Musical nationalism took rise in the first half of the twentieth century in many regions of the world. Composers as diverse as Leos Janacek, Benjamin Britten, Silvestre Revueltas, and Lou Harrions sought to write music that was distinctly their own. In Central Europe and England, composers looked to move away from the dominant German idiom, […]
Author Archives: Andrew D Meyer
March
29
Twentieth Century Nationalism in the Music of Janacek, Britten, Revueltas, and Harrison
posted by Andrew D Meyer
March
11
Lee Konitz Transcription – There Will Never Be Another You
posted by Andrew D Meyer
Lee Konitz b. 1927 (Chicago) Alto saxophonist, Lee Konitz, has had a long and distinguished career as a jazz musician and improviser. He has created a very large and diverse record catalogue, though he is most commonly associated with cool and west coast jazz. Konitz was one of the very few saxophonists to be alive […]
March
10
Developments in Realism and Expressionism in the Vocal Music of Mussorgsky and Debussy
posted by Andrew D Meyer
Vocal writing at the beginning of the twentieth century saw a shift away from the traditional format of arias and recitatives, with a decreased emphasis on the bel canto style. Though composers found various avenues for their new styles, the overarching trend was toward realism and expressionism. These new styles manifested themselves both musically and […]
March
09
Stan Getz Transcription – Yardbird Suite
posted by Andrew D Meyer
Click the link below for a .pdf of my transcription of Stan Getz playing Yardbird Suite live at the Haig Club, Los Angeles in 1953 with Chet Baker. This tune appears on the album “West Coast Live.” Stan Getz Yardbird Suite – Tenor Saxophone – 2020-01-15 1324_1
March
08
Modernization of Jazz and the Kansas City Sound in the 1930’s
posted by Andrew D Meyer
In the 1930’s, Kansas City, MO played a significant role in the modernization of jazz. This included the development of riff-style compositions, leading to an increased role for the individual improvisor, the augmentation of small combos to form big bands, and the development of driving swing feel as the predominant idiom. As will be shown, […]
March
07
Serial and Tonal Elements in Richard Rodney Bennett’s Concerto for Stan Getz
posted by Andrew D Meyer
As a student of Pierre Boulez and a frequent visitor to the Darmstadt summer courses, it is not surprising that Richard Rodney Bennett’s music contains elements of serialism and other modernist techniques. What is unusual in the Concerto for Stan Getz, is that Bennett’s love of jazz and improvisation leads him to utilize elements of […]
March
05
Past and Future Music in Bartók’s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion
posted by Andrew D Meyer
Bartók’s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion Sz. 110 is an historically significant work because it contains music of both the past and future as well as one of Bartók’s most original compositional styles, his Night Music Style. The Sonata looks back to the sonatas of Beethoven, particularly the Waldstein Sonata, while also giving inspiration […]
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