Ives’ Approach to Music

The American composer Ives has often been associated with experimental music. Indeed, his works include polytonality, polyrhythm, tone clusters, aleatory elements and quarter tones. It is no surprise that the musician ventured into such territories, as the beginning of the 20th century was a fertile period for musical explorations and avant-gardism. As a matter of fact, his dates almost coincide perfectly with the ones of the leader of the Second Viennese School, Schoenberg.
Some of the composer’s most famous works include a symphony — A Symphony: New England Holidays — , depicting the four seasons through…