First Quarter

Expressionism
Lesson 2
Expressionism
-started in the early For some painters, the use of
1900s in German. loud and intense colors carries
The main character symbolism. It uses distorted
of the style is that form, facial expression and
movements are used to evoke
it presents subjects moods and ideas.
with a rather
distorted form to
express a personal
emotion.
Characteristics of Expressionism in Music
a. Absence of tonal center (atonality)
b. Angular melody
c. Absence of traditional harmony
d. Fragmented form and structure
e. Episodic
f. Variety of texture
The 12 -
tone This new music is the new
approach to use of pitches,
which also referred to as
Technique serialism. It is also the
ordering of the 12 tones,
which you can visually see in
the following keyboard
illustration
 If you count all keys (black and white)
from C to B, you have 12 notes. The creation
of a row is based on rules creating an
ambiguous melody if used horizontally. This
row created by composers will then be the
basis of the composition either horizontally
or vertically.
 One strict rule of the theory is that the
tones, which are arranged unconventionally,
are played in order, and no note shall be
repeated until the notes of the row has been
used, thus limiting the palate of tones of the
musical work to the sequence or row
created..
Prominent
Composers
 ✓ He is known for atonal
music (music without tonal
center), which includes
serialism, thus creating a
new method of musical
composition.
✓ He served as mentor to
Arnold Schoenberg Alban Berg and Aton
Webern who eventually
✓ He was born on September espoused the style of
1874 in Vienna, Austria. their teacher.
 ✓ He showed musical
inclination at an early age
when he began to
composed short pieces for
violin
✓ The early works of
Schoenberg were tonal in
nature.
✓ He died on 13 July 1951 as
an American composer of
Austrian descent.
Arnold Schoenberg
Schoenberg’s significant and representative works :

Three Piano Pieces, Op. 11

Schoenberg’s significant and representative works :

Five Orchestral Pieces, Op. 16

Schoenberg’s significant and representative works :

Pierrot Lunaire, Op. 21

Schoenberg’s significant and representative works :

Die gluckliche Hand

Schoenberg’s significant and representative works :

Kol Nidre Op. 39

Thank you!
Credits: Canva Presentations