I.

Returning with Interest: Dylan, Corligliano, and Postmodern Reworkings

A. Bob Dyland as Singer-Songwriter
1. Bob Dylan is considered one of the great songwriters of his generation
a) His lyrics have been studied to the point some colleges have classes devoted to his songs
2. Bob Dylan’s Mr. Tambourine Man has a few unique elements detailed on pg. 317
a) https://youtu.be/pMc8jcvTZdQ - Bob Dylan’s version of Mr. Tambourine Man
(1) This is a live recording from the Newport Folk Festival
B. John Corligliano and the Contemporary Song Cycle
1. John Corligliano writes very imaginative scores that blend traditional and modern styles.
C. Corligliano’s Mr. Tambourine Man
1. This work was commissioned by singer Sylvia McNair
a) When an artist commissions a work they agree to pay a composer to write music for what they want.
2. Corligliano settled on works by Dylan and decided to use the text but not the melodies
D. Corigliano: Prelude, from Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems by Bob Dylan
1. https://youtu.be/z6Gn3U8zyHI - Recording for pg. 319
2. Do not expect it to sound anything like the original Dylan version.
3. Notice the speech like delivery with some “natural” vocal style with slides between pitches
4. Read through the right column of the listening guide before hearing the track.
II. New-Romantic Evocations: Hidden and Program Music into the Twenty-First Century
A. A New Romanticism?
1. New-Romanticism - lush harmonic language of the late Romantic era: music is mostly tonal, chromatic, and
highly virtuosic, with innovative timbral combinations
a) Think of it as “modern” Romantic style music
2. This fits in with what has happened with previous time periods; using previous forms or techniques but with a
current or modern approach
B. Jennifer Hidden and blue cathedral
1. This piece is an orchestral tone poem.
2. https://youtu.be/v_uFd83ExMg - Performance of blue cathedral with an introduction explaining the piece
3. Consider how current this piece is having been written in 2000
4. The time signature is 5/4 which is asymmetric
a) Most time signatures will be in easy to divide groupings such as 4 or 6 or even 3 (3 groups of 2) a
grouping of 5 will have a bit of an “off” feeling
5. Major sounding triads are used but there isn’t a specific tonal center
III. Icons in Sound: Tavener and Postmodern Orthodoxy
A. Minimalism
1. This style relies on consonant musical elements repeated and gradually changed over time.
 a) https://youtu.be/55PILa-QKTY - Short explanation of minimalism in music
b) https://youtu.be/8zFi--dz4zg - Piano piece that is an example of minimalism
2. John Tavener introduced spiritual minimalism
a) Non-pulsed music inspired by religious beliefs and expressed in simple chains of modal or tonal
progressions.
(1) Non-pulsed means there is not a clearly defined beat or meter
B. Tavener and Greek Orthodoxy
1. Tavener converted to Greek Orthodox and created music for the services
2. Tavener’s music draws upon Greek Orthodox chants but also repetition of the ritual.
A. A Hymn to the Mother of God
1. https://youtu.be/Gk7J8T-IB_A - Recording for listening guide on pg. 331
2. Notice how free the rhythm is
3. Two choirs each SAATBB
a) Soprano, 2 alto parts, tenor, & 2 bass parts
b) Very thick texture
c) Think this would have passed the test for Martin Luther in chapter 17?
IV. Reality Shows: Adams and Contemporary Opera
A. John Adams and Post-Minimalism
1. Recently composers have taken inspiration from recent historical events
a) Typically these types of “historical operas” are more focused on intensity and complexity of the time and
emotions rather than be factually accurate
b) For example the Broadway show Hamilton changes a few things about when characters meet as opposed
to how it happened in reality.
B. Doctor Atomic
1. This opera is based on the development of the atomic bomb.
a) It focuses on the last few days before the first atomic bomb test.
2. https://youtu.be/ifw0RetVxQs - Recording for listening guide on pg. 335
a) The harmony is rather dissonant which matches the text
3. https://youtu.be/5LoUm_r7It8 - Here’s a John Adams piece that isn’t so heavy but rather fun. Might help to
clear the air after the previous recording.
4. John Adams also write an opera about President Nixon’s trip to China.
5. Really