Romantic Period & Late 19th/early 20th

For this assignment, read and review the notes “Week #3.3 Romantic (Reading/Listening Notes)” as well as Week #3.4 (Late 19th/early 20th) that you can find in the “Course Documents” in Week 3 or attached in this assignment page. In these notes, there are links to specific pieces of music, articles and documentaries. Read the following guidelines organized in two parts, and go through the notes. Then, answer the questions. This assignment counts as 20 points and is due by Sunday, June 20. There is a non-mandatory extra credit at the end of the assignment that you can also submit if you wish (10 points)
Part 1 – Week 3.3 Romantic Period
1/ Cite three characteristics of the Romantic era with one composer and one musical example associated with each of the three characteristics.
2/ Who is an important composer in the Italian popular opera of that period. Cite one of his work and characteristic.
3/ Which virtuoso violin player has influenced both Franz Liszt and Swedish metal guitar player Yngwie Malmsteen? Why, do you think?
4/ Choose one piece that you find the most intriguing or appealing. The piece you choose does not have to be exclusively featured in the notes but has to be by one of the composer featured. Listen to the entire piece two times. One time where you just listen to the music and a second time where you take some notes. Then, answer these questions: a) why did you choose this piece? b) What do you find interesting about it? Anything to say about the form, the technique used, the context and background of the piece? If there is something you do not like about it, mention that too.
Part 2 – Week 3.4 Late 19th/early 20th
1/ Listen to Erik Satie’s “Gymnopedie No.1” at least 2 times. The first time, write down your
thoughts. What musical elements do you observe. Write about it. Then, make a little research about
that piece and Erik Satie. Where does the title come from? What is the historical context of France
when he writes it (read the notes) ?
Then, listen to the piece a second time without writing anything, just listening. After the piece is
done, finish writing your thoughts. 2-3 small paragraphs.
✏🎧 “Gymnopedie No.1”

2/ Who is Gustav Mahler? When and in what context did he complete his work “ Song of the
Earth”?
3/ Read document titled “Scandal, Atonality (Ross)”. The PDF is attached. Write a short (3
paragraphs) response to the reading with 4 takeaways. Then choose to answer one of these two
questions:
a. Listen to the first 7 minutes of String Quartet N. 2 by Schoenberg (https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=eB5I5iU0OoE) You will find more information about that specific piece in the “Week #9
Listening/Reading Material” document. What do you know about this piece (when was it written,
what context). What do you hear in this piece? What does it make you think of?
or
b. Look at Kandinsky’s “Impression III (Concert)”. What is the context of that painting? What do
you see in it? (Copy paste the following link in google)
https://www.wassilykandinsky.net/work-170.php
Part 3
Watch the following video documentary about the ballet and score of The Rite of Spring (start the video from the beginning).
Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8TQH-5Vrhk
Write down your response with 8 takeaways from the documentary. Then, listen to the introduction of the ballet as well as the five first minutes of the first part of the ballet. The full ballet performance starts after the documentary at 25 minutes. Answer the following questions:
What does the instrumental introduction evoke to you? What instrument is playing the main theme at the opening? What about the musical texture(s) in this section? How does Stravinsky make the transition to the first dance, “The Augurs of Spring” (when the ostinato enters). What is happening musically in that transition and in that second section? What does the music (and the dance) evoke to you? You should listen to the introduction part and five minutes of the first part (introduction and 5 minutes after the transition from intro to first part).