Expressionism

Question 1

Expressionism - Dates

Answer 1

1900s-1920s

Question 2

Expressionism - Tonality

Answer 2

Atonal (without key) [also called Pantonal (all keys)]

Question 3

Expressionism - Scales used

Answer 3

Tone rows (dodecaphonic) - 12-tone row
Chromatic

Question 4

Expressionism - Harmony

Answer 4

Dissonance
Hexachords + compliments
Non functional harmony
Cluster chords

Question 5

Expressionism - Rhythms/Tempo

Answer 5

Sounds unmetered - no time signature (free rhythm), no sense of bar line
Irregular rhythms

Question 6

Expressionism - Composers

Answer 6

Schoenberg
Webern
Berg
(2nd Viennese School)

Question 7

Expressionism - key features

Answer 7

• Extreme pitch range + dynamics
• Short motifs with wide leaps (disjunct)
• Hexachord + compliments
• Klangfarbenmelodie
• Tone rows
• Contrapuntal texture
• Often no sense of time signature - sounds unmetered

Question 8

What is the style of speech singing heard in examples of Expressionist music?

Answer 8

Sprechgesang

Question 9

Textures used in Schoenberg’s music?

Answer 9

Counterpoint (e.g. 12 tone row used in a contrapuntal way)

Fugal

Question 10

Expressionism - Structures

Answer 10

Harder to create structure - one way was to use text (Sprechgesang)
Movements tended to be short