Divergent Paths: Schoenberg, Stravinsky, and the 20th century

OSHER Dates: Tuesdays, 3/31/15-5/5/15 Times: 9:30AM-11:00AM Location: Commander’s House, Fort Douglas Instructor: Dr. Nathaniel Eschler

Course Overview Arnold Schoenberg (German) and Igor Stravinsky (Russian) shared similar paths. Both immigrated to the United States during World War II. Both began their American lives in Massachusetts and ultimately settled in Los Angeles. However, the two composers represent radically divergent compositional journeys that have had profound effects on subsequent composers. Schoenberg developed atonality and, eventually, the Twelve Tone Method. Stravinsky, building on the rhythmic tenets of the French composer Claude Debussy, popularized pattern music, using ostinato (repetitions of the same motif) to construct music. In this class students will explore the works of both composers while learning about their lives and work.

Tuesday 03/31/15 Biographical introduction to the life and music of Arnold Schoenberg and Igor Stravinsky

Examples: Schoenberg Moses and Aaron and Stravinsky’s the Flood Tuesday 04/07/15 Early periods: Stravinsky/Russian Period and Le Sacre Du Printemps Schoenberg/Late Romanticism and String Quartet no. 1 in Dminor Tuesday 04/14/15 Middle Periods: Stravinsky/Neo Classical and The Rakes Progress Schoenberg/Free Atonality and Erwartung Tuesday 04/21/15 Late Periods: Stravinsky/Twelve Tone and The Flood Schoenberg Serial Composition and Variations for Orchestra

Tuesday 04/28/15 Stravinsky Master works Series: Firebird/Russian period, Octet/Neo Classical, Canticum Sacrum

Tuesday 05/05/15 Schoenberg Master works Series: Verklarte Nacht/ ate Romanticism, Pierrot Lunaire/Free Atonal, Piano Concerto/Twelve Tone