Post-Tonal Affinities in Piano Works of Bartók, Chen, and Crumb

by Monica Kang, Elliot Antokoletz (Editor)

Overview

The book explores cellular pivots as a new means of progression, functional tonality having disappeared in much of contemporary music. Béla Bartók can be seen as a kind of father figure to the other two composers, Chen Yi and George Crumb, in terms of their stylistic, technical, and even philosophical connections. The musical affinities of all three composers reflect a larger body of post-tonal music. Cell constructions and their pivotal motions span the gamut from traditional/asymmetrical to more abstract/symmetrical formations. This study provides insight into universal principles of the post-tonal era and reveals a broader evolution of the musical language as represented by the three composers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783631676455
Publisher:	Peter Lang GmbH, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften
Publication date:	07/04/2016
Pages:	227
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x (d)

About the Author

Monica Kang received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from The University of Texas at Austin. She also holds dual bachelor degrees in math and music from Northwestern University. Her research focuses on the affinities between music and other disciplines.

Table of Contents

Contents: Late romanticism to post-tonal era – Cellular pivots – Modality and polymodality – Folk tunes and transformations – Cellular transformations – Pentatony – Octatonicism – Hungarian, Chinese, and American musical idioms – East-West musical synthesis – Jazz inspiration.