Twentieth Century Music Ch. 7-10

1.

Which 20th century trend stressed intense, subjective emotion; used deliberate distortions to assault and shock their audiences to communicate the tensions and anguish of the human psyche?

A.

Expressionism
B.

Impressionism
C.

Neoclassicism
D.

Nationalism

Correct Answer
A. Expressionism

Explanation
Expressionism is the correct answer because it is a 20th-century art movement that emphasized intense, subjective emotions and used deliberate distortions to shock and provoke their audiences. Expressionist artists sought to communicate the tensions and anguish of the human psyche through their work, often depicting distorted and exaggerated forms to convey inner emotional states. This movement was a reaction against the rationality and objectivity of Neoclassicism and the more impressionistic approach of Impressionism. Nationalism, on the other hand, is a political ideology and Neoclassicism and Impressionism do not focus on intense, subjective emotion or deliberate distortions.

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2.

Expressionists rejected

A.

Conventional prettiness
B.

Dissonance
C.

Emotional turbulence
D.

Ugliness

Correct Answer
A. Conventional prettiness

Explanation
Expressionists rejected conventional prettiness because they believed that art should reflect the inner emotions and experiences of the artist, rather than conforming to societal standards of beauty. They sought to express raw and intense emotions, often using dissonance and unconventional techniques to create a sense of emotional turbulence. By rejecting conventional prettiness and embracing ugliness, they aimed to challenge traditional aesthetics and create a more authentic and impactful form of art.

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3.

Arnold Schoenberg was associated with which 20th century trend?

A.

Expressionism
B.

Impressionism
C.

Neoclassicism
D.

Nationalism

Correct Answer
A. Expressionism

Explanation
Arnold Schoenberg was a prominent composer and music theorist who played a crucial role in the development of Expressionism in music during the 20th century. Expressionism was an artistic movement characterized by the exploration of intense emotions, subjective experiences, and the rejection of traditional forms and structures. Schoenberg's innovative composition techniques, such as atonal and twelve-tone music, challenged conventional tonality and paved the way for the expressionist movement in music. Therefore, Schoenberg's association with Expressionism aligns with his influential contributions to this 20th-century trend.

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4.

Schoenberg created music using a variety of techniques, including

A.

Atonality
B.

Twelve-tone
C.

Sprechstimme
D.

All of the above

Correct Answer
D. All of the above

Explanation
Schoenberg, a renowned composer, utilized a range of techniques in his music composition. Atonality refers to the absence of a tonal center, which Schoenberg employed to break free from traditional harmonic structures. Twelve-tone technique, also known as serialism, involves organizing the twelve pitches of the chromatic scale in a specific order, which Schoenberg pioneered. Sprechstimme, a vocal technique, combines elements of speaking and singing, and Schoenberg incorporated it in his compositions. Therefore, the correct answer is "All of the above" as Schoenberg utilized all these techniques in his music.

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5.

--------------------- is a 20th century alternative to tonality, a new way of organizing pitch in a composition.

A.

Twelve-tone system
B.

Atonality
C.

Chromaticism
D.

Expressioinism

Correct Answer
A. Twelve-tone system

Explanation
The twelve-tone system is a 20th-century alternative to tonality, where pitch is organized in a composition. It was developed by Arnold Schoenberg and his students as a way to break free from traditional tonal harmony. In this system, all twelve pitches of the chromatic scale are given equal importance and no one pitch is emphasized over the others. This creates a sense of equality and avoids the hierarchy of tonality. The twelve-tone system became a key component of the modernist movement in music and allowed composers to explore new and innovative ways of organizing pitch.

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6.

Pierrot lunaire is an example of

A.

Atonality
B.

Twelve-tone
C.

Neoclassicism
D.

None of these

Correct Answer
A. Atonality

Explanation
Pierrot lunaire is an example of atonality because it is a composition by Arnold Schoenberg that utilizes a musical technique called "Sprechgesang" or "speech-song," where the vocal line is spoken or sung in a highly stylized and dissonant manner. This technique breaks away from traditional tonal structures and does not adhere to a specific key or tonal center, resulting in a lack of clear tonal hierarchy. Therefore, Pierrot lunaire can be categorized as atonal, making it the correct answer.

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7.

A Survivor from Warsaw is an example of

A.

Atonality
B.

Twelve-tone
C.

Neoclassicism
D.

None of these

Correct Answer
B. Twelve-tone

Explanation
"A Survivor from Warsaw" is an example of twelve-tone music. This style of composition, developed by Arnold Schoenberg in the early 20th century, uses a twelve-tone row or series of pitches to create the musical material. It is a method of organizing music that avoids traditional tonality and instead focuses on the equal importance of all twelve pitches in the chromatic scale. In "A Survivor from Warsaw," Schoenberg employs this technique to depict the horrors and chaos of the Holocaust through dissonant and fragmented musical elements.

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8.

Alban Berg and Anton Webern were associated with which 20th century trend?

A.

Expressionism
B.

Impressionism
C.

Neoclassicism
D.

Nationalism

Correct Answer
A. Expressionism

Explanation
Alban Berg and Anton Webern were associated with Expressionism, a 20th-century trend in art and music that aimed to express intense emotions and subjective experiences. Expressionism rejected traditional forms and techniques, instead focusing on the inner world of the artist and the raw expression of their emotions. Berg and Webern were both composers and members of the Second Viennese School, a group of composers who pushed the boundaries of tonality and explored new forms of expression in their music. Their works were characterized by dissonance, atonality, and a highly personal and emotional style, aligning them with the Expressionist movement.

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