1952 was the year that serialism — an experimental technique spearheaded by the avant-garde teachings of the Darmstadt School — began to take shape. The genre deconstructed high modernism into a mathematical formula based on tone rows and chromatic theory. Though there would be far better serialist music to come later in the decade, 1952 offered a vivid look into classical music’s extreme far-left philosophy.
4’33”
Artist: John Cage
Genre: Experimental
Grade: A
The funniest musical joke ever composed. If you don’t quite understand it, simply watch a live performance. With this “composition,” John Cage essentially ended postmodernism before it could even begin — the be-all, end-all minimalist point-of-no-return.
Anything can be music. Even nothing. For 4 minutes 33 seconds, at least.
Piano Sonata No. 1, Op. 22
Artist: Alberto Ginastera
Genre: Avant-Garde Classical
Grade: A-
Alberto Ginastera (the “Argentine Bartók”) was no doubt a huge inspiration upon prog-rock keyboardist Keith Emerson. There’s even a cover version of a Ginastera piano concerto on ELP’s 1973 LP, Brain Salad Surgery. My advice to any lover of music would be to ignore the pretentious art-rockers and go straight to the source — Ginastera was one of South American music’s premier exports.
Symphony-Concerto
Artist: Sergei Prokofiev
Genre: Neoclassical
Grade: A-
As far as final masterpieces go, Prokofiev’s concerto for cello and orchestra (along with his Symphony No. 7) is a proper swansong. It wasn’t until early in the second movement that I became fully enveloped by the piece, but it quickly put me under its spell after that. Late-period Prokofiev never disappoints.
Kreuzspiel
Artist: Karlheinz Stockhausen
Genre: Serialism
Grade: A-
Pointilist serialist modernist songform by a young Darmstadt vanguard. The score calls for an oboist, bass clarinetist, pianist and a handful of percussionists.
Symphony No. 7
Artist: Henry Cowell
Genre: Neoclassical
Grade: B+
The second movement of Henry Cowell’s Seventh Symphony has an interesting impressionistic rhythm, achieving the dreamlike state (minus the cacophony) of his early solo piano work. The rest of the symphony, however, finds Cowell at his most average. He is only compelling when actively pushing boundaries.
Symphony-Concertante
Artist: Gail Kubik
Genre: Avant-Garde Classical
Grade: B+
Despite being complex, modernist, a Pulitzer Prize-winner, etc., Gail Kubik’s Symphony Concertante seems to go nowhere. Nevertheless, the second movement (subtitled “Quietly”) unlocks a rare ambient majesty.
Due Pezzi
Artist: Luciano Berio
Genre: Serialism
Grade: B
A major composer of Italian experimental music during the postwar era, Luciano Berio was one of serialism’s most radical figures. Nevertheless, “Due Pezzi” is uncharacteristically “safe,” especially by Berio’s standards.
Espana en el Corazon
Artist: Luigi Nono
Genre: Serialism
Grade: B
The other major composer of Italian experimental music during the postwar era, Luigi Nono also was one of serialism’s most radical figures. Nevertheless, “España en el Corazón” is a little too radical, even by Nono’s standards.