurŽ; Boulanger encouraged use of jazz, helped try on as American style.  Copland was a favorite of hers; she commissioned him to write his Organ Symphony

á        Copland came out with Piano Concerto in 1926 (strong jazz feel, inspired by GershwinÕs Concerto in F), but shortly after Milhaud pronounced jazz to be ÒpassŽ;Ó Americans abandoned Jazz as the idiom for their concert hall style.

á        Copland turned to folk elements (like most nationalist composers); wrote a series of works with North American or Latin American flavors: ballets: Rodeo, Billy the Kid, Appalachian Spring, orch suite El Salon Mexico. 

á        Appalachian Spring has Appalachian folk music in it, especially Simple Gifts, a Shaker melody. 

á        Rodeo is a western theme ballet.  Western feeling is conveyed by square dance details (open5ths etc).  Hoe Down movement is famous

á        Later in life (after 1950) Copland wrote some serial music, but also continued to write highly accessible works as well (e.g. Three Latin-American Sketches)

á        Roy Harris(1898-1979): Wanted to write the ÒGreat American SymphonyÓ

á        Wrote lots of music with programmatic titles, e.g. Folk Song Symphony (4thof 14)

á        One ÒAmericanÓ aspect is the wind-band scoring

á        He explored different resources than Copland: modal melodies, 16th Century counterpoint

á        Best known and best symphony is Symphony No. 3 (In One Movement)