10

MUSIC

QUARTER 1 – MODULE 1
MELC : Describes distinctive musical elements of given pieces in 20th
century styles.
PART I.

A. Introduction
Hello dear students! When you were in Grade 9, you were able to sing and perform themes of
selected songs from Middle Ages to Romantic Period. This year, you will understand the transitory
period in the music of the 20th century. Without the past, we will not have the music we enjoy today.
The start of the 20th century saw the rise of distinct musical styles that reflected a move away
from the conventions of earlier classical music.

B. Discussion
The songs that we love have gone through several phases of development. The evolution of
modern songs can be traced back to the early 20th century where they explored new forms and
sounds that challenged the previously accepted rules of music.
Composers and performers have a big role in defining these musical elements into their
compositions and performances. From basic elements, they made them into more complex but more
refining that is good to hear. These elements are evident in the following stages of music the
movement:

ELEMENTS OF 20TH CENTURY MUSICAL STYLE

1 Post-Romanticism
- late romantic characteristics extended into the 20th century
- expansive melodies, chromatic harmonies, lush orchestrations, affinity for programmatic elements
- ex. "Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor", Gustav Mahler
2 Electronic Music
- any type of music created whole or in part by electronic means
- may utilize recording devices (tape recorder), synthesizers, and more recently, computers
- ex. "Poeme Electronique", Edgard Varese
3 Jazz
- a uniquely American musical style developed initially by African Americans in New Orleans, Chicago,
and New York
- emphasized syncopation
- inflected melodies (including "blue" notes Flat3, Flat5, and Flat7) and improvisation
- ex. "West End Blues", Louis Armstrong
4 Serialism
- a compositional approach developed in the 20th century by the Second Viennese School
- any number of musical parameters (such as pitch, rhythm, dynamics, tone colour) are organized using a
specific ordering (set) that undergoes manipulation
- sometimes used as a synonym for dodecaphonic (or twelve-tone) music
1
- ex. "Structures", Pierre Boulez
5 Expressionism in music
- early 20th century German style
- marked by extreme dissonance, angular melodies, irregular rhythmic groupings
- explored deeply psychological themes
- ex. "Erwartung" op. 17, Arnold Schoenberg
6 Indeterminacy, aka aleatoric music
- a style that evolved in the mid-20th century
- relied on randomness and chance to determine some of the aspects of the music and its performance
- ex. "Music of Changes", John Cage
7 Impressionism in music
- late 19th and early 20th century French style associated most closely with the music of Claude Debussy
and Maurice Ravel
- often programmatic
- use of non-traditional scales: modes, whole tone, pentatonic
- 9th chords, parallel harmonies
- blurring of the metrical pulse
- ex. "Bolero", Maurice Ravel
8 Neo-Classicism
- a post WWI style marked by a return to absolute music and traditional formal structures
- cultivated a less emotional (more detached) sensibility
- ex. Symphony No. 1, op. 25 "Classical" first movement, Sergei Prokofiev
9 Minimalism in music
- a style of music that evolved in the latter half of the 20th century
- generally characterized by the seemingly endless repetition of short melodic patterns, complex cross-
rhythms, and a return to tonal/modal principles
- its adherents include Steve Reich, Philip Glass, John Adams, and Michael Nyman
- ex. "Six Pianos", Steve Reich
10 Neo-Romanticism
- generally, a late 20th century style
- a return to tonal principles, lush orchestration, and expansive melodies
- characterized by heightened emotionalism
- ex. "Oper und Drama", Richard Wagner
C. Readings
The early half of the 20th century also gave rise to new musical styles, which were not quite as
extreme as the electronic, chance, and minimalist styles that arose later. These new styles were
impressionism, expressionism, neo-classicism, avant garde music, and modern nationalism.
2
 Impressionism made use of the whole-tone scale. It also applied suggested, rather than depicted,
reality. It created a mood rather than a definite picture. It had a translucent and hazy texture; lacking a
dominant-tonic relationship. It made use of overlapping chords, with 4th, 5th, octaves, and 9th intervals,
resulting in a non-traditional harmonic order and resolution.
Expressionism revealed the composer’s mind, instead of presenting an impression of the
environment. It used atonality and the twelve-tone scale, lacking stable and conventional harmonies. It
served as a medium for expressing strong emotions, such as anxiety, rage, and alienation.
Neo-classicism was a partial return to a classical form of writing music with carefully modulated
dissonances. It made use of a freer seven-note diatonic scale.
The avant garde style was associated with electronic music and dealt with the parameters or
dimensions of sound in space. It made use of variations of self-contained note groups to change musical
continuity, and improvisation, with an absence of traditional rules on harmony, melody, and rhythm.
Modern nationalism is a looser form of 20th century music development focused on nationalist
composers and musical innovators who sought to combine modern techniques with folk materials.
A number of outstanding composers of the 20th century each made their own distinctive mark on the
contemporary classical music styles that developed. Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel were the primary
exponents of impressionism, while Arnold Schoenberg was the primary exponent of expressionism, with the
use of the twelve-tone scale and atonality. Bela Bartok was a neo-classical, modern nationalist, and a
primitivist composer who adopted Hungarian folk themes to introduce rhythms with changing meters and
heavy syncopation. Igor Stravinsky was also an expressionist and a neo-classical composer. He incorporated
nationalistic elements in his music, known for his skillful handling of materials and his rhythmic
inventiveness.

D. Examples
1. Impressionism
i. La Mer – https://bit.ly/3jhbmQe
ii. String Quartet – https://bit.ly/2WmFO2a
2. Expressionism
i. Verklarte Nacht – https://bit.ly/3ygiosv
3. Neo-Classicism
i. Peter and the Wolf – https://bit.ly/3jekSU4
ii. Concerto for Two Pianos – https://bit.ly/389wlxZ
4. Avant Garde Music
i. Candide – https://bit.ly/3gyr07R
ii. Music in Changing Parts – https://bit.ly/3DgZci3
5. Modern Nationalism
i. Visions Fugitive – https://bit.ly/3klYgjU

3
PART II. Activity Proper
Activity 1. Listening Activity and Drawing Activity: Works of 20th Century Composers
Directions:
1. Listen to excerpts of any of the following musical examples. Listen carefully to each excerpt and be able
to recognize the distinct musical style of each composer. Choose a composition that you like. Draw some
images that will interpret the title of the songs. Use some colors to make it livelier and more creative.
• La Mer – https://bit.ly/3jhbmQe
• String Quartet – https://bit.ly/2WmFO2a
• Verklarte Nacht – https://bit.ly/3ygiosv
• Peter and the Wolf – https://bit.ly/3jekSU4
• Concerto for Two Pianos – https://bit.ly/389wlxZ
• Six String Quartets – https://bit.ly/3DgoahC
• Candide – https://bit.ly/3gyr07R
• Music in Changing Parts – https://bit.ly/3DgZci3
• Visions Fugitive – https://bit.ly/3klYgjU
DISTINGUISHED PROFICIENT COMPETENT EMERGING
RUBRIC SCORE
(15pts) (13 pts) (12 pts) (10 pt)
Art work is neat
Art work is
and shows very
Craftsmanship

Art work is impeccable somewhat messy Art work is messy

little evidence of
and shows no evidence and shows either and shows smudge
smudge marks,
of smudge mark, rip, smudge marks or marks and rips, tears
rips, tears, or
tears, or folds. No rips, tears, or folds. and folds. Erasure
folds. A few
erasure lines showing. Some erasure lines lines showing.
erasure lines
showing.
showing.
Artwork shows a Art work shows
mastery of advanced good technique.
Technique/ Art

Art work shows Art work lacks

techniques in All objects are in
Concepts

some technique and techniques and or

composition. All correct place.
understanding of art understanding of art
objects are placed in Paper is drawn on
concepts. Paper is concepts. Paper is
correct space. Paper is leaving some
half-filled. left mainly blank.
completely drawn on undone
and shows background. background.
Artwork shows Art work shows
Artwork reflects
Artwork reflects high some evidence of little or no evidence
originality.
Creativity

level of originality. originality thought. of original form.

Student uses line,
Student uses line, Student uses line, Student does not use
shading or form
shading or form in a shading or form in a line, shading or
in an original
highly original form. slightly original form in a creative
form.
manner. manner.
Limited content
with limited
Ideas and Content

Substantial, specific Sufficiently elaboration or

There is no clear or
and/or illustrative develop content explanation. More
specific explanation
content demonstrating with adequate specific information
of answer to the
strong (deep) analysis elaboration or is needed or needed
question.
of the topics. explanation. to follow the
directions more
closely.

4
Activity 2: Impressionism or Expressionism
Directions: Remember that Impressionism gives the feeling of calmness and peace while
Expressionism expresses strong emotions, such as anger. Identify whether the characteristic falls under
impressionism or expressionism.
________________1. Late 19th and early 20th century
________________2. Beginning of the 20th century
________________3. Verklarte Nacht – https://bit.ly/3ygiosv
________________4. La Mer – https://bit.ly/3jhbmQe
________________5. String Quartet – https://bit.ly/2WmFO2a

Activity 3: Fill In Love With Music!

Directions: Fill in the table below to complete the 20th Century Composer’s Timeline.
Name of Composition Composer Type of Element
e.g. Bolero Joseph Maurice Impressionism
Ravel
"Erwartung" op. 17 1 Expressionism
2 Steve Reich 3
Symphony No. 1, op. 4 Neo-classicism
25 "Classical" first
movement
"West End Blues" Louis 5
Armstrong

5
 6
ACTIVITY 1
Answers may vary. Rubrics will be used.
ACTIVITY 2
1. Impressionism 4. Impressionism
2. Expressionism 5. Impressionism
3. Expressionism
ACTIVITY 3
1. Arnold Schoenberg 4. Sergei Prokofiev
2. "Six Pianos" 5. Jazz
3. Minimalism
KEY TO CORRECTIONS:
PART III. SUMMATIVE EVALUATION
A. Word Game

Directions: Unscramble the letters to form a word or words related to the music performance of the
20th century. Write the letters on the space provided.

1. RELACITOA

2. SOMPISMESRIIN

3. CRELONRITE

4. STOPMICRANTOMIS

5. ZAJZ

6. SALMIINIMM

7. ONECRITMOSANMI

8. MILISEARS

9. OPEMXRISNSESI

10. ENOLIIMSAMSCC

B. What’s in Me!
Directions: Complete the table below by answering the improvised elements or irregularities
observed in each stage of musical movements.

Improvised Elements of Music or Irregularities

Stages
Observed
Post- Romanticism
Electronic Music
Jazz

7
Serialism
Expressionism
Indeterminacy a.k.a Aleatoric Music
Impressionism
Neo-Classicism
Minimalism
Neo-Romanticism

C. Listening Activities
Directions:
1. Listen to the following compositions:
a. The Rite of Spring – https://bit.ly/38ccZbm
b.An American in Paris – https://bit.ly/3zjS2XS
2. Answer the following questions:
a. Give a description as to how it is played. Is it slow or fast? Somewhere in between? Is it long or
short? Simple or complex? Flowing and beautiful or overly repetitious? How was the dynamics, tone,
timbre, etc.? Provide an example or two to back up your claims.
b. What emotions are conveyed? Is it scary? Funny? Sad? Relaxed? Depressing? Dreamy? Why?
c. Identify what type of style is the music? Choose from the five styles discussed.

References:
A. Books
▪ Sunico, Raul M., et.al. 2015. HORIZONS Grade 10 Learner’s Materials Music and Arts
Appreciation for Young Filipinos. Quezon City: Tawid Publications.
▪ Banda, Samuel A., et.al.2020.Music – Grade 10 Alternative Delivery Mode Quarter 1 –
Module 1: Music of the 20th Century. Malaybay City, Bukidnon

B. Online and Other Sources

▪ DepEd LRMDS. https://lrmds.deped.gov.ph/pdf-view/16404
▪ https://youtu.be/-nPPwYPRJgY
▪ https://britannica.com

8
 DIVISION SELF LEARNING MODULES
(SLM) MUSIC 10 - QUARTER 1 – MODULE 1
ANSWER KEY: SUMMATIVE EVALUATION
A.
1. Aleatoric
2. Impressionism
3. Electronic
4. Post-romanticism
5. Jazz
6. Minimalism
7. Romanticism
8. Serialism
9. Expressionism
10. Neo-classicism

B.

C. Answers may vary.