20th Century & Contemporary

1900-Present

The 20th century witnessed an explosion of diverse musical styles, reacting against or extending Romanticism. Innovations included atonality, serialism, electronic music, minimalism, and a continued exploration of new timbres and forms.

Musical Characteristics

Wide stylistic diversity (Impressionism, Expressionism, Neoclassicism, Serialism, Minimalism, Aleatoric, Electronic)
Exploration of dissonance and atonality
Increased rhythmic complexity and irregularity
New scales and harmonies (e.g., whole-tone, octatonic)
Use of new instruments and electronic sound production
Emphasis on timbre and texture
Rejection of traditional forms or adaptation of old forms in new ways

Key Composers

Claude Debussy

1862-1918

Pioneer of Impressionism

Igor Stravinsky

1882-1971

Innovator in rhythm and orchestration

Arnold Schoenberg

1874-1951

Developed atonality and twelve-tone technique

Béla Bartók

1881-1945

Incorporated folk music into modernist styles

Dmitri Shostakovich

1906-1975

Leading Soviet-era composer

John Cage

1912-1992

Pioneer of aleatoric music and prepared piano

Important Musical Forms

Atonal musicSerial music (Twelve-tone)Electronic musicMusique concrèteMinimalismAleatoric (chance) musicExpanded forms of Symphony, Concerto, Opera

Common Instruments

Extended range of traditional instrumentsSynthesizersComputersTape recordersNew percussion instrumentsPrepared pianoMicrotonal instruments