Composer Quiz

Stefan Wolpe DEU/USA [1902-1972]
Short description: Fresh perspective on atonality. Despite excursions into popular, folk and jazz idioms, Wolpe continued to compose in atonal styles throughout his career. Cross-cutting and discontinuity between different musical gestures and textures (Dadaism). Early compositions use the 12-tone techniques of Schoenberg and the Second Viennese School. Irregular rhythms and contrapuntal textures. Avoids isolated points of sound (pointillism) which was common to Schoenberg and his followers. Influenced by jazz and popular dance music. Workers songs and pieces that satirized society. Simplified his dense, atonal writing, making it more accessible to people without musical training. He does everything wrong and it comes out right.

Played 5 of 5 tracks for this composer (total 133 answers). Played blocks map:

Forms 1-4 (2002)/disc 2/2-02 - Piece (8m)

Sessions Babbitt - String Quartets/06 - String Quartet (1969) - I. Quarter-Note 92 (8m)

Sessions Babbitt - String Quartets/07 - String Quartet (1969) - II. Quarter-Note 44 (10m)

Zeus und Elida (1928) (27m)

Piano Sonata No. 1 op. 1 (Holzman) Audio Sheet music (14m)

Last comments for this composer:

Rualark
2015-03-06 22:14:02

Compare two modern composers: american Feldman to his german teacher Wolpe.

Feldman sounds repetitive, sparce, long dissonant chords, chamber. Feldman piano pieces sound even more sparce with short random notes.

Wolpe sounds atonal, closer to Schoenberg. Wolpe piano piece sounds percussive and energetic.

Beware of the Feldman Rothko Chapel, which sounds more melodic and has vocal. (Feldman, Wolpe)

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