KABARAK UNIVERSITY

School of Music and Performing Arts

Bachelors in Music Theory and Composition

Y3S2

Unit Name: Contemporary Church Music

BMCM 320

Task: To answer questions on the characteristics of 20th century music from

the YouTube link provided

Patrick Kangoga Rono - BMTC/MG/1699/09/20

Lecturer: Mr. Ernest Kisali

Date of Submission: 13-02-2023
INTRODUCTION
The following task looks at the provided video, comparing it with 20th century
music and contemporary music, looking at the characteristics that would go hand
in hand with the music types. This helps to understand more about the 20th century
music and it's relation to contemporary music right now.
TASK
20th Century Features
● Presence of a virtuotisic point in the music where the musician is allowed to
showcase their prowess, as seen in the bass guitarist
● A call and response style between the soloist and the orchestra which was
very present in the 20th century
● Use of microtonal tones or lack of a sure tonality which was a large part of
the 20th century which preceded jazz, thus there were a lot of experiments in
terms of tonality in the music.
● A lot of new experiments in terms of instrumental playing such as bowing
the bass guitar as can be seen.
Unusual and uncomfortable features in Contemporary Music
● Bowing of the bass guitar in contemporary music is unusual and would
therefore not be widely accepted by majority of the listeners of
contemporary music
● The presence of complicated, non-repetitive melodies which are not easily
memorable is unusual because melodies are preferred to be simple
● Presence of a lack of tonality, music inculcated with plenty of microtones
would be a problem as people wouldn't have an established centre in terms
of key to go back to, therefore complicating contemporary music
● The orchestra can also be regarded as a new and uncomfortable features
were it to be in contemporary music as most of the listeners are not used to
orchestras in terms of contemporary music but rather classical music.