Bengtsson Fifteen Two Creative Song

Neils Viggo Bentzon (19 19-2000) was a renowned Danish composer, pianist and musical critic in the 20th century. As a prolific composer, he acquired credit within the realm of Danish music for the mastery, creativity and expressiveness embodied in his musical works. This thesis tries to conduct a general analysis and research on a polyphonic set of .Neils Viggo Bentzon, namely, his 15 Two-part Inventions (op. 157). Since its appearance in the end of the 9th century, polyphonic music has undergone a continuous development and has been experimented by composers of all ages. As a major genre of polyphonic music, invention is short in composition. As early as in the Baroque Era, the great German composer Johann Sebastian Bach first composed a set of 15 Two-part inventions, setting a landmark in the development of polyphonic music. Over 200 years later, Bentzon did it again, giving a brand new interpretation to this age-old music style with musical concepts of the 20111 century. On the basis of a thorough analysis of 15 the Two-part Inventions composed by l3entzon, this thesis gives a systematic and specific generalization over the revival of polyphonic music in the 20111 century, the innovative characteristics of 20~?century polyphonic music over those of the traditional, and the uniqueness represented by the works. This thesis also leads a profound analysis over these inventions in sociological and aesthetic terms. This thesis consists of these parts. The preface introduces the 3 objective of this thesis as well as the ways of collecting the relevant references. The main body of this thesis includes four chapters: Chapter I indicates the origin and characteristics of invention and gives a brief account on Neils Viggo Bentzon himself and his musical composition; Chapter II is an analysis of the 15 Two-part Inventions in terms of structure, counterpoint and tonality. This chapter also gives a trial classification of these inventions according to their subject, style and counterpoint techniques. Chapter III presents a detailed analysis on the style and innovation of Bentzon抯 inventions in the following aspects: the significance in the revival of polyphonic music in the 2O~?century; the features of neo-classicism embodied in the works; the general and unique characteristics of the 20th century polyphonic music represented by the works. The innovative features include three major points: the extension of basic techniques (cacophonic counterpoint, po1~抪honic overlap and mimic techniques), the extension of rhythmic sources (variable beats) and the development of harmony and tonality (the extension and disassembly of classical tonality and the extension of musical scales). Chapter IV is an analysis over these inventions in sociological and aesthetic terms, revealing the general trend of musical development in the 20(11 century. This chapter includes: the social root of 2O~?century music; The specific representation of 20(11 century music (pessimism and the spirit of exposure and criticism) and its association with literature and fine arts. Finally, the conclusion sums up the 15 Two-part Inventions composed by Bentzon. With modern composing techniques, l3entzon updated the traditional concept of invention, gave it new interpretations, and created new sound 4 effects. All...