A pivotal movement in early 20th-century musical composition, it sought to represent subjective emotions and inner experiences through unconventional means. Composers aimed to express intense, often distorted feelings, prioritizing emotional impact over traditional beauty or formal structure. This often manifested in atonality, dissonance, and fragmented melodies. As an example, a musical piece might explore feelings of anxiety or alienation through jarring harmonies and abrupt dynamic shifts.
The value of this artistic approach lies in its unflinching exploration of the human psyche. It provides a powerful outlet for representing psychological turmoil and existential angst, reflecting the anxieties and uncertainties of a rapidly changing world. Historically, it emerged as a reaction against Romanticism’s emphasis on sentimentality and the perceived superficiality of Impressionism, representing a deeper dive into the subconscious.
