Lecture 22. Modernism and Mahler

Listening to Music (MUSI 112)

In this final formal lecture of the course, Professor Wright discusses Modernism, focusing on Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. He explores several musical reasons why The Rite of Spring caused a riot at its 1913 Paris premiere. Professor Wright then goes on to share with the class one of his favorite pieces, by Gustav Mahler, the orchestral Lied "Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen." After an enumeration of this piece's qualities, Professor Wright ends the class with a paean to classical music and an exhortation to all to preserve this great tradition.

00:00 - Chapter 1. Introduction to Modernism: Elements in Stravinsky's Ballet Scores
08:14 - Chapter 2. Creating the Dissonance and Irregularities in Rites of Spring
20:26 - Chapter 3. Mahler's "Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen": An Exploration
46:43 - Chapter 4. The Values of Saving Classical Music and Conclusion

Complete course materials are available at the Yale Online website: online.yale.edu


This course was recorded in Fall 2008.