Expressionism

in Music
Expressionis
m
 Expressionism was invented by art
critics to describe a style of painting
which developed as a reaction to
the art movement.

 In music, expressionism is
generally described as music that
expresses true emotions with
exaggeration
 Expressionis
m

 Expressionist music is
very atonal

 Polytonality
 Igor Stravinsky 1882-
1971
Born in Oranienbaum, Russian on
June 17, 1882

Recognized as one of the famous

composers of the 20th century

Stravinsky grew up in a musical

atmosphere
Igor Stravinsky 1882-
1971
At 14 he already mastered the Piano Concerto
in G minor composed by Felix Mendelssohn.

He received private music lessons under the

supervision of a great and famous Russian
composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Igor Stravinsky 1882-
1971

He was able to get the Attention of Sergei

Diaghilev, the Director of the Ballet Russes de
Paris, that led to his original ballet music
Igor Stravinsky Ballet
Music
1st - The Fire Bird 1910
2nd - Petrushka 1911
3rd - The rite of Spring 1913

Russian influence, clarity of sound,

transparent texture and orchestration
 Other Composition

The Nightingale 1914 (1908)

Les Noces (the Wedding) 1923
Ragtime rhythm and popular dances
(1920-1951)
Igor Stravinsky 1882-
1971
 Stravinsky died on April 6, 1971

 at the age of 88, heart failure

Arnold Schoenberg 1874-
1951
Was born on September 13, 1874 in
Vienna Austria

A self-taught musician, acquiring his

knowledge in music by studying scores,
playing in chamber groups and watching
concerts
Arnold Schoenberg 1874-
1951
He had no formal training in music but he
already started composing at the age of
eight.

Johannes Brahms and Richard Wagner-

his inspiration doing his musical works
Arnold Schoenberg 1874-
1951

1908, he took the revolutionary step of

abandoning the traditional tonal system
He began to write atonal music
Arnold Schoenberg 1874-
1951

Five Pieces for Orchestra, Op 16

(1909)
Pierrot Lunnaire, Op. 21 (1912)
Arnold Schoenberg 1874-
1951

Both are characterized by irregular

melodies, unusual instrumental effects,
extreme contrast of dynamics and
register and uneven phrases.
Arnold Schoenberg 1874-
1951
He also developed the four basic
forms
Forward (Original form)
Backward (retrograde form)
Upside down (inversion)
Backward and upside down
(retrograde inversion
Arnold Schoenberg 1874-
1951