Evolution of 20th Century Music: From Nationalism to Pop
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The Music of the Twentieth Century
In the late nineteenth century, nationalism—the use of regional and popular culture in music—contributed to Romanticism. Folkloric elements, which gave life to the people, replaced the traditional symphony and sonata. The ballet was born in Russia, incorporating exotic instruments, harmonies, and distant melodies. Notable composers of this era include Glinka (Russia), Bedřich Smetana (Czech Republic), Béla Bartók (Hungary), Jean Sibelius (Finland), and Edvard Grieg (Norway).
Music After World War II
A large number of composers emerged between the 1920s and 1950s, such as Falla, Prokofiev, and Ives. Opposing Romanticism and Wagnerian styles, they chose to follow post-serialism with Webern and dodecaphony with Schoenberg. This period saw a radical musical revolution, introducing new possibilities for electronic music, sound, and noise.
The Darmstadt School and Aleatoric Music
In the 1950s, composers in Darmstadt began abandoning traditional composition techniques in favor of chance. Prominent examples include Karlheinz Stockhausen and Witold Lutosławski.
Blues and African American Musical Roots
Work Songs: Songs sung by African slaves working in the southern United States, utilizing the banjo, clarinet, and voice.
Rhythm & Blues: A mixture of gospel and urban blues, this became the popular music of African Americans between 1940 and 1960. Designed for dancing, it featured singers accompanied by piano, electric guitar, bass, drums, and tenor sax. Born among slaves in the United States, it utilizes 12-bar structures with syncopated rhythms, diminished chords, and major scales.
Folk, Rock, and Pop Evolution
Irish Ballads: Songs with Celtic roots brought by Irish settlers to the United States. Accompanied by guitar or bass, these texts focus on love stories and social issues.
Rock and Roll: Emerging in the 1950s as American popular music, this genre defined the 1960s. It features instruments such as drums and electric guitars, characterized by a fast-paced and energetic sound. Artists include Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Pop Music: Contemporary popular music resulting from mass media and commercial success. It evolved from the fusion of folk and rock in the 1960s, offering a milder, less rhythmic sound than rock.
1960s Beat Music: A movement that rejected traditional American values, embracing sexual freedom and Eastern philosophy. The most iconic group was The Beatles, consisting of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison.