Western classical tradition since 1910

The AQA strands

• The orchestral music of Copland.
• British music of Arnold, Britten, Maxwell Davies and Tavener.
• The orchestral music of Kodály and Bartók.
• The minimalism of Adams, Reich and Riley.

20th-century styles

• Copland wrote music with an American sound, using folk tunes, open fifths, syncopation and bright orchestration, such as in his ballets.
• Kodály and Bartók used folk music from Hungary, with modal melodies, irregular rhythms and dissonance.
• British composers such as Britten wrote operas and choral music; Tavener's music is often slow and spiritual.

Minimalism

• Minimalism uses short repeated patterns (loops or cells) that change very gradually.
• Techniques include phasing (the same pattern played at slightly different speeds so the parts drift apart), additive and subtractive melody (adding or removing notes), and layering.
• Harmony changes slowly, and there is often a steady pulse. Reich, Riley and Adams are key minimalists.

Other modern techniques

• Atonality, dissonance, irregular metres, unusual playing techniques, and music technology.

Key terms

Minimalism

A style built on short repeated patterns that change gradually.

Phasing

The same pattern played at slightly different speeds so the parts drift apart.

Additive melody

A pattern that grows by adding notes each time.

Cell

A short musical idea used as a building block.

Open fifth

Two notes a fifth apart with no third, giving a bare sound.

Irregular metre

A time signature with an unusual number of beats, such as 7/8.