Expressionism

Key Terms• Expressionism • Vasili Kandinsky• Emancipation of dissonance• Klangfarbenmelodie (tone-color melody)• Atonal music• Harmonics• Melodrama• Sprechgesang• Basso ostinato• Twelve-tone composition

Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951)

Style Periodization

1) EARLY (to 1905) • Romantic style

– Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4 (1899)

2) MIDDLE (1905-17)• Atonal/Pantonal works, emancipation of dissonance• Expressionism• Piano Pieces, Op. 11 (1909), Pierrot lunaire, Op. 21 (1912)

3) FALLOW (1917-23)• Abandon works based solely on unconscious, toward a new

compositional system based on the total chromatic, crafted by motivic transformation and forms

• Society for Private Musical Performances (est. 1918)– Frequent repetition of works in different concerts– Introductory discussions to works performed– Removal of corrupting influences of publicity– Guests prohibited, except for visitors from abroad– Reviews or advertisements of works & artists prohibited– Judgment discouraged– Performers selected on interest in the society, not mere

virtuosity

4) MATURE (1923-51)• 12-tone technique• 1930s emigrates to California

Vassili Kandinsky (1866-1944), Impression III (Concert), 1911

Piano Pieces, Op.11 (1909)No. 1

Pierrot lunaire (1912)Melodrama

InstrumentationPiano

Flute (+ piccolo)Clarinet (+ bass clarinet)

Violin (+ viola)Cello

Voice (Sprechgesang)

Right: Pierrot by Pablo Picasso, 1918

Below: Commedia dell’arte characters

PART I: The DeparturePART II: Adventures

No. 8 “Nacht”No. 9 “Gebet an Pierrot”PART III: HomecomingNo. 18 “Der Mondfleck”

No. 9 “Gebet an Pierrot”No. 18 “Der Mondfleck”

No. 8 Nacht (Passacaglia), 1912, page 1