Alban Berg and Anton Webern: Serialism Pioneers
Alban Berg
Alban Berg was a favorite pupil of Schoenberg. He is considered the most lyrical of the three (Schoenberg, Webern, and Berg), perhaps because of his friendship with Mahler. Mahler’s works, especially the 6th and 9th Symphonies, exerted a great influence on Berg, despite his music being strictly atonal. Even in his strictly twelve-tone second stage, Berg remained lyrical, ordering the series on a pitch with reminiscences, making his work more easily accepted by the general public than Schoenberg’
Read MoreRomanticism: Music, Composers, and Characteristics
Romanticism in Music
Romanticism in music tells a story through music, often following a set schedule. The romantic repertoire is present in almost all current media. Much of the music composed today has its roots in the 19th century.
Characteristics of Romanticism
The romantic artist stands out because they:
- Defend freedom and political expression.
- Emphasize the free expression of feelings over reason, contrasting with Classicism.
- Place the individual at the center, viewing the artist as a unique and
Baroque Period: Literature, Poetry, and Key Authors
Characteristics of the Baroque Period
The Baroque, the historical and cultural period immediately following the Renaissance, continued and concluded its artistic renewal but also represented a reaction to its aesthetic and ideological principles. The Baroque era was not just a historical phase but also a general movement in society. Renaissance optimism disappeared in the Baroque: ideals and art lost balance, serenity vanished, and anxiety was introduced into society.
Baroque literature adopted and
Read MoreBaroque and Classical Music: Composers and Characteristics
Concerto Grosso: An Overview
One of the most exciting types of Baroque music is the concerto grosso (a word which may come from Italian, meaning “get together”). We can trace the idea of the concerto back to the Renaissance. The seeds were sown in the Polychoral pieces written by composers such as Giovanni Gabrieli. The ideas of opposition and strong contrast led to the baroque concerto grosso. In this form, composers like Corelli, Haydn, and Bach contrasted two groups of instruments: a small group
Read MoreSpanish Theater: Poetic Drama, Independent Groups, and Protest
The Poetic Drama
Alejandro Casona: We consider two aspects of his theater: the fantastic and the educational. In La Sirena Varada, Trees Die Standing, and La dama del alba, he demonstrates his skill in creating a surreal and magical atmosphere through poetic language. In works like Nuestra Natacha, Casona attempts to communicate certain ideas, to teach.
Antonio Gala has excelled in all genres: poetry, novel, television screenplay, journalism, and theater. He entered the world of drama with The Green
Read MoreBaroque Music: History, Characteristics, and Forms
Chronology of the Baroque Period
The Baroque period followed the Renaissance and preceded Classicism. It spanned from the 17th century until the middle of the 18th century. Musically, it began with the emergence of opera, marked by Jacobo Peri’s Euridice (the first preserved opera) composed in 1600, and ended with the death of J.S. Bach in 1750.
Social Context
Absolutist monarchies were prevalent, with the King representing the maximum power. Society was divided into three estates:
- 1st Estate: King