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From the turn of the 20th century, western classical music changed hugely,
with Romantic music leading into new innovations through the development and
evolved traditional characteristics that the romantic period set.
Romanticism brought new ideas to the western classical scene, with the
breaking of rules and structures within music. A key idea that was developing
and was used more was Chromaticism. This included the use of notes that were
not in the scale, often used to shift keys. However romantic composers started
using this technique with increasing frequency. It peaked with Wagner, who
would constantly shift keys, but this idea was taken and developed extremely
with Impressionist and atonal composers. An example of this was Arnold
Schoenberg, who explored unusual and unorthodox harmonies and tonal scales.
Almost all of his music doesnt have any sort of key, being the ultimate example
of the development of chromaticism.
In the late 19th century, composers started to look for different outlets in
which to express their musical passion and composing power. Some composers
turned to nationalism in order to represent the musical soul of their country.
Others developed highly personal harmonic language and melodic style which
distinguishes their music from the current German traditions of great composers
such as Wagner. The continuous change led to the modification and
enhancement of existing instruments, plus the addition of new instruments. This
led to the further expansion of the symphony orchestra throughout the century,
especially towards the end. Another very important developing genre outlet was
Impressionism.
This is the whole flaw of Emotional Music. It is like a drug: you must have
more drug, and more noise each time, or this effect, this impression which works
from the outside, in from the nerves and sensorium upon the shelf is no use, its
effect is constantly weaker and weaker
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Ezra Pound
7 percussionists playing
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7 timpanis
2 pairs of cymbals
2 triangles
snare drum
glockenspiel
3 tublar bells
2 bass drums
2 tam tams
2 harps
organ
largest possible contingent of all strings
Through both chromaticism and the new array of forces at the disposal of the
modernists within the turn of the century, lead to a new wave of musical
genres and composers came about from romanticism. Although only touched
on, Ive shown how the orchestra developed as well as key examples of how
features were developed to the extreme.