Lesson 2 - Expressionism

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Lesson 2
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“Art is not about beauty, art is an expression.” ― Vikram
nism
Roy, The Alchemist A Mystery in Three Acts
WHATS NEW?
The term “Expressionism" was originally used in visual
and literary arts and was probably first applied to music
in 1918, especially to Schoenberg because like the
painter Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944), he veered
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away from "traditional forms of beauty" to convey

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powerful feelings in his music. Features of
expressionism music are as follows:
• a high degree of dissonance (dissonance is the quality of
sounds that seems unstable)
• extreme contrasts of dynamics (from pianissimo to fortissimo,

very soft to very loud)
• constant changing of textures and "distorted" melodies and

harmonies
• angular melodies with wide leaps

ARNOLD SCHOENBERG (1874–1951)
Arnold Schoenberg was born on September 13, 1874 in a
working-class suburb of Vienna, Austria. He taught himself
music theory but took lessons in counterpoint. His works was
greatly influenced by the German composer Richard Wagner
as evident in his symphonic poem Pelleas et Melisande, Op. 5
(1903), a counterpoint of Debussy’s opera of the same title.
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Schoenberg’s style in music reformed from time to time. From the early
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influences of Wagner, his tonal preference gradually revolved to something
dissonant and atonal, as he explored the use of chromatic harmonies. He
was responsible for the establishment of the twelve-tone system.
Twelve-tone system
His works include the following:
Verklarte Nacht
Violin Concerto
Three Pieces for

Piano, op. 11
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Skandalkonzert, a
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concert of the Wiener Pierrot Lunaire
Konzertverein.
Although full of melodic and lyrical interest, his music was also extremely
complex, creating heavy demands on the listener. He experienced
Triskaidekaphobia (fear of number 13). Schoenberg died on July 13, 1951
in Los Angeles, California, USA where he had settled since 1934.
WHAT I CAN
DO?
One of the most significant compositions of Schoenberg is Three Piano
Pieces, Op. 11. This musical piece was the first composition ever to
dispense completely with “tonal” (counterpart of atonal) means of
organization.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrjg3jzP2uI
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Activity #7
While listening, answer the following guide questions on The
Google Classroom
• What genre of movie can this music be used?
• What particular moment in your life does this music remind
you of?
IGOR STRAVINSKY (1882–1971)
He was born in Oranienbaum (now Lomonosov),
Russia on June 17, 1882. Stravinsky’s early music
reflected the influence of his teacher, the Russian
composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. But in his first
notable composition “The Firebird Suite (1910)”
which was composed for Diaghilev’s Russian
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Ballet, his skillful handling of material and
rhythmic inventiveness went beyond anything
written by his Russian predecessors.
He added a new ingredient to his nationalistic musical style.

The Rite of Spring (1913) was another outstanding work
showcasing his new technique.
Other acclaimed works by Stravinsky includes:
• Three Tales for Children (1917)
• The Rake’s Progress (1951), a full-length opera
• The Nightingale (1914)

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• Duo Concertant (1932)
• Ballet Petrouchka (1911), featuring shifting rhythms

and polytonality, a signature device of the composer
Stravinsky wrote approximately 127 works, including concerti, orchestral

music, instrumental music, operas, ballets, solo vocal, and choral music.
Concerti or concerto is a musical composition for a solo instrument or
instruments accompanied by an orchestra, especially one conceived on a
relatively large scale. He died in New York City on April 6, 1971.
WHAT’S MORE?
MUSIC LISTENING ACTIVITY. From the CD, play

track 4 (Petrouchka by Stravinsky) or access it at
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJRfImhtjq4.
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Activity #8
After listening to the track, create an artwork inspired by
Petrouchka using any contemporary medium of arts. Use the
Google Classroom in uploading your Artworks
Activity #9
WORD HUNT. Encircle the words that are related to expressionist music in the grid below.
The words run horizontally, vertically and diagonally.
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Expressio

“Art is not about beauty, art is an expression.” ― Vikram

away from "traditional forms of beauty" to convey

• extreme contrasts of dynamics (from pianissimo to fortissimo,

• constant changing of textures and "distorted" melodies and

• angular melodies with wide leaps

Three Pieces for

He added a new ingredient to his nationalistic musical style.

• Three Tales for Children (1917)

• The Rake’s Progress (1951), a full-length opera

• The Nightingale (1914)

• Ballet Petrouchka (1911), featuring shifting rhythms

Stravinsky wrote approximately 127 works, including concerti, orchestral

MUSIC LISTENING ACTIVITY. From the CD, play

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