Around 1900, classical composers felt that the tonal system for writing music had been exhausted of its resources and they sought out new ways of composing music. This led to a divide in the field of music. Classical music continued to explore new systems of composition, while other musicians kept with the tonal system.
Composers that continued to use the tonal system began to attract listeners from the classical field. They wrote simple, easy-to-understand, and enjoyable melodies that were more appealing to “tonal ears” than the complex, tonal-less, and intellectualized classical art music. Popular music was the result. The divide continues today. The problem with this divide is it creates misconceptions on what the musical community values, and how the study of music is viewed by the general public. For instance, rock musicians tend to be viewed as rebellious, wild, and a threat to society. Since rock music is popularized, people might believe acting like a rock star is part of what means to be a musician. This is not at all the case for the classical musicians, whose goal is to preserve the established culture, protect it, and progress it. It is this division of values in the musical community that prevents music from progressing as a whole, and in turn how society values music.
Is there a split in other humanities fields that prevents them from progressing? Do these divides affect how society views that field and in turn values it? Should the classical community be held accountable for not training musical audiences into “modern” music, or should the pop fields be responsible for encouraging the use of old systems of composition? How do you view the field of music?
Tonality
Example of new system developed for composition: Twelve-Tone system of composition - Anti-Tonality
Sound Samples:
Classical Music before 1900 written in the tonal system. These selections should sound “normal” to tonally trained ears:
Chopin’s Ballade in G minor (1830s)
Brahm’s b minor Capriccio (1870s)
Classical Music written after the tonal system was being abandoned. These should sound “abnormal/ugly/awkard” to tonally trained ears:
Schoenberg op. 19 (1911)
Copland Variations (1930)
Stravinsky – Rite of Spring (1913)
Early popular music. Sounds normal to tonally trained ears:
John Phillip Sousa (1912)
Early Jazz
Modern classical music. Should sound abnormal to tonally trained ears:
John Cage - Imaginary Landscape
Modern pop music. Should sound normal to tonally trained ears:
Yael Naim – New Soul
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4 comments:
I believe that although splits may be present in other humanitarian fields, none of them are as relevant as the split in music. In my major, Communications, there are plenty of different fields of study that see communications differently. However, I believe that in all fields of study, any division within the field greatly affects the way society perceives that field because a split in the field means a disagreement between the professonals in that field and thus, no one is certain which way is the best or right way. Therefore, people question the field and that affects the way people perceive the field. I am not sure who should be held accountable for the split in the music field, so perhaps both parties are to blame for not working together. Music is a wonderful field, however, I believe the split is more evident in music than almost any other field of study
I don't think anyone should be blamed for splits in the humanities fields. Nor do I think that a split is a bad thing. You may say that a split in music prevents it from progressing but I believe that a split is a sign of progression. These splits form because of new ideas and without these new ideas, the field seems like it's stuck and not going anywhere.
As for music, everyone has different tastes and prefers certain genres over others. As you stated in your post, popular music was the result of the split. Without the split, music will stay classical and all tates in music would not have been catered to. So, I think that a split in music is actually progressing the field, not preventing it from progressing.
I do believe that there are splits in other humanities fields and in just about any field for that matter. These divides do seem to have and affect on society’s views and values of the fields. It seems like society focuses in on whatever is popular in a particular field and associates the entire field with what is popular. I think that people often forget about other areas in fields like music and this is understandable. There are so many different kinds of music and it would be hard to keep up with all of them.
I think that the splits in the field of music are a great thing. The splits give people so much to choose from and allow more people to enjoy music. I view the field of music as very large and diverse. It seems to always be shifting and I love hearing how it has changed so much over the years.
I believe that there are splits in the humanity fields that prevents them progressing, but I don’t think that there is specifically anyone to blame for it. I also believe that it kind of takes it’s own course as well. You cannot expect for all subjects in the humanities to get along. You will see agreements and disagreements. A split in the field signifies a change and sometimes for the better. Divisions among the humanities definitely affects society and how they view the field and it’s values because it’s most likely to happen. Society will believe what you want them to believe. Society is very involved in what’s popular and they forget about what’s not popular. The classical community should not be held accountable for not training musical audiences into “modern” music because it’s out of their control. It’s not their fault that society is into the more “modern” music because times have changed and music has changed. There are many different types of genre in music which makes the person such an individual. Nobody wants to listen to the same type of music over and over again like if it were on repeat. It’s significant to have choices and not always be into the ‘popular” genres.
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