History: Avante Garde
April 2026
The phrase Avant Garde is a French term meaning “Vanguard” or a small group of troops who were sent ahead to scout the path for danger. The first to use this term in relation to the arts was Henri de Saint-Simon, a socialist philosopher, in reference to French visual art. Similarly to music, painters and sculptors were using new mediums and stretching the limits of what art really is. My favorite example of this is Duchamp’s “Fountain” which is basically just a urinal. He challenges the viewer to wonder what makes something art? Is it simply the fact that it’s in a museum or can anything be art? I like to relate this to music as well. What makes something music? Does it have to be played on a stage by an orchestra? Does it have to be easily replicated? Or can any sound simply BE music?
Avant Garde music is defined as any musical composition that pushes the boundaries of a certain instrument or genre and that challenges or alienates its audience. Avant Garde can be distinguished from experimental music because rather than creating something entirely new, Avant Garde composers seek to expand upon a pre-existing idea. A prominent Avant Garde composer is John Cage. Cage exemplifies Avant Garde characteristics in many of his pieces but especially in his prepared piano pieces. By adding elements to a pre-existing piano, Cage creates a new sound that challenges audiences to think about other uses for a piano.
Avant Garde music was created for social and political commentary. Early versions of Avant Garde music began showing up as people saw and experienced the horrific deeds committed in Word War I. This style solidified after the end of World War II as humanity tried to put their lives and world back together following those obscene acts of violence and brutality. Composers worked to help audiences bring awareness to themselves and the world around them through their compositions. John Cage did this with his piece 4’33” which is four minutes and 33 seconds of silence in which the audience becomes the music. Audience members had to sit and listen to the sounds of humanity around them and were encouraged in the silence to contemplate the meaning of those sounds.
Angel’s Bone by Du Yun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ2W3XjC_FA
I chose this piece even though it was written very currently because it combines punk screaming, primal guttural sounds, industrial percussive sounds and still labels itself an opera. I also feel that the intent of this composer lends itself to the Avant Garde message of challenging audiences. This work is about human trafficking and explores the topic from the point of view of two angels who have been trapped and forced into sexual slavery. Just a cool side note, the composer is featured in this video as the angel in black.
Sequenza III by Luciano Berio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGovCafPQAE
This piece is absolutely avant garde. The compositional style alone could be considered avant garde because of its lack of a staff. The use of muttering and laughing as a form of singing is avant garde as it could be considered an extended technique of the voice. And judging by the comments section this definitely makes audiences uncomfortable.
Are you experienced? By David Lang
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peKGGwNP7lA&list=PL8df9zNCRojixLtQ617od90jt-rTJwE7Q&index=89
This piece is hilarious, but it is also avant garde. The speech, calling attention to the audience member, the instrumental backing… all of it is avant garde.