Listening Journals for Music Since 1945

We've finally reached the last day of classes in the spring 2009 semester, and so the students have just published their last listening journal. The music for this journal is perhaps the most unfamiliar to the students and to you, but offers a world of unique sounds, such as this clip from John Oswald's "Plunderphonics" version of Stravinsky's familiar Rite of Spring:

You can read about Plunderphonics in several of the journals this time.

We hope you have enjoyed this semester's exploration of music off the beaten path. And as always, feel free to join in our conversation.

1900-1945 Listening Journals

During Spring Break, diligent music history students spent time writing thought-provoking blog postings instead of relaxing and vacationing. Alright, perhaps they did not spend the entire week listening to music and responding to it in writing, but they certainly put much time and attention into these postings which are among the most provocative they have written. Be certain to go to their blogs, read their thoughts, and join in our conversation about music that often gets overlooked but deserves a second glance.

Romantic Listening Journals

I'm a bit behind this week, but do not want to forget to point you to the Romantic listening journals which are now posted and commented on for your enjoyment. You'll read several takes on Albéniz’s Suites españolas, a give and take on historicity in music through Louis Spohr's Historical Symphony, and be exposed to the fascinating (and undervalued) music of Anthony Philip Heinrich. Go on and read a few. Where else will you learn about The Ornithological Combat of Kings?

Classical Listening Journals

The first round of listening journals is now available from the 352WI students this spring. You'll find a wide variety on the blogroll to your right, from Mozart's flue and harp concerto to a little known opera called The Indian Princess by John Bray. Take a few moments, read some of the responses to these entries especially, and perhaps take the time to join in our ongoing conversation about music.

Welcome to a New Year

It's that time of year again, when schools starts back after a long winter's nap and students are eager to share their learning. And so it is here at 352's blog. This blog is for students involved in a writing intensive course at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Here in a few days I'll list the new blog postings by these intrepid eight students, postings that explore music from Western musical history that perhaps you've never encountered before.

So until that time, take a few minutes and visit their blogs, get to know them. And we'll be back in a few days with a brand new set of musical blogs on the Classical Era.

Music since 1945 Listening Journals Now Up

The years since 1945 have witnessed an explosion of music, from radical alterations to jazz and "classical" music to the rise of popular genres from rock to hip-hop. Recording technology has changed how we experience that music and, in many ways, fundamentally shaped it as well. For this last listening journal, the class looked at some of the more off-the-beaten path works and I think you'll find their findings and impressions intriguing. As always, these blogs can be found by clicking the links on the right-hand side of the page.

Derek Jenkins: Harry Partch’s The Bewitched and Shulamit Ran's Excursions

Edgar Palacios: Philip Glass’s Einstein on the Beach

Jacque Conover: Ben Johnston’s Fourth String Quartet (Amazing Grace) and Meredith Monk’s Dolmen Music

Karen Anton: Libby Larsen'Deep Summer Music and Harry Partch’s The Bewitched

Katie Kalinowski: Ben Johnston’s Fourth String Quartet (Amazing Grace) and Arnold Schoenberg's A Survivor from Warsaw

Marcus Wiggins: Arnold Schoenberg's A Survivor from Warsaw and John Zorn’s Cat O’ Nine Tails

Mary Ann Lucas: La Monte Young's The Well-Tuned Piano

Mike Herrera: Pauline Oliveros's Sound Patterns and Ben Johnston’s Fourth String Quartet (Amazing Grace)

Paul Shinn: Ben Johnston’s Fourth String Quartet (Amazing Grace) and John Zorn’s Cat O’ Nine Tails

Peter Lawless: John Oswald's Plunderphonics and Alvin Lucier's I Am Sitting In A Room

Richard Gibson: Philip Glass’s Einstein on the Beach

Tom Marks: Meredith Monk's Dolmen Music and Mikel Rouse's Dennis Cleveland

Music from 1900-1945 Listening Journals Now Up

In the early 20th century, many composers reacted against Romanticism in their compositions. They looked for ways to advance music while not replicating what had come before. This set of listening journals shows that listeners today react just as strongly to those reactions as the original composers reacted to Romanticism. Reactionary reactions? Persuasive reading in any event:

Derek Jenkins: William Walton's Facade and Alexander von Zemlinsky's Lyric Symphony

Edgar Palacios: Mexican Orchestral Music and works by Carlos Chavez

Jacque Conover: Lucille Field singing songs by American women composers and William Walton's Facade

Karen Anton: William Walton's Facade and Alexander von Zemlinsky's Lyric Symphony

Katie Kalinowski: Zoltán Kodály's Psalmus Hungaricus and Carl Nielsen's Clarinet Concerto

Kevin Sweet: Selections from Heitor Villa Lobos's Bachianas Brasileiras and Vivaldiana by Gian Francesco Malipiero

Marcus Wiggins: Alexander von Zemlinsky's Lyric Symphony and Carl Nielsen's Clarinet Concerto

Mary Ann Lucas: Selected works of Marion Bauer and Vivaldiana by Gian Francesco Malipiero

Mike Herrera: Selected works of Marion Bauer and Vivaldiana by Gian Francesco Malipiero

Paul Shinn: The Hall Johnson Songbook and selected works of Marion Bauer

Peter Lawless: Mexican Orchestral Music and slected works of Marion Bauer

Richard Gibson: Selections from Heitor Villa Lobos's Bachianas Brasileiras and Vivaldiana by Gian Francesco Malipiero

Tom Marks: Karol Szymanowski's King Roger