Expressionism, Impressionism, Serialism, and Minimalism

Expressionism is comprised of:

• A high level of dissonance
• Extreme contrasts of dynamics
• Constantly changing textures
• ‘Distorted’ melodies and harmonies
• Angular melodies with wide leaps

e.g. This piece, which is comprised almost entirely of dissonances, and does not seem to have a tonal centre. It also incorporates many different dynamics (e.g. it is roughly pp at 0:25 and roughly ff at 1:25, with many dynamic levels in between those). It also changes texture a lot, for example having only a solo violin at 1:56 and having the full ensemble playing at 1:25. Finally there are many large intervals within melodies in the piece.

Minimalism is comprised of:

• Layers of ostinati
• Constantly repeated patterns that are subjected to gradual changes
• Layered textures
• Interlocking repeated phrases and rhythms
• Diatonic harmony

e.g. This piece, which has very clear ostinati played by the marimbas, with each one having a slightly different part. As the piece progresses, we can also hear that these parts change very slightly, so that the end is nothing like the beginning of the piece. This of course creates a very multilayered texture. The harmony in the piece seems to be major (a type of diatonic harmony).

Impressionism is comprised of:

• A focus on suggestion and atmosphere rather than strong emotion or the depiction of a story- as in programme music
• Lots of use of the major and minor scale system, but tends to make more use of dissonance and more uncommon scales such as the whole tone scale
• Short forms e.g. Preludes and Nocturnes
• Static harmony
• Emphasis on timbre
• Ornamentation obscuring melodies

e.g. This piece, which I play. (Although I do not particularly like Ravel's way of playing it, it is the most reliable recording one can listen to for how it should be played). The piece is highly atmospheric, suggesting the 'sad birds' very strongly, without really depicting a story for them (although I imagine birds being subtly tormented by their situation in a hot, dense forest, and then at 0:41 being disturbed by something, and eventually being scared out of their tree, before returning to it, slightly shaken), the story is more about atmosphere than really specific occurrences. We can also hear a wide use of dissonances throughout the piece. The harmony in this piece is not static, however, but rather the piece has quite a rapid harmonic rhythm. Finally there is a lot of use of ornamentation, as it is birds being depicted, in particular acciaccaturas and appoggiaturas. 

Serialism is comprised of:

• 'Twelve-tone technique'- using the 12 notes of the chromatic scale, forming a row or series and providing a unifying basis for a composition's melody, harmony, structural progressions, and variations.
• Integral serialism or Total serialism is the use of series for aspects such as duration, dynamics, and register as well as pitch

e.g. This piece, which clearly uses just 12 tones in a series. I believe that it is also Integral Serialism, as dynamics are used in a specific and ordered way.