For part I, briefly comment on each individual piece of music, what might have caught your ear and what surprises you discovered in each piece.
1.Shostakovich string quartet #8 the Second Movement: Early to the mid-20th century: Is this a stereotypical slow and gentle piece of classical music for strings as so many would claim? Why or why not?
2. Barbara Hannigan sings El misterio de la macabre Mysteries of the Macabre. The conductor and musicians must really pay attention to the music written by Ligeti. This music is not new:
3. The composer uses a 4/4 meter but also uses ¾ meter and 5/4 meter, Yes, it’s late 20th-century classical music.
4. Henry Cowell’s “The Banshee” . Finally some piano music from early 20th century classical music. What might be at least one or two music elements that you are able to identify? What is your reaction to this experimental classical music work from over 100 years ago? There are no “wrong” answers.
