Listening Journal #3

Travis Thompson

MUS.110.0001

Week #12

Piece: Pierre Lunaire
Composer: Schoenburg
Time Period: Twentieth Century Classical (1900s)
Tempo: Adagietto
Meter: ¾

Shoenburg's, “Pierre Lunaire” is extremely slow paced, beats per minute is around 65-109. Due to this constantly changing pace and tone, I believe it is considered to be between adagietto and allegro. The piece has a meter of ¾, because each measure is divided into three beats. Since the tempo and tone rapidly change, I could imagine this piece taking place on a stage, acted exactly like a play.

In this particular piece of music, I can hear only the flute playing consistently throughout the entire piece, and also the voice of a woman telling a story through song and improvisation. The flute is the only instrument that is apparent to me when I listen to this piece. I could hear a piano and violin in the beginning of the piece, but the flute remained the trademark of the piece.

This particular piece produces a very slow, but lively experience for the listener. I can imagine this taking place on an opera stage, for it feels like I am sitting directly in front of the stage as she changes tone and tempo.

Pierre Lunaire compliments the 1900's with ease, for this piece shows how greatly opera rose during this era, and also the subtle usage of the piano created a surreal effect for the audience. In this particular piece I am receiving a polyphonic harmony, for the woman stands out more than the instruments during this performance.

Piece: 5 Movements for String Quartet
Composer: Webern
Time Period: Twentieth Century Classical (1900's)
Tempo: Allegretto
Meter: ¾

Webern's, “5 Movements for String Quartet” is a very fast paced piece, beats per minute is around 98-132. Due to this extremely fast paced piece of music, I believe it is considered to be between