Unit: Music

Theme: Sound Art

Introduction

Sound art is an artistic discipline in which sound is utilized as a primary medium. Like many genres of contemporary art, sound art may be interdisciplinary in nature, or be used in hybrid forms.

Learning Objectives

Understand the origins of sound art
Explain the nature of sound art
Gain awareness of the importance of sound art within the arts curriculum
Experience the creation of a sound art piece

III

Main Lesson

Henry Cowell: The Father of Experimental Music

Henry Dixon Cowell (March 11, 1897 – December 10, 1965) was an American composer, writer, pianist, publisher and teacher.Earning a reputation as an extremely controversial performer and eccentric composer, Cowell became a leading figure of American avant-garde music for the first half of the 20th century — his writings and music serving as a great influence to similar artists at the time, including Lou Harrison, George Antheil and John Cage among others.He is considered one of America's most important and influential composers

Sinister Resonance (1930)

Question 1

What could be considered atypical about Cowell's composition "Sinister Resonance?

Arnold Schoenberg

Arnold Schoenberg or Schönberg (September 13, 1874 - July 13, 1951) was an Austrian-American composer, music theorist, teacher, writer, and painter. He is widely considered one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. He was associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School.

"Degenerate" Art

Nazi leaders sought to control Germany not only politically, but also culturally. The regime restricted the type of art that could be produced, displayed, and sold. In 1937, Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels made plans to show the public the forms of art that the regime deemed unacceptable. He organized the confiscation and exhibition of so-called “degenerate” art.

Verklärte Nacht / Transfigured Night (1899)

A Survivor from Warsaw (1948)

Question 2

What is the difference between Schoenberg's two pieces shown above?

John Cage

John Milton Cage Jr. (September 5, 1912 - August 12, 1992,

was an American composer and music theorist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde.

Angel of Destruction

Cage fulfilled Schoenberg’s tenet that music should exercise a critical function, disturbing rather than comforting the listener. Cage was to the second half of the century what Schoenberg was to the first half: the angel of destruction, the agent of change.

Water Walk (1959) [min. 5:43]

Question 3

What is your first impression when watching John Cage performing this piece? Post your answer on Discussion Board.

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Article

Searching for Silence

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/10/04/searching-for-silence

(Paragraph 12) Cage dabbled..... (next 5 paragraphs)

A Note to Remember

All music is sound and all sound can be considered music if one expands one's own criteria about what music ought to be.

Case Study

Gustavo Matamoros

Small Sounds on a Table Top (2009)

Sound Consumption (1996, 2004) — from Music on a Budget by Gustavo Matamoros

En Residencia: Gustavo Matamoros (~) Tilde (´) Tilde(~)

According to Gustavo Matamoros there are two readings when making sound art: one is through the voices in the environment (what he calls a portrait), and the other is the landscape or personality of the place in terms of sound, in this case Little Havana's.

Kendall Sound Art Concert XIII: May 10, 2014

Question 4

After watching the videos above, please write a response to the various examples of sound art.

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VII

Activities

1 1. Students will work in groups to record sounds with the objective of making a sound-art statement.

2 2. The groups will create a lesson plan about this activity using the MDCPS' curriculum.

LINK: MDCPS Standards and Curriculum

POST YOUR LESSON PLAN ON DISCUSSION BOARD

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Information About Substitute Teaching

Miami Dade County Public Schools Substitute Teacher daily salaries in the United States

Temporary Instructor (Substitute) Procedures

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VIII

Jounaling

IX

Glossary

X

Sources

Degenerate Art. Holocaust Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/degenerate-art-1

XI

Students' Sound Work

Jessica Lester

Class Absence Makeup

1. I think that something that could be considered atypical about Cowell's composition "Sinister Resonance" is that he is playing off keys, that are sharp/flat. To some, they may think that it doesn't sound good, but he is able to see the artistic beauty in it.

2. The difference between these two pieces shown above is that A Survivor From Warsaw is very edgy, and also has someone's voice guiding the story line. It becomes a little softer and more peaceful in the beginning, but then becomes intense again. Transfigured Night begins very soft and smooth, and then becomes intense for a short amount of time, and then mellows back out again.

3. When watching him perform this, he seems extremely immersed in what he is doing. They are very creative when it comes to the different types of sounds that they produce while also putting on a show for the audience. I think it is very interesting how he is able to do this.

4. Cultural sound is very interesting, as it is based on the voices that are heard. This is likely heard through different languages and even the music and songs that are sung, and that are specific for a certain culture. As for the environment sound, this can tell a lot of information for someone, as they are able to be immersed in an environment that they may never had experienced before. Sound consumption uses the sounds made from a certain action, by just letting the action take place. Lastly, small sounds on a table top shows how something that may not be presumed as art can actually be art when taken in a certain context.

1 Allie Lutz, Maddie Terry, Jason Inerarity, Raymond Gill

2 Ryan, Alex F., Alex T., Megan, Lana, Ben, Alessandra

University Of Miami.m4a (155.615 KB)

Meaning: This is a piece about sounds of Gen Z, and the sounds they hear every day

3

Garrett Francis,Abby Gendell, Joel Keller, Rudy Stonisch, Logan Bright, Albion Shala, Allie Rodman

JOEL'S KEYS.m4a (190.2 KB)

Joel's Keys are the loudest sound heard on the tape, they are the center of our work. But, there are other contributing factors needed to make it a whole.

4

"Student Life"

Nick, Xinyi, Ella, Carolta, Nia, Luke, Ellie Attachment

This piece describes student life, and sounds you can expect to hear on campus.

University Of Miami 4.m4a (456.433 KB)

This represents students' normal and diverse campus lives, which not only includes studying time like typing but also relaxing time like eating snacks.

Music: Sound Art