Expressionism in Music
Objectives
Identify the key characteristics of Expressionist music, including atonality, dissonance, jagged melodies, and use of small ensembles;
appreciate the expressive intent behind unconventional musical techniques and understand their emotional impact;
recreate short musical phrases or motifs using instruments or voice to convey emotions such as tension, anxiety, or unease, reflecting the expressive techniques of Expressionist music.
Before reading the lesson or any background on Expressionism, listen to this one short piece of music.
Five Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 10 by Anton Webern
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reqqQ-kBJQ0
After listening, write a few lines (or reflect mentally) on what emotions, images, or thoughts came to mind. What made you feel that way — calm? uneasy? curious? anxious? mysterious?
Answer these questions before we proceed to the lesson;
• What was your first emotional reaction — calm, tense, confused, curious?
• Did the music remind you of images, colors, places, or even a story?
• How “comfortable” or “uncomfortable” did the piece feel, compared with more
familiar music?
What Is Expressionism in Music?
Expressionism developed in the early 1900s, during a time when many artists felt that traditional ways of creating art no longer represented the stresses and anxieties of modern life. Instead of focusing on beauty or pleasing melodies, Expressionist composers wanted to reveal deep emotions fear, tension, confusion, or loneliness.
Let’s break down some of the major characteristics so you can more easily understand how Expressionist music works:
1. The Music Focuses on Intense Emotions
- Expressionist music does not try to sound “pretty.” Instead, it often sounds tense or unsettling because composers wanted the listener to feel exactly what they were expressing internally.
2. Atonality and Dissonance Are Common
- Many Expressionist works do not follow traditional keys or tonal centers. This is called atonality. The music may feel like it never settles down, which is exactly the point—it shows emotional ininstabilit
3. Melodies Sound Jagged or Unpredictable
- Instead of smooth, flowing melodies, you will often hear melodies that jump suddenly from low to high notes. This reflects emotional conflict or anxiety.
4. The Music Often Feels Exposed or Raw
- Expressionist composers avoided large, lush orchestras. Instead, they preferred smaller groups of instruments, where each sound feels clear, sharp, and vulnerable.
5. New Techniques Were Introduced
- One important development from this period is the twelve-tone technique, created by Arnold Schoenberg. There is also Sprechstimme, a combination of speaking and singing that adds a dramatic, haunting effect.
Important Composers & Works
Arnold Schoenberg – Known for Pierrot Lunaire and his atonal works.
Example work:
Pierrot Lunaire
https://youtu.be/FkF5HY3QLTk?si=4xauhziC4LvZGxEb
Alban Berg – Famous for his opera Wozzeck, which explores psychological trauma.
Example work:
Violin Concerto
https://youtu.be/P0GzNmf_AUw?si=eDk412JOGp0rgHn2
Anton Webern – Known for very short, concentrated pieces that highlight extreme clarity.
Example work:
Symphony Op. 21
https://youtu.be/Xq2gwuKDPnY?si=FS6ufQPDtynh3sHT
Instruments Used in Expressionism
Expressionist composers often used small ensembles instead of full orchestras, producing raw, exposed textures. Expressionism often uses instruments in ways you might not expect:
Strings may play sul ponticello (bowing near the bridge) to produce a glassy, eerie sound.
Wind instruments may use flutter-tonguing to create trembling or nervous effects.
Percussion can be used for sudden, shocking accents.
The piano appears frequently in Expressionist music because it can quickly shift between extreme dynamics and create sharp, percussive attacks.
Expressionist composers did not choose instruments for beauty—they chose them for emotional impact. Every sound is meant to communicate tension, fear, or psychological depth.
Discussion Questions
How did the emotions or tension in Webern’s Five Pieces for Orchestra make you feel, and what elements of the music contributed to that reaction?
How does using smaller ensembles, instead of full orchestras, affect the way you perceive the music’s intensity or vulnerability?
Why do you think Expressionist composers, like Schoenberg, often avoided traditional keys and harmonies in their music?
In what ways do jagged melodies, atonality, and dissonance communicate feelings differently than the smooth melodies of Classical or Romantic music?
Even though Expressionist music was created over 100 years ago, can its emotional themes still speak to today’s listeners? How so?
Final Activity
Now that you've listened and learned about the expressionism in music here's one last challenge or activity for you to do. Try to do or create your own music using instruments or your vocals and, using the techniques of expressionism try to apply it on your own works.
References
Berg, A. (1935). Violin concerto [Recorded by various artists]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/P0GzNmf_AUw?si=eDk412JOGp0rgHn2
Schoenberg, A. (1912). Pierrot Lunaire [Recorded by various artists]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/FkF5HY3QLTk?si=4xauhziC4LvZGxEb
Webern, A. (1911). Five pieces for orchestra, Op. 10 [Recorded by various artists]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reqqQ-kBJQ0
Webern, A. (1928). Symphony, Op. 21 [Recorded by various artists]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Xq2gwuKDPnY?si=FS6ufQPDtynh3sHT
Taruskin, R. (2010). Music in the early twentieth century. Oxford University Press.
Griffiths, P. (2010). Modern music: The avant-garde since 1945 (3rd ed.). Thames & Hudson
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