This week we are
exploring Expressionism in both art and music. On Monday we looked at Edvard
Munch as an example of an Expressionist painter. How do characteristics of Expressionism
find their way into music?
Arnold Schoenberg
is an example of a composer who used Expressionism in some of his compositions.
Like Expressionist painters, Schoenberg uses distortion (in melody rather than
brushstroke) as well as dissonances and fragmented rhythms to convey fear and
anxiety in his work. His Five Pieces for
Orchestra, Op. 16 is one example of Expressionism in music. Listen to the
first piece and notice Schoenberg’s attempt to create a sense of fear of
oncoming undesirable circumstances. This first piece of Op. 16 was later titled
“Premonitions” at the request of the publisher.
Listen to this
first piece and let me know if you think Schoenberg effectively conveys the
Expressionism seen in Munch’s The Scream.
