schoenberg

In the early 20th century, the system of tonal harmony started to break down. The vertical accumulations of notes became too complex for our powers of memory and recognition, and some have suggested that this led to a loss of meaning and even humanity in music.

In this lecture we will discuss expressive uses of atonality, and also the return of familiar chords to music, but outside the grammar that used to give them their logic.

A lecture by Marina Frolova-Walker recorded on 18 May 2023 at LSO St Luke's Church, London.

The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/atonal-music

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In this lecture, we will delve into the history of opera because that is where the diminished seventh-chord gradually accumulated its expressive power as a chord for dramatic climaxes, demonic intrusions and generally for shock and horror of any kind. The augmented triad came to be used for the mysterious and supernatural. The symmetrical structure of these two chords allowed composers to veer off into unexpected keys or create new scales which have not shed their strangeness, even today.  

With Pianist Peter Donohoe CBE

A lecture by Marina Frolova-Walker recorded on 09 February 2023 at LSO St Luke's Church, London.

The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/diminished-augmented

Gresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: https://gresham.ac.uk/support/

Website:  https://gresham.ac.uk
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/greshamcollege
Facebook: https://facebook.com/greshamcollege
Instagram: https://instagram.com/greshamcollege

Iconic American conductor Gerard Schwarz offers his insights about music and conducting gained from an illustrious career at the pinnacle of the classical music world.

Topics:

• Maestro Schwarz' musical beginnings, the American Brass Quintet, and the New York Philharmonic
• Four steps to success: Talent, Hard Work, Say Yes, Stay Positive
• Tips for conductors including thoughts about becoming more artistic, even with young ensembles and score preparation
• The importance of listening to learn styles and listening to your own old performances to gain insight on the music
• The All Star Orchestra and the Khan Academy
• Keep analyzing yourself and the perception of your career to keep improving.
• The conducting institute at the Eastern Music Festival
• Jerry's Experiences with conducting wind band, particularly the Marine Band
• Schwarz' new book Behind the Baton: An American Icon Talks Music
• The relevance of music in modern society and the importance of music in education

 Links:

• Gerard Schwarz
• Eastern Music Festival
• All Star Orchestra
• Khan Academy
• Mahler: Symphony no. 8
• Schwarz: Above and Beyond
• Behind the Baton: An American Icon Talks Music

Biography:

Internationally recognized for his moving performances, innovative programming and extensive catalog of recordings, American conductor Gerard Schwarz serves as Music Director of The All-Star Orchestra an ensemble of top musicians from America’s leading orchestras featured in twelve television programs that have aired throughout the United States on public television, worldwide by internet streaming and is the basis for their Khan Academy education platform that has already reached over 4 million students. As in baseball, Schwarz created an “all-star” team of top musical athletes to encourage a greater understanding and enjoyment of classical music. All programs are now released by Naxos on DVD and are awarded four Emmy Awards and ASCAP Award. Schwarz also serves as Music Director of the Eastern Music Festival in North Carolina and Conductor Laureate of the Seattle Symphony.

His considerable discography of over 350 showcases his collaborations with some of the world’s greatest orchestras including Philadelphia Orchestra,  London Symphony,  Berlin Radio Symphony, Orchestre National de France, Tokyo Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, New York Chamber Symphony and Seattle Symphony among others.

Schwarz began his professional career as co-principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic and has held leadership positions with Mostly Mozart Festival, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and New York Chamber
Symphony. As a guest conductor of both opera and symphony, he has worked with many of the world’s finest orchestras and opera companies.

Schwarz, a renowned interpreter of 19th century German, Austrian and Russian repertoire, in addition to his noted work with contemporary American composers, completed his final season as music director of the Seattle Symphony in 2011 after an acclaimed 26 years a period of dramatic artistic growth for the ensemble.

In his nearly five decades as a respected classical musician and conductor, Schwarz has received hundreds of honors and accolades including Emmy Awards, GRAMMY nominations, ASCAP Awards and the Ditson Conductor’s Award. He was the first American named Conductor of the Year by Musical America and has received numerous honorary doctorates. The City of Seattle and named the street alongside the Benaroya Hall “Gerard Schwarz Place.

Context presents music from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, embodying the new trends in music as Romanticism began to fade.

The string orchestra KINETIC presents music about darkness and light in their season opening concert of 2016, featuring guest soprano Alexandra Smither, and a world premiere by Karim Al-Zand.