20 CENTURY MUSICAL STYLES:

TH

ELECTRONIC AND CHANCE

MUSIC
The musical styles that evolved in the modern era were
varied. Some of these were short-lived, being
experimental and too radical in nature, while others
found an active blend between the old and the new.

New inventions and discoveries of science and

technology have led to continuing developments in the
field of music. Electronic devices such as the early
cassette tape recorders; players for compacts discs
(CDs), video compact discs (VCDs), and digital video
discs (DVDs); MP3 and MP4 players
Late 19th Century to Early 20th Century
The ability to record sounds is often connected to the
production of electronic music, but not absolutely
necessary for it. The earliest known sound recording
device was the phonautograph, patented in (1857) by
Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville. It could record
sounds visually, but was not meant to play them
back.
“ELECTRONIC
MUSIC”
Electronic music is a genre of
music that employs electronic
musical instruments, digital
instruments, or circuitry-based
music technology in its creation.
It includes both music made using electronic and
electromechanical means (electroacoustic music).
Examples of electromechanical sound
producing devices include:
Telharmonium, Hammond organ, and the
electric guitar. Purely electronic sound
production can be achieved using devices such
as the Theremin, sound synthesizer, computer,
amplifiers, tape recorders and loud speakers
Electronic music was once associated almost
exclusively with Western art music but from the
late 1960s on the availability of affordable
music technology meant that music produced
using electronic means became increasingly
common in the popular domain. Today
electronic music includes many varieties and
ranges from experimental art music to popular
forms such as electronic dance music.
Example of eletronic
music
● For Five Percussion and Tape
● SYNCHRONISMS NO.5
● From Mario Davidovsky
EDGARD VARESE (1883-1965)
 EDGARD VARESE (1883-1965)
Edgard Varèse, original name Edgar Varèse, (born Dec.
22, 1883, Paris, France—died Nov. 8, 1965, New
York,U.S), He was considered as Innovative French-
born American composer and innovator in 20th-century
techniques of sound production.
-Electronic resources earned him the title “Father of
Electronic music”

-He invented the term “ organized sound” which means that

certain timbre and rhythm can be grouped together in order
to capture a new definition of sound

-Varèse actively promoted performances of works by other

20th-century performers and founded the International
Composers’ Guild in 1921 and the Pan-American
Association of Composers in 1926
POEME ELECTRONIQUE
EDGARD VARESE
KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN ( Born
1928)
KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN (1938)
Karlheinz Stockhausen was a German
composer of the 20th and the early 21st
Century. He is remembered for his
‘compositional series’ and his analytical
contributions to music theory.
KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN (1928)
● Stockhausen started composing irregularly in 1950. Many
of his publications from the 1970s, such as “Chore fur
Dores” and “Drie Lieder”, were written in 1950.
● He also use ‘graphical notation’, which was a style of
notation that could be altered to suit the artist, also made
headlines.
● Stockhausen wrote 370 individual works.
 STUDY II
KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN
 CHANCE MUSIC
Chance music refers to a style in which the piece sounds different
at every performance because of the random techniques of
production, including the use of ring modulators or natural
elements that become a part of the music
The term “chance” or “aleatoric” music refers to any sort of
music that includes some components left to chance, or parts of a
composed work left open for interpretation. This adds random
and exciting elements to the whole process, as well as makes
listeners’ experiences more enjoyable.
 HISTORY OF CHANCE MUSIC

As it is formally known, Aleatoric music can

be traced back to the Renaissance and
Baroque periods, where pieces were written
with musical notation, leaving some of the
performance choices up to the composer.
JOHN CAGE (1912-
1992)
 JOHN CAGE(1912-
1992)
John Milton Cage Jr. (September 5, 1912 – August 12, 1992) was
an American composer and music theorist. A pioneer of
indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard
use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of
the post-war avant-garde. Critics have lauded him as one of the
most influential composers of the 20th century. He was also
instrumental in the development of modern dance,
 JOHN CAGE(1912-
1992)
- Was known as one of the 20th century composers with
the widest array of sounds in his works
- He experimented with what came to be known as
“Chance Music”
- He became famous for his composition (Four Minutes
and 33 Seconds) a chance musical work that instructed
the pianist to merely open the piano lid
CONCERT FOR PIANO AND ORCHESTRA,
1958
JHON CAGE
20 CENTURY MUSICAL STYLES:
TH

ELECTRONIC AND CHANCE

MUSIC