Summary of Grade 10 Music Q1 Ep2: Expressionism

In this episode of "Grade 10 Music," Teacher Jen explores the concept of Expressionism in music, contrasting it with Impressionism.

Key Artistic Techniques and Concepts:

Impressionism vs. Expressionism:
- Impressionism focuses on nature and atmosphere, while Expressionism reacts against this, emphasizing emotional expression and psychological experiences.
Characteristics of Expressionist Music:
- Dissonance: Use of unstable sounds that create tension, often difficult to identify a tonal center (atonality).
- Dynamics: Extreme contrasts in loudness (from pianissimo to fortissimo).
- Texture: Frequent changes in texture throughout a piece.
- Melody: Distorted melodies that reflect the composer’s feelings rather than being pleasing to the listener.
Historical Context:
- Expressionism emerged before and between the two World Wars in response to widespread anxiety and emotional turmoil.

Notable Composers:

Arnold Schoenberg:
- Developed the 12-tone system to ensure all notes of the chromatic scale are treated equally.
- Notable works include "Piano Lunaire," "Three Pieces for Piano," and "Violin Concerto."
Igor Stravinsky:
- Known for rhythmic inventiveness and his work "The Firebird Suite."
- Composed a wide range of music, including ballets, operas, and orchestral pieces.

Summary of Key Features:

High dissonance
Emotional depth
Atonality
Dynamic contrasts
Changing textures and distorted melodies

Conclusion:

The lesson encourages students to express their unique talents, drawing inspiration from the boldness of Expressionist composers.

Creators/Contributors:

Teacher Jen.

Notable Quotes

— 14:10 — « Expressionism has been described as a movement of young people. It was a time when artists bravely experimented with arts and music as their way of expressing themselves. »

— 14:40 — « Remember that you are unique and gifted with talents and abilities. You have to discover them and just like the expressionist composers, don't be afraid to show it and share it to the world. »