Vox Novus is inviting composers/sound artists to submit recorded works 60 seconds or less in length to be included in its ninth annual 60x60 project. 60 compositions will be selected to be played continuously in a one-hour concert. 60x60 is a one-hour-long show made by sequencing 60 pre-recorded pieces by 60 different composers, each piece a minute in length or shorter. Highlighting the work of a great many composers, 60x60 testifies to the vibrancy of contemporary composition by present a diverse array of styles, aesthetics, and techniques being used today ( http://www.voxnovus.com/60x60 ). 60x60 has received thousands of submissions from over 30 countries, produced radio shows, created multimedia and multidisciplinary events, and released several albums. During the concert each of the 60 pieces selected will begin precisely at the beginning of the minute, this will mark the end of one piece and the beginning of another. There will be no pause between the pieces. Works may be less...

Murray State University will be presenting an exciting night of acoustic and electronic works from emerging composers this Saturday at 6pm. Where Murray State University, Western Kentucky Performing Arts Hall (PAH) Time Saturday, 6pm Free Admission! Share and Bring a Friend Contemporary works by emerging classical composers Kyle Dixon and Alan Manning, new sound artists Daniel Apple and Corona Jiang, and additional student compositions from Cornelius Hocker, Ben Shelby, Barry S. Sharp, and Matt Grimsley. Works will cover everything from pop to piano, from techno to trios. You don't want to miss it! Bring a friend to the New Music Concert at Murray State!

Image via Wikipedia Electronic Music History, according to U2B Electronic music history spans well over a century. While many music history courses never even hit upon the basics of electronic music (ex. theremin or synthesizers), music technology has overtaken the globe. Composers need music technology to print their music, distribute their music, contact other composers, set up concerts, promote their music, and even to compose their music. Here is just a taste of electronic music, from the theremin to today. There are so many ways that technology and electronics have affected classical music in our time. The internet alone has revolutionized the music industry, making big music producers a dinosaur of the past and giving individual artists total control over their destinies. Enjoy this video venture into electronic music! You might never want to come back! Theremin Ondes Martenot ( Olivier Messiaen "4ème Feuillet Inédit") Precursor to Electronic Music: Ballet Mechanique ...

There have actually been many new music movements in the last half century of classical music . While technology has made many aspects of composition much, much easier (I don't have to sit by candlelight and transcribe fifty parts by hand for the next orchestra rehearsal) and has led to a lot of laziness (especially for those that are not well-trained), classical composers that have been formally trained and use the technology to better their music (and not just substitute for bad music) have forged new musical ideas. Here are a few of the musical movements in the last half century: • Minimalism (Kamien pg 486) • Neo-Romanticism and Neo-Classicism • Computer Music and Electroacoustic Music (pg 498 Kamien) • Intermedia, Multimedia, Mixed Media • Chance Music (Kamien pg 485) What is exciting is that technology is constantly opening up new doors to sound and music. Everything has not been invented. There are new technologies, hybrid instruments, computer lang...

Major Characteristics of the 20th Century Impressionism One of the most famous works that sound like the ocean is Claude Debussy 's " La Mer ." Debussy was a French impressionist, largely influenced by Eastern music. In fact, much of the music that he wrote incorporated musical elements from the East. For example, Debussy used the whole tone scale (a particularly "spacy" sounding scale") when he wrote. Close your eyes when you listen to "La Mer". You can hear the sound of the waves crashing, of thunder, and of giant ships being tossed about. Debussy created these sounds by using clever orchestration . Orchestration is simply choosing which instrument should play a certain part. For example, a melody might sound better with the flute than with the tuba. Listen to Debussy's "La Mer." What instruments make the wave sounds? What do you think about when you hear this piece? Listening Link: Debussy's...

Image via Wikipedia Introduction to Music History Final Exam Review 1 We have covered the following periods of Classical Music in depth: Middle Ages/Renaissance Baroque Era Classical Era 19th Century 20th Century For the Exam, you will be expected to know the following from each time period: 3 Major Composers 1 Major Composition w/composer 5 Musical Characteristics of the Time Period You will need to describe in essay form from a selected time period: The History One major composer One major composition Listening List: You will need to identify and briefly describe five musical works from the following list: Gregorian Chant Pachelbel Canon in D Bach Toccata and Fugue Mozart Symphony 40 Beethoven Symphony 5 Mussorgsky Night on Bald Mountain Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture Debussy La Mer Steve Reich Clapping Music Bernstein "West Side Story" John Cage 4'33'' Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin Scott Joplin Maple Leaf Rag Laurie Anderson O Superman

Image by drhenkenstein via Flickr Romantic Music Brief Characteristics of the Romantic Era : Larger Orchestra Program Music Nationalism More complicated texture, rhythm, tone color, form, dynamics Social status of composer as artist increased from the measly "servant" position of earlier eras. The populace began enjoying music, too, in greater numbers, due largely to the increase of manufacturing of the pianoforte. Composers of the Romantic Era Nationalist Composers Created music which glorified their culture and homeland. Jean Sibelius (Finland) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgwr3wrenkQ Louis Gottschalk, America The Banjo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKDyYiCXlOg Dvorak, Czech New World Symphony 4th Movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yctfXIqugXc Frederic Chopin ( Poland ) Polonaise in A Flat Major (the Heroic) The Polonaise was a popular dance of his native Poland. He wrote these works to decry Poland's occupation by the Russians and Prussians. http://www.youtube...