Lecture: Modernism in Music

Modernism in Music: Harmonic Relationships & Hybrids in the Music of Debussy, Messiaen, and Scriabin

Join piano faculty member Luke Ratcliffe as he leads a discussion that will focus on the breakdown of tonality and the radical development of new compositional techniques in the 20th Century. In addition to musical analysis, this presentation will also illustrate how these composers understood the world they lived in and what the music of their era came to symbolize to audiences then and now.

Featured works include Debussy’s ethereal Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Messiaen’s profound O Sacrum Convivium, and Scriabin’s intense Vers la Flamme.

This presentation is designed for everyone, especially high school students and older, whether you play an instrument or have a passion for music history. Don’t miss this chance to deepen your understanding of these musical innovators!