Expressionist music is one of the biggest and most significant musical trends of the early 20th century. This direction was radically different from the previously considered traditional and classical music. Such a separation and denial of established principles was the main distinguishing feature of musical expressionism. Through a departure from tradition, composers such as Schoenberg, Webern, and Berg tried to escape from the shackling bonds of harmonic approaches in search of more natural sensations (Bruce). Thus, a new sound of musical works was formed, which could not exist before due to restrictions. Since the composers of this direction deliberately broke the familiar harmonies, their music sounds very contrasting, with a lot of dissonance and distortion. In his works, Schoenberg actively used the atonal approach, characterized by the absence of a central tone (Bruce). Such musical solutions made it possible to make music much more expressive, conveying bright and contrasting emotions in it, such as fear, pain, or suffering.
The works of this direction can be associated, first of all, with such musical terms as tonal harmony and atonality. These opposing terms describe two possible approaches to music, involving either a clear focal point in the form of a central note, root, or its complete absence. The latter option was actively used in expressionist music, which made it possible to achieve a sound called dissonance. In addition, the rhythm of the work undergoes significant changes, which can change dramatically, creating a vivid contrast between the musical parts. The music of this movement is closely connected with the broad cultural trend of expressionism, showing similar features that poets and artists tried to display in their works. Just as expressionist artists tried to display their feelings on canvas, the composers of this movement emphasized the human perspective. That is why they departed from the traditional harmonic canons because there is often too much dissonance and contrasts in a person’s life.
Work Cited
“A Brief History of 20th Century Classical Music (Tetris-style).” YouTube, uploaded by David Bruce Composer, Web.