Assignment One Submitted

So, Part One is now completed, and my assignment submitted. I have decided to not complete the section on music theory which is sandwiched between Part One and Part Two as I am already very comfortable with this topic having studied it previously (and continue to do so) at length.

Part Two deals with music in the 20th century, beginning with a look at works composed between 1900 and 1945. As part of my studies for this first project, I watched a documentary from a programme called 'Keeping Score', about Stravinsky's Le Sacre Du Printemps, also known as The Rite Of Spring. This documentary (available at http://video.pbs.org/video/1295282238/) was very helpful in educating me on the background of this work, the reception given at its premiere, and some of the compositional techniques and ideas used.

The avante-garde nature of The Rite Of Spring caused uproar when it was first shown, at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. The solo bassoon which opens the work caused great confusion, as it was played in its extreme highest register. People were unsure which instrument was actually playing! Once the dancing started, in a style and dress quite unlike what the audience were accustomed to expect, pandemonium broke out, and the music was unable to be heard. The performance carried on regardless, with the dancers unable to keep sync with the orchestra. The Rite Of Spring gained notoriety as the greatest musical scandal of the time.