German Expressionist Music

[Jo498]

It is often not obvious why the Nazis found some art degenerate. They were not conservatives but regarded themselves as modern and claimed "fresh air" compared to fin de siecle decadence which made them sympathetic to some aspects of (then) modern art. Of course they also subordinated art to the greater glory of the nation and, like socialist realism, art was also supposed to appeal (to some extent) to popular tastes, so anything "critical" or destructive would not find favor.

[Mahlerian]

Schulhoff managed to assimilate Dada/Expressionism. His Symphony 5, drawn to my attention through a contact on this site, is a marvellous score. Sadly he died in a Concentration Camp.

Dada was a completely separate movement that grew up in a different environment and for different reasons.  The only composers I know associated with Dada were Satie and Varese*.  Expressionism lacked Dada's desire to destroy the traditional notions of art.

*Who later denied the connections.

[North Star]

Dada was a completely separate movement that grew up in a different environment and for different reasons.  The only composers I know associated with Dada were Satie and Varese*.  Expressionism lacked Dada's desire to destroy the traditional notions of art.

*Who later denied the connections.

Schulhoff was definitely linked to Dada. See e.g. Sonata Erotica.

[Mahlerian]

Schulhoff was definitely linked to Dada. See e.g. Sonata Erotica.

I'm sure you're correct there.  It was the link between Dada and Expressionism that I meant to reject, not the link between Schulhoff and Dada.

[Jo498]

Besides the "Sonata Erotica" Schulhoff had a precursor piece of 4'33 containing only rests... "In futurum" from 5 Pittoresken op.3, dedicated to "the Painter and Dadaist George Grosz"
Although different in many respects, both Dada and Expressionism could serve pour épater le bourgeois who pined for the belle époque. So while not systematically linked they could be linked in quite a few artists, such as Schulhoff or the painter Grosz.

[Mirror Image]

This is something which I think is expressionist according to the BBC definition, bad sound and in German unfortunately

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sGwOXGwspXc

And Frau Ohne Schatten? Another one to think about is Turn of the Screw. Also maybe some things by Janacek, the second quartet, the mass.

Did Gesualdo write expressionist madrigals? Is Grosse Fuge expressionist? See how a definition can free you up.

Yes, I suppose we could also say there are quite some Expressionistic moments in Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth as well since, if I read correctly, Shostakovich was influenced by Berg's Wozzeck when composing this opera. There's always a way to look beyond what typifies a style of composition as we have all found out. Nothing is really concrete when it comes to definitions of individual musical movements.

[vandermolen]

I've always liked Expressionist painting, especially Beckmann, Heckel and Jawlensky. Not all are German of course and painters like Munch, Ensor and Rouault all mean a lot to me although none of them are German. Kandinsky is interesting as he regarded his paintings, or some of them, as visual symphonies and his book 'Concerning the Spiritual In Art' is of interest.