MUSIC HISTORY WEEK 13:
TWO GREAT MAVERICK 2oth CENTURY COMPOSERS
BELA BARTOK (1881 - 1945)
Bela Bartok was born in Hungaria and had an interest in Gypsy music, which he studied and transcribed. Bartok was really the first ethnomusicologist and the folk music he studied heavily influenced his own music. He was interested in ancient music that used modes, unfamiliar scales and non symmetrical rhythms. He was a great innovator in music and was a huge influence on other composers. His music has an irreverent, rhythmically unpredictable style. He was also a virtuoso pianist and gave concerts around the world.
Although the picture quality is not the greatest (it seems to be a dupe from a VHS tape) I found this documentary to be very good and well worth your time and patience. It has scenes of where Bartok grew up and has some great musical excerpts in including a different movement from his Concerto for Orchestra than you have in your CD pack.
CHARLES IVES (1874 -1954)
Charles Ives was born in Danbury, Connecticut. He attended Yale to study composition with Horatio Parker. He made his living as an insurance salesman and never heard some of
his works performed. He would come home from a long day at work and spend the night composing his totally original compositions that were way ahead of their time. Sometimes he would bring his compositions to New York City, where he would ask the Tin Pan Alley musicians if they would play his pieces so he could hear them. Near the ned of his life he finally appreciated by the general public. He is truly am American maverick.
His music was influenced by hymns, jazz and classical music as well. He went on to be a great influence on younger composers including Eliot Carter, whom he used to take to New York Philharmonic Orchestra concerts. After going to the concert they would discuss the m
usic they had just heard. Today Ives' music is discussed and analyzed in universities and conservatories all over the world and his music is an important part of the orchestral repertoire.
The following video is presented by the San Francisco Orchestra and Michael Tilson Thomas as part of their excellent Keeping Score series:
Watch Ives Holidays Symphony on PBS. See more from KEEPING SCORE.
Watch Ives Holidays Symphony on PBS. See more from KEEPING SCORE.
Watch Ives Holidays Symphony on PBS. See more from KEEPING SCORE.
Watch Ives Holidays Symphony on PBS. See more from KEEPING SCORE.
Watch Ives Holidays Symphony on PBS. See more from KEEPING SCORE.
You are now ready for this week's Music Quiz. Please click below.
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