Post-Romanticism Timeline

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    Post-Romanticism

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    Impressionism

    Defined by the abandonment of traditional rules of style and musical elements. Pentatonic scales, whole tones, and other exotic scales were used; free rhythm, parallel chords, unresolved dissonances, and vagueness were emphasized throughout music. Famous composers during this time include Claude Debussy (1862-1918), who composed the first modern orchestral work, and Maurice Ravel (1876-1937), who wrote the first Impressionist piano piece. This was mostly French and anti-Germanic.
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    Maximalism

    Defined by large performance groups, chromaticism, strong themes and motives, and textures. The main composers during this time were Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), who made expansions to symphonies and Lieder, and Richard Strauss (1864-1949), who wrote famous tone poems and operas. This was mostly in German speaking areas.
  • Spanish-American War

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    Expressionism

    Defined by atonality and "equal chord rules." Famous composers during this period included Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) who created a 12-tone technique practice, Alban Berg (1885-1935) who created a new form of singing with Schoenberg called Sprechstimme and was one of his students, and Anton Webern (1883-1945) who was also one of Schoenberg's students.
  • The Titanic Sinks

  • Jazz Style

    String instruments were no longer dominant and the jazz style began.
  • World War I Ends

  • The Great Depression Begins