Expressionism was originally a term used by early 20th century German artists to describe their aesthetic principles of presenting the world from a subjective perspective and distorting it for emotional effect rather than depicting physical reality. Key characteristics included extreme angles, flattened forms, garish colors, and distorted views. Two major German expressionist groups were Die Brücke, known for expressive landscapes, nudes and carnival scenes using strong colors and broad forms, and Der Blaue Reiter, ranging from pure abstraction to romantic imagery to express spiritual truths. Expressionist music also aimed to express emotion and featured atonal compositions with disjunct melodies, dissonance, and extreme dynamics.

3.  Originally a term used by a group of early
20th – century German artists to describe their
aesthetic principles and art.
 Its typical trait is to present the world solely
from a subjective perspective, distorting it
radically for emotional effect in order to
evoke moods or ideas

4.  Expressionist artists sought to express
meaning or emotional experience rather than
physical reality
 Expressionism was developed as an ”avant-
garde” style before the First World War

5.  a group of people who develop new and often
very surprising ideas in art, literature, etc

6.  Extreme Angles
 Flattened Forms
 Garish Colors
 Distorted Views

7.  Group of German expressionist artists,
mostly painters
 Portrays Landscapes, Nudes, Carnival
Performers with STRONG COLORS and
BROAD FORMS
 Revived “woodcut” tradition
 “Die Brücke” “The Bridge”

11.  A group of German artists mostly
expressionist painters
 ranged from pure abstraction to
romantic imagery, attempting to
express spiritual truths
 “Der Blaue Reiter” “The Blue Rider”

16.  Expressionist music sounds very odd to
most people
 Characteristics include extremes of
dynamics (very quiet to very loud), lots of
dissonant chords (clashing) and unusual
combinations of instruments, at times
playing the very lowest and very highest
notes of their range.
 The music is described as being atonal (not
set in key).

17.  Melodies tend to be disjunct (lots of leaps)
and ‘tunes’ are always avoided
 Composers were more concerned with
sound colour (combination of instrumental
sounds) as oppose to a good melody.
 Textures vary greatly throughout a piece of
expressionist music, from solo sections to
full passages for orchestra.

19. 1. Pierrot Lunaire
 What instruments do you hear?
 What vocal range is it composed for?
 Is it dissonant or consonant?
2. Five Pieces for Orchestra
 What instruments do you hear? How is it
similar/different to the Peirrot Lunaire piece?”
 What do you think makes it reflect the
goals/ideals of expressionism?”
 How does it differ from impressionistic music?
What’s similar?