Gustav Mahler

Gustav Mahler is born in Austria in 1860. He is famous for his nine(ten) symphonies and many songs. His symphonies are very long and large, for example, 3^rd symphony is over 100 minutes, and 8^th symphony was played by over 1000 people before. And other symphonies are about from 60 minutes to 90 minutes. Considering almost classical symphonies are within 30 minutes, we can listen to two or three classical symphonies during listening to his one symphony. I can’t listen to his symphony concentrating from start to finish. His one more symphony’s character is with vocal. 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, 8^th and 9^th symphony has vocal part. It is very powerful and moving. I like best 5^th symphony which is famous for 4^th movement. 4^th movement “Adajetto” is used in “Death of Venice.” Adajetto is very beautiful, quite and calm movement, it is played by only strings and harp. I feel relaxing during listening to this music.

Igor Stravinsky

Igor Stravinsky is the main modern composer, he is born in 1882. His main pieces “The rite of spring,” “Firebird” and “Petrushka” (these three pieces are called “three main ballet music) give much effect on classical music. Especially, valuation of the rite of spring is spirited for its novelty. In these piece, many novel techniques, expressions and orchestration. For example, complex rhythm , many discords and polyphony. Because of using these techniques, he could make pieces terrible and suspenseful instead of expressing beautiful melody.

And, he is called a chameleon because his style often change. He stopped using complex rhythm , many discords and polyphony at his middle period, then he write classical and baroque music. And he try to seek new expressions at his latter period, so he use novel techniques again.