Serialism

Total serialism as a concept, has progressed beyond the twelve-tone technique of composers Schoenberg and Webern, and since the 1950s it has been constantly developed. Today, it refers to far more than just a technical process for composing, rather it offers one possibility of creatively integrating knowledge on man and nature into works of art. On all levels of artificial, man-made creations - from musical compositions to architectonic designs - it allows properties and dimensions to be systematically organised, with criteria such as mass and proportions playing decisive roles. Markus Bandur (born in 1960) studied science of music, philosophy and history and now teaches at the universities of Freiburg i.Br, Berne and Kassel

What is serialism? Defended by enthusiastic champions and decried by horrified detractors, serialism was central to twentieth-century art music, but riven, too, by inherent contradictions. The term can be a synonym for dodecaphony, Arnold Schoenberg's 'method of composing with twelve tones which are related only to one another'. It can be more expansive, describing ways of composing systematically with parameters beyond pitch - duration, dynamic, and more - and can even stand as a sort of antonym to dodecaphony: 'Schoenberg is Dead', as Pierre Boulez once insisted. Stretched to its limits, it can describe approaches where sound can be divided into discrete parameters and later recombined to generate the new, the unexpected, beginning to blur into a further antonym, post-serialism. This Companion introduces and embraces serialism in all its dimensions and contradictions, from Schoenberg and Stravinsky to Stockhausen and Babbitt, and explores its variants and legacies in Europe, the Americas and Asia.

First Published in 2001. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Serial or 12-tone music has proved to be an enduring 20th century style that has generated a wide range of writings. This much-needed work provides the only comprehensive, up-to-date guide to research on serial music, offering an annotated bibliography with nearly 500 citations from books and journals from 1950 to 1995.

"Postmodernism" has become the buzzword of contemporary society. Yet it remains baffling in its variety of definitions, contexts and associations. Beginning Postmodernism aims to offer clear, accessible and step-by-step introductions to postmodernism across a wide range of subjects. It encourages readers to explore how the debates about postmodernism have emerged from basic philosophical and cultural ideas. With its emphasis firmly on "postmodernism in practice," the book contains exercises and questions designed to help readers understand and reflect upon a variety of positions in the following areas of contemporary culture: philosophy and cultural theory; architecture and concepts of space; visual art; sculpture and the design arts; popular culture and music; film, video and television culture; and the social sciences.

Introduction. The Informal Adès -- The Glossary -- The Twelve Tones -- The Song Inside Your Mind : The "New Object" of The Tempest -- The Dilemmas of Musical Surrealism -- The Great Beyond.

Stravinsky's work spanned the major part of the twentieth century and engaged with nearly all its principal compositional developments. This Companion reflects the breadth of Stravinsky's achievement and influence in essays by leading international scholars on a wide range of topics. It is divided into three parts dealing with the contexts within which Stravinsky worked (Russian, modernist and compositional), with his key compositions (Russian, neoclassical and serial), and with the reception of his ideas (through performance, analysis and criticism). The volume concludes with an interview with the leading Dutch composer Louis Andriessen and a major re-evaluation of 'Stravinsky and Us' by Richard Taruskin.

A clear, non-technical introduction to serialism - a key topic in music studies for both undergraduate and graduate students.