Experience the genius and stunning originality of masterworks by the 20th century’s greatest composers. Follow the game-changing break with musical tradition that gave birth to a vast range of new musical languages, and immerse yourself in the glorious concert music of a turbulent century.
The Details
Great Courses favorite Professor Robert Greenberg of San Francisco Performances returns with one of his most provocative, most compelling, and most rewarding courses ever. In Great Music of the 20th Century, Professor Greenberg unfurls a huge spectrum of new works and material that have not been covered in depth in previous courses. Ranging across the 20th century in its entirety, these 24 lectures present a musical cornucopia of astonishing dimensions—a major presentation and exploration of the incredible brilliance and diversity of musical art across a turbulent century.
Taking a chronological approach, the course explores the fascinating gamut of 20th-century musical “isms,” from impressionism and fauvism to serialism, stochasticism, ultraserialism, neo-classicism, neo-tonalism, and minimalism, as well as the inclusivity and synthesis within concert music that embraced Western historical styles, folk and popular music, jazz, rock, Asian, Latin American, and other influences in the service of heightened expression. Through the panoramic view of the course, you’ll discover the genius of composers such as Webern, Antheil, Stockhausen, Bernstein, Takamitsu, and many others.
From the very first lecture, Professor Greenberg tackles the bugbear of 20th-century concert music directly, showing with remarkable clarity what these composers were up to, how to understand their compositional processes and visions, and how to appreciate and enjoy the sublime music this century produced.
For those familiar with Professor Greenberg’s previous courses, these lectures present a new approach to the musical excerpts themselves, and one that is aligned with the way people access music in the 21st century. Instead of playing musical excerpts within the lectures, Professor Greenberg provides easily accessible online resources to complete performances of all the works discussed, allowing you to explore them in their entirety, either while listening to the lectures, separately, or both. This approach offers the benefits of easy access to full performances of the works, plus a full 45 minutes of Professor Greenberg’s celebrated teaching and commentary in each lecture.
An important note about the videos in the lecture listings below
We (The Great Courses and I) could never have made the course had we been required to license recordings of all the music discussed within. (Most of the music, still under original copyright, would have been prohibitively expensive to license.) Instead, we decided to experiment and use links to music available for free online. We were all quite excited about the prospect: if successful, it would allow me up to make jazz and rock ‘n’ roll courses, once again repertoire that The Great Courses cannot afford to license.
Alas, the experiment was not successful: what appeared to be stable links went dead with dispiriting frequency. At first I tried to keep up by finding new links and publicizing them, but like Lucy and Ethel and that chocolate factory conveyer belt, it has been impossible for me to keep up. So, viewer/listener beware: if a link doesn’t work please find another. For what it’s worth, all the links in Lecture 24 continue to work just fine, thanks to the ongoing cooperation of the composer featured therein!
- 20th-Century Music: Be Afraid No Longer!
- Setting the Table and Parsing Out Blame
- Claude Debussy, L’enfant prodigue
- YouTube
- Debussy and le français in Musical Action
- Russia and Igor Stravinsky
- Claude Debussy, Nocturnes, “Fêtes”
- YouTube
- Igor Stravinsky, Petrushka
- “Russian Dance”: 08:35–10:59
- “Chez Petrushka”: 11:14–15:59
- YouTube
- Igor Stravinsky, Scherzo fantastique
- YouTube
- Igor Stravinsky, The Firebird
- “Infernal Dance of the Ogre Kashchey”: 32:12–37:18
- “Khorovode”: 20:17–24:32
- “Finale”: 42:56–46:30
- YouTube
- Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring
- Igor Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring
- “Introduction”: 00:00–03:11
- “Dance of the Adolescents,” first half: 03:13–04:32 “Procession of the Sage”: 13:08–13:50
- “Dance of the Earth”: 14:21–15:27
- “Game of the Rival Tribes”: 06:22–07:17
- “Grand Sacred Dance”: 28:48–33:20
- YouTube
- The Search for Nijinsky’s Rite of Spring
- YouTube
- The Paradox of Arnold Schoenberg
- The Emancipation of Melody!
- Arnold Schoenberg, Six Little Pieces for Piano
- (from 02:00 to 03:10 in the below-linked performance)
- YouTube
- Arnold Schoenberg, String Quartet No. 1 in D Minor
- Part 1, “Nicht zu rasch” (“Not too fast”): 00:00–11:58
- Part 2, “Kräftig” ( “Powerfully”): 11:59–22:21
- Part 3, “Mäßig” ( “Moderately”): 22:22–34:28
- Part 4, “Mäßig-heiter” ( “Moderately bright”): 34:29–41:58
- YouTube
- The Second Viennese School
- The “New” Classicism
- George Antheil, Ballet Méchanique
- YouTube
- Igor Stravinsky, Octet
- YouTube
- Igor Stravinsky, Pulcinella
- “Sinfonia” opening: 00:00–00:12
- “Sinfonia”: 00:27–00:33
- “Sinfonia” conclusion: 01:44–01:56
- “Tarantella”: 24:29–25:42
- “Vivo”: 33:03–34:32
- “Finale”: 36:51–38:52
- YouTube
- John Williams, “Bicycle Chase”
- YouTube
- Schoenberg and the 12-Tone Method
- Arnold Schoenberg, Variations for Orchestra, Op. 31
- YouTube
- Synthesis and Nationalism: Béla Bartók
- Béla Bartók, Allegro Barbaro
- YouTube
- Béla Bartók, Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste
- Part 1: 00:00–07:01
- Part 2: 07:03–14:29
- Part 3: 14:34–21:06
- Part 4: 21:09
- YouTube
- Béla Bartók, Piano Concerto No. 1
- YouTube
- Béla Bartók, Piano Concerto No. 2
- YouTube
- Béla Bartók, Piano Concerto No. 3
- YouTube
- Béla Bartók, Piano Sonata
- YouTube
- Béla Bartók, Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion
- YouTube
- Béla Bartók, String Quartet No. 2
- YouTube
- Béla Bartók, String Quartet No. 5
- YouTube
- Berber Drumming
- YouTube
- Ludwig van Beethoven, String Quartet in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131
- YouTube
- The Shining, “Room 237”
- YouTube
- America’s Musical Gift
- Aaron Copland, “Dance” from Music for the Theater
- YouTube
- Babatunde Olatunji and friends, “Fanga”
- YouTube
- Claude Debussy, “Golliwog’s Cakewalk”
- YouTube
- George Gershwin, An American in Paris
- UNCTV
- George Gershwin, Prelude No. 2 in C-sharp Minor
- YouTube
- George Gershwin and Irving Caesar, “Swanee”
- YouTube
- Igor Stravinsky, “Ragtime for Eleven Instruments”
- YouTube
- Jessye Norman, “Great Day”
- YouTube
- John Philip Sousa, “The Stars and Stripes Forever”
- YouTube
- Preservation Hall Jazz Band, “Tailgate Ramble”
- YouTube
- Robert Johnson, “Cross Road Blues”
- YouTube
- Scott Joplin, “Maple Leaf Rag”
- YouTube
- American Iconoclasts
- Charles Ives, Three Places in New England
- Part 1, “The ‘St. Gaudens’ in Boston Common”
- YouTube
- Part 2, “Putnam’s Camp”
- YouTube
- Part 3, “The Housatonic at Stockbridge”
- YouTube
- Conlon Nancarrow, Study for Player Piano No. 25
- YouTube
- Conlon Nancarrow, Study No. 3c
- YouTube
- Conlon Nancarrow, Study No. 7
- YouTube
- Elliott Carter, String Quartet No. 2
- YouTube
- Harry Partch, Barstow
- Text
- YouTube
- Harry Partch, Music Studio (music demonstration)
- Part 1
- YouTube
- Part 2
- YouTube
- The World Turned Upside Down
- Electronic Music and European Ultraserialism
- Edgard Varèse, Poème électronique
- YouTube
- Milton Babbitt, Philomel
- Text, written by John Hollander
- YouTube
- Olivier Messiaen, Mode de valeurs et d’intensités
- YouTube
- Pierre Boulez, Structures I for Two Pianos
- YouTube
- Schoenberg in Exile
- Stravinsky in America
- Igor Stravinsky, Agon
- Episode 1, “Fanfare”: 00:00–01:46
- Episode 13, “Pas-de-Deux”: 16:29–20:14
- YouTube
- Igor Stravinsky, Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments
- Part 1: 00:45–08:40
- Part 2: 09:07–18:05
- Part 3: 18:07–23:17
- YouTube
- Igor Stravinsky, Piano Sonata
- Part 1: 00:00–02:27
- Part 2: 02:30–06:16
- Part 3: 06:17–08:32
- YouTube
- Igor Stravinsky, Requiem Canticles
- YouTube
- Igor Stravinsky, Symphony in Three Movements
- Part 1: 00:00–10:14
- Part 2: 10:19–19:13
- Part 3: 16:14–22:17
- YouTube
- For Every Action an Equal Reaction
- György Ligeti, Atmosphères
- YouTube
- György Ligeti, Piano Concerto
- YouTube
- György Ligeti, Trio for Violin, French Horn, and Piano
- “Andante con tenerezza”: 00:00–05:38
- “Vivacissimo molto Ritmico”: 05:58–10:56
- “Alla Marcia”: 10:59–15:05
- “Lamento Adagio”: 15:13–20:30
- YouTube
- Hans Werner Henze, Sinfonia No. 8
- YouTube
- Iannis Xenakis, Pithoprakta
- YouTube
- Krzysztof Penderecki, Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima
- YouTube
- Luigi Nono, Prometheus Suite
- YouTube
- Stanley Kubrick, 2001 “Star Gate” Sequence (music composed by György Ligeti)
- YouTube
- The California Avant-Garde
- Henry Cowell, Aeolian Harp
- YouTube
- Henry Cowell, Ostinato Pianissimo
- YouTube
- Henry Cowell, The Banshee
- YouTube
- Henry Cowell, The Tides of Manaunaun
- YouTube
- Javanese Gamelan example
- YouTube
- John Cage, Bacchanale
- YouTube
- John Cage, Sonata V for prepared piano
- YouTube
- Lou Harrison, Double Concerto
- Part 1, “Grandly, but Moderate (Ladrang Epikuros)”: 00:00–08:08
- Part 2, “Stampede”: 08:13–15:49
- Part 3, “Allegro moderato (Gendhing Hephaestus)”: 15:51–22:54
- YouTube
- Morton Feldman, Rothko Chapel
- YouTube
- Rock around the Clock
- Buddy Holly and His Crickets, “Peggy Sue”
- YouTube
- Chuck Berry, “School Days”
- YouTube
- Elvis Presley’s Ed Sullivan Show performance on September 9, 1956
- DailyMotion
- Garner Eckler, “Money, Marbles, and Chalk”
- YouTube
- Jerry Lee Louis, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”
- YouTube
- John Adams, Harmonielehre
- Harmonielehre Für Orchester: Satz 4
- YouTube
- Little Richard, “Lucille”
- YouTube
- Philip Glass, Violin Concerto
- YouTube
- Steve Reich, Different Trains
- YouTube
- Steve Reich, “It’s Gonna Rain”
- YouTube
- Terry Riley, In C
- YouTube
- East Meets West; South Meets North
- Carlos Chávez, Symphony No. 2
- YouTube
- Chinary Ung, Spiral I
- YouTube
- Ginastera, Danzas Argentinas no. 1
- YouTube
- Ginastera, Danzas Argentinas no. 2
- YouTube
- Ginastera, Danzas Argentinas no. 3
- YouTube
- Ginastera, “Malambo” from the Estancia Ballet
- YouTube
- Heitor Villa-Lobos, Bachianas Brasileiras no. 5, “Aria”
- YouTube
- Heitor Villa-Lobos, Prelude No. 1 for Guitar
- YouTube
- Isang Yun, Violin Concerto No. 3
- YouTube
- Lucienne Boyer, Parlez-Moi D’Amour
- YouTube
- Tan Dun, opening sequence of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
- YouTube
- Tōru Takemitsu, A Flock Descends Into the Pentagonal Garden
- YouTube
- Tōru Takemitsu, November Steps
- Part 1
- YouTube
- Part 2
- YouTube
- Postmodernism: New Tonality and Eclecticism
- David Del Tredici, Child Alice (In Memory of a Summer’s Day)
- YouTube
- George Crumb, Ancient Voices of Children
- Part 5: 13:28–16:04
- YouTube
- George Rochberg, String Quartet No. 3
- Movement 1: : 00:00–06:51
- Movement 2: 06:52–09:56
- YouTube
- Movement 3
- YouTube
- Movement 4: 00:00–04:19
- Movement 5: 04:20–21:32
- Mahler quote: 06:29–07:30
- YouTube
- John Corigliano, The Red Violin Concerto
- Part 1,“Chaconne”: 00:00–14:34
- Part 2, “Pianissimo Scherzo”: 14:35–22:24
- Part 3, “Andante Flautando”: 22:30–28:56
- Part 4, “Accelerando Finale”: 28:57–38:34
- YouTube
- Luciano Berio, Sinfonia, movement 3
- YouTube
- Peter Maxwell Davies, Eight Songs for a Mad King
- YouTube
- The New Pluralism
- Aaron Jay Kernis, 100 Greatest Dance Hits
- Part 1, “Introduction to the Dance Party”: 00:00–01:50
- Part 2, “Salsa Pasada”: 01:52–05:17
- Part 3, “MOR* Easy Listening Slow Dance”: 05:18–12:31
- Part 4, “Dance Party on the Disco Motorboat”: 12:32–15:59
- YouTube
- Aaron Jay Kernis, Double Concerto for Violin & Guitar
- “Fast and Jazzy”
- YouTube
- “Adagio Molto”
- YouTube
- “Presto, sempre ritmico”
- YouTube
- Christopher Rouse, Concerto for Trombone
- YouTube
- Christopher Rouse, Gorgon
- YouTube
- Christopher Rouse, Ku-Ka-Ilimoku
- YouTube
- Christopher Rouse, The Infernal Machine
- YouTube
- Jennifer Higdon, Blue Cathedral
- YouTube
- Jennifer Higdon, Fanfare Ritmico for Orchestra
- YouTube
- Joseph Schwantner, Aftertones of Infinity
- YouTube
- Joseph Schwantner, Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra
- YouTube
- Joseph Schwantner, Velocities
- YouTube
- Martin Bresnick, Bird As Prophet
- YouTube
- Martin Bresnick, String Quartet No. 2, Bucephalus
- YouTube
- “Bucephalus”
- YouTube
- “Around the Sun”
- YouTube
- “Alexandrine”
- YouTube
- “At Jhelum”
- YouTube
- “The New Advocate”
- YouTube
- Thomas Adès, Asyla
- Part 1
- YouTube
- Part 2
- YouTube
- Part 3
- YouTube
- Part 4
- YouTube
- Among Friends
- Cole Porter, “I Get a Kick Out of You”
- YouTube
- Dana Seusse, “You Oughta Be In Pictures”
- YouTube
- Dave Brubeck, “Blue Rondo à la Turk”
- YouTube
- Oscar Peterson, “Boogie Blues Etude”
- YouTube
- Robert Greenberg, Among Friends
- Explore
- Robert Greenberg, And Goodness Lay Over the High Snow
- Explore
- Robert Greenberg, By Various Means
- Explore
- Robert Greenberg, Child’s Play
- Explore
- Robert Greenberg, Crazy Levi
- Explore
- Robert Greenberg, Dude ‘Tudes
- Explore
- Robert Greenberg, Fantasy Variations
- Explore
- Robert Greenberg, In Shape
- Explore
- Robert Greenberg, Iron Balconies and Lilies
- Explore
- Robert Greenberg, On Trial
- Explore
- Robert Greenberg, Piano Concerto No. 2
- Explore
- Robert Greenberg, Quasi un Madrigale
- Explore
- Robert Greenberg, The Passing Years
- Explore
- The Beatles’ Ed Sullivan Show performance on February 9, 1964
- Vimeo
- Tower of Power and Carlos Santana, “What is Hip?”
- YouTube
