John Adams & Dvorak - Joel Kaplan
John Adams and Dvorak represent the two poles of musical composition that can be heard in music halls today. John Adams’ style of music involves minimalist influences, whereas Dvorak composed in the 19th century and was influenced by the Romantics and Classicals.
The similarities between the two composers relate to the emphasis each placed on their own experiences and cultures with regard to their musical creations. John Adams spoke about his interest in creating an American canon that referenced specifically American history and culture. Dvorak incorporated folk melodies and songs from the Czech republic in his music.
These events relate to our topic because of the distinctive stylistic choices made by each composer (minimalism/American cultural influences and folk music) and the awareness of the importance of style and originality in art.
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Cultural Map
"The Original Topography of Manhattan Island from the Battery to 155th Street" From Report on the Social Statistics of Cities, Compiled by George E. Waring, Jr., United States. Census Office, Part I, 1886. (Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas-Austin)
Reading your posts, I am aware that for most of you, music history and music theory are not part of everyday lives. Here are a few clues: An academic/classical composer writes many different forms of music that include music for individual instruments, for chamber groups, orchestras and singers. The symphony is composed for a large orchestra, the Sonata for a single instrument or a chamber group and the Opera for orchestra and singers. The composer will choose the type of instrumentation depending on his project. The Opera is based on a story line, which resembles a myth. (Hiawatha,) Greek mythology, Shakespearian plays historical events.
Both composers where drown to the need to introduce a new myth. They are aware that they are carving an American National identity. They both worked /work in New York, where their work is well received. The style they chose reflect their era, the form is based on the instrumentation they used, and the content was for Dvorak, his old Bohemian landscape superimposed on his new world rhythms. For Adams it is a historical event that changed the world. I am not a musician and I cannot qualify to speak in musical terms, but as a listener I can sense the structure and can hear the discontent. Do not under estimate your own ability to analyze a topic. You may look into other aspect you are familiar with and read to compare and contrast.
If Adams music caused in some of you an aversion to minimalism, there is a reason for it. (remind me in class to explain). If you are curious you could listen to some Philip Glass or Babbitt music to hear a higher evolved form of the style. It is an academic music form that did not take root in popular culture. Dvorak on the other hand rose out of popular harmonic music style of his time, and had popular appeal. You should also be aware that the interdisciplinary approach to presenting music in these two events is a new phenomenon that reflects the need to explain an art form that is no longer popular. You will find very few such events to introduce a rock concert or an old musical.
I will urge all of you to read some of the books we have on e-reserve to compliment the topic and get a better idea on the fundamentals of music. To prepare us to hear the opera there are a few videos I have put as part of your on-line readings. Please do so before attending a class or an event. It will make more sense and give you more pleasure.