Crackin' the Top 100

Several years ago, National Public Radio picked the 100 most important American musical works of the twentieth century. Here are three of my favorites:

1. Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings”

This piece has been labeled by many as the saddest song in the world—the “funeral” song. From its opening chords to its powerful, melancholy climax this piece masterfully portrays a sense of serene sadness. I have heard this song countless times, and every time I listen to it I am blown away by the simple beauty of the deep chords and flowing melodies. String instruments are unique in their ability to produce such inspiring, touching music and Barber’s decision to use only strings was perfectly made.

As such a moving, emotional song it has been used in many films, which the NPR clip discusses. Two of the most prominent films that used this piece are “The Elephant Man” (1980) and “Platoon” (1986). I watched the clips of the films that showcase this piece and both were powerful in their usage of this music. In the scene from “Platoon”, a group of American soldiers fighting in Vietnam board a

helicopter for safety and fly away. As they are ascending, they notice a fellow American soldier and friend left behind. He is running away from the enemy and as he runs, the song begins playing and the shot jumps back and forth from the men on the helicopter to the soldier running and dodging bullets below. Eventually he is shot in the back several times and falls to the earth, but not before raising his hands in the air, as if he were praying. It is at this moment that the Barber “Adagio” reaches its climax and the melancholy hope in the music mirrors closely the soldier’s fate. He dies, which is horribly tragic, but it is also hopeful as it provides an end to the meaningless fighting and suffering that he has had to endure. Barber will forever be remembered for this powerful work.

2. John Cage’s “4:33”

I had heard of John Cage prior to listening to this clip about “4:33”, but I knew little beyond the fact that he was a very avant-garde modern composer. He challenged what the world thought concerning the definition of music, and “4:33” is a perfect example of this. To have the audience simply listen to silence was bold and beautiful—there is so much noise around us all the time (even when we’re trying to be quiet) and isn’t that exactly what music is? Cage was brilliant in his recognition of this, and the modern music scene in twentieth-century America provided a perfect environment for him to channel these inspirations.

“4:33” is divided up into three movements. The first is thirty seconds long, the second two minutes and twenty-three seconds, and the third one minute and forty seconds. Of course no instrument is played during any of the movements, but it makes me wonder why or how Cage determined the length of each movement. Perhaps this was just another way of introducing an element of randomness into the song. Like other modernists of the day, Cage worked to present music in its raw form, free from personal and societal influence. His “4:33” is an American masterpiece because it accomplished this perfectly- you can’t critique silence.

3. George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”

Although I began playing the piano when I was seven years old, it was not until my early teenage years that I was introduced to the piano music of George Gershwin. I was instantly drawn to it because while it contained many elements of classical piano music that I had come to love, it was jazzier, more fun. This fusion of classical and jazz is a trademark of Gershwin’s work, and the NPR clip on Gershwin mentioned that he was further influenced by the tunes of Tin Pan Alley. A fascinating part of his music (which is especially apparent in “Rhapsody in Blue”) is the way it conveys a feeling of the hustle and bustle of New York City life.

The mere composition of such an enduring piece is enough to label Gershwin as a musical genius, but the fact that he composed the piece in three weeks leaves no doubt. Furthermore, he was only twenty-five

years old at the time. “Rhapsody in Blue” is an American staple because it is so American—it’s upbeat, original, and catchy. I love the way it bounces back and forth from theme to memorable theme. The radio clip mentioned that one of the major critiques of “Rhapsody” was that it didn’t follow an acceptable musical structure, but this is precisely why it was such a remarkable piece. It followed its own form, reflecting the changing scene of early twentieth-century American music.