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Was Charles Ives one of the first composers to experiment with music systematically?

  • Yes

  • No

  • Only in his later years

  • Partly

Answer

Yes, Charles Ives was one of the first composers to experiment with music systematically. Ives's music is often described as experimental because it breaks with traditional musical conventions in terms of harmony, rhythm, and form. For example, Ives often used polytonality, which is the use of multiple keys simultaneously, and atonality, which is the absence of a tonal center. He also used irregular rhythms and unconventional forms.
Harmony, Heritage, and Charles Ives: A Melodic Journey Through American Modernism

Harmony, Heritage, and Charles Ives: A Melodic Journey Through American Modernism

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