1.2 Expressionism

Expressionism emerged in early 20th century music as a reaction against romanticism and impressionism. It reflected broader cultural shifts towards introspection and psychological exploration, developing alongside similar movements in visual arts and literature.

Key characteristics included intense emotions, distortion, and rejection of traditional forms. Expressionist composers like Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern revolutionized musical language through atonality, dissonance, and innovative techniques, influencing avant-garde and experimental music throughout the 20th century.

Origins of expressionism

• Emerged in early 20th century as a reaction against romanticism and impressionism in music
• Reflected broader cultural shifts towards introspection and psychological exploration
• Developed alongside expressionist movements in visual arts and literature, sharing similar aesthetic goals

Historical context

Top images from around the web for Historical context

• 

  Expressionism - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Sigmund Freud LIFE.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Expressionism - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Sigmund Freud LIFE.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 2

Top images from around the web for Historical context

• 

  Expressionism - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Sigmund Freud LIFE.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Expressionism - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  File:Sigmund Freud LIFE.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 2

• Arose during period of social and political upheaval in Europe (World War I, rise of modernism)
• Influenced by Freudian psychoanalysis and exploration of the subconscious mind
• Coincided with scientific advancements challenging traditional views of reality (Einstein's theory of relativity)

Influences from other arts

• Drew inspiration from expressionist paintings (works of Edvard Munch, Wassily Kandinsky)
• Incorporated elements of expressionist theater (August Strindberg, Frank Wedekind)
• Shared thematic concerns with expressionist literature (Franz Kafka, Georg Trakl)

Key characteristics

• Focused on conveying subjective emotional experiences rather than objective reality
• Emphasized individual expression over adherence to traditional musical forms
• Sought to evoke visceral responses in listeners through unconventional techniques

Intense emotions

• Prioritized raw, unfiltered emotional expression in musical compositions
• Explored extreme psychological states (anxiety, alienation, ecstasy)
• Utilized dissonant harmonies and jarring rhythms to create emotional tension

Distortion and exaggeration

• Employed unconventional instrumental techniques to produce distorted sounds
• Exaggerated dynamic contrasts to heighten emotional impact
• Manipulated traditional musical elements (melody, harmony, rhythm) in unexpected ways

Rejection of traditional forms

• Abandoned conventional tonal structures and harmonic progressions
• Experimented with free-form compositions lacking clear beginnings or endings
• Challenged audience expectations through unconventional musical narratives

Expressionism in music

• Revolutionized compositional techniques and expanded musical language
• Emphasized psychological depth and emotional intensity in musical expression
• Influenced development of avant-garde and experimental music throughout 20th century

Atonality and dissonance

• Abandoned traditional tonal centers and key signatures
• Explored chromatic harmonies and dissonant chord structures
• Utilized tone clusters and microtonal intervals to create complex soundscapes

Sprechstimme technique

• Developed by Arnold Schoenberg as a hybrid of speech and singing
• Performer uses approximated pitches and rhythmic patterns to create expressive vocal lines
• Blurred boundaries between spoken word and musical performance (Pierrot Lunaire)

Extreme dynamic contrasts

• Employed sudden shifts between very soft (pianissimo) and very loud (fortissimo) passages
• Used extreme dynamic ranges to create emotional intensity and dramatic effect
• Incorporated extended playing techniques to produce unusual timbres and textures

Notable expressionist composers

• Formed core of Second Viennese School, pioneering expressionist music
• Developed innovative compositional techniques that influenced generations of composers
• Challenged traditional notions of tonality and musical structure

Arnold Schoenberg

• Austrian composer and theorist, considered father of expressionist music
• Developed twelve-tone technique and explored free atonality
• Key works include Pierrot Lunaire, Erwartung, and Five Pieces for Orchestra

Alban Berg

• Student of Schoenberg, combined expressionist techniques with romantic sensibilities
• Explored psychological themes and complex musical structures
• Notable compositions include operas Wozzeck and Lulu, Violin Concerto

Anton Webern

• Known for concise, highly structured compositions using twelve-tone technique
• Focused on timbral exploration and pointillistic textures
• Influential works include Five Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 10, and Symphony, Op. 21

Expressionist works

• Characterized by intense emotional content and innovative musical techniques
• Often explored themes of psychological turmoil, alienation, and human suffering
• Challenged listeners' expectations and pushed boundaries of musical expression

Erwartung by Schoenberg

• One-act monodrama for soprano and orchestra, composed in 1909
• Explores woman's psychological state as she searches for her lover in dark forest
• Utilizes free atonality and stream-of-consciousness narrative structure

Wozzeck by Berg

• Three-act opera based on Georg Büchner's play, premiered in 1925
• Depicts tragic story of soldier driven to madness and murder
• Combines expressionist techniques with traditional operatic forms

Five Pieces for Orchestra

• Composed by Arnold Schoenberg in 1909, landmark work of expressionism
• Explores new approaches to orchestration and timbral manipulation
• Each piece focuses on specific musical idea or emotional state

Techniques and innovations

• Developed new compositional methods to express complex emotional states
• Expanded musical language beyond traditional tonal system
• Influenced development of electronic and computer music in later 20th century

Twelve-tone technique

• Systematic approach to composition developed by Schoenberg
• Uses all 12 chromatic pitches in predetermined order (tone row)
• Ensures equal importance of all pitches, avoiding traditional tonal hierarchies

Klangfarbenmelodie

• Technique of distributing melody across different instruments for timbral variety
• Explored by Schoenberg and Webern to create unique sound colors
• Influenced development of electronic music and sound synthesis techniques

Free atonality

• Compositional approach abandoning traditional tonal centers and harmonic progressions
• Allowed for greater expressive freedom and exploration of dissonance
• Paved way for development of serialism and other avant-garde techniques

Impact on modern music

• Expanded musical language and compositional techniques used in contemporary music
• Influenced development of electronic and experimental music genres
• Challenged traditional notions of musical beauty and audience expectations

Influence on avant-garde

• Inspired experimental composers like John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen
• Contributed to development of aleatory music and indeterminacy
• Influenced minimalist composers (Steve Reich, Philip Glass) in reaction to complexity

Legacy in film scores

• Expressionist techniques used to create tension and psychological depth in films
• Influenced horror and thriller movie soundtracks (Bernard Herrmann's work for Hitchcock)
• Adopted by contemporary film composers (Hans Zimmer, Jonny Greenwood) for emotional impact

Expressionism vs serialism

• Expressionism focused on emotional expression, while serialism emphasized structural organization
• Both movements challenged traditional tonality and explored new compositional techniques
• Serialism developed as more systematic approach to atonal composition

Criticism and reception

• Initially met with controversy and resistance from audiences and critics
• Gradually gained acceptance and recognition as important musical movement
• Continues to be debated and reinterpreted in contemporary music scholarship

Contemporary reactions

• Many listeners found expressionist music difficult to understand or appreciate
• Critics accused composers of abandoning beauty and melody in favor of chaos
• Some praised expressionism for its emotional intensity and innovative techniques

Later reassessment

• Recognized as significant artistic movement in 20th century music history
• Influenced development of modernist and postmodernist musical styles
• Continues to be performed and studied in academic and professional music circles

Expressionism in other arts

• Developed concurrently with musical expressionism, sharing similar aesthetic goals
• Explored subjective emotional experiences and psychological states across artistic mediums
• Influenced development of abstract and non-representational art forms

Expressionist painting

• Characterized by distorted forms, vivid colors, and emotional intensity
• Key artists include Edvard Munch, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, and Wassily Kandinsky
• Explored themes of anxiety, alienation, and spiritual transcendence

Expressionist literature

• Focused on subjective experiences and inner psychological states of characters
• Notable authors include Franz Kafka, Georg Trakl, and Gottfried Benn
• Employed stream-of-consciousness techniques and fragmented narratives

Decline and transformation

• Expressionism as distinct movement waned in 1920s and 1930s
• Influence continued through various avant-garde and experimental music styles
• Elements of expressionism incorporated into broader modernist and postmodernist aesthetics

Post-expressionist movements

• Serialism and twelve-tone technique developed as more systematic approach to atonal composition
• Neue Sachlichkeit (New Objectivity) emerged as reaction against emotional excess of expressionism
• Electronic music and musique concrète explored new sound possibilities beyond traditional instruments

Neo-expressionism

• Resurgence of expressionist aesthetics in late 20th century visual arts and music
• Composers like Wolfgang Rihm and Helmut Lachenmann incorporated expressionist elements
• Explored new ways of combining emotional intensity with contemporary compositional techniques