Top > Musical Styles and Theory > Empfindsamer Stil > The Relationship Between the Empfindsamer Stil and Expressionism

This site introduces unknown composer Emanuel Bach (C. P. E. Bach). This English version was translated from Japanese one by ChatGPT.

The Relationship Between the Empfindsamer Stil and Expressionism

I asked ChatGPT4o: "What is the relationship between Expressionism and Empfindsamer Stil?"

Expressionism and Empfindsamer Stil (Sensitive Style) are artistic movements belonging to different eras and contexts in music and art history, but several commonalities and relationships can be identified.

1. Historical Background and Characteristics

• Empfindsamer Stil (Mid-18th Century)

  • Primarily developed in Germany, it emphasized delicate and introspective emotional expression in music.
  • Characterized by short motifs, frequent modulations, and sudden changes in dynamics, it aimed to express subtle nuances of personal emotions.
  • C. P. E. Bach is a representative composer, and Empfindsamer Stil is particularly evident in his works.
  • This style also reflected Rococo sophistication and Enlightenment individualism.

• Expressionism (Early 20th Century)

  • A movement seen mainly in art and music, part of early 20th-century modernism.
  • Characterized by intense and dissonant harmonies, extreme emotional expression, and the portrayal of anxiety and distress.
  • In music, the “Second Viennese School” with composers like Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern was central to this style.
  • In art, Edvard Munch and Kandinsky are representative figures.

2. Commonalities

• Emphasis on Emotional Expression

  • Empfindsamer Stil sought to express the “delicacy” and “subtle nuances” of emotions.
  • Expressionism pursued the “extremes” of emotions and “deep inner turmoil.”
  • Both aimed to convey inner emotions directly and profoundly.

• Flexibility of Form

  • Empfindsamer Stil allowed for free modulations and sudden developments, unconstrained by strict forms.
  • Expressionism also dismantled traditional tonality and forms, pursuing free musical structures.

3. Differences

• Era and Cultural Background

  • Empfindsamer Stil was linked to the Enlightenment of the 18th century, aiming to express the individualʼs inner self intellectually.
  • Expressionism was set against the backdrop of the unstable social conditions of the early 20th century and the cultural crisis around World War I, focusing on intense emotional expression.

• Direction of Emotions

  • Empfindsamer Stil emphasized the “delicacy” and “elegance” of emotions, maintaining a sense of harmony.
  • Expressionism highlighted the “intensity,” “anguish,” and “anxiety” of emotions, sometimes aiming to unsettle the audience.

4. Influence and Continuity

Empfindsamer Stil influenced Romantic music (such as Schubert and Schumann) by emphasizing emotional expression, and it is considered to have indirectly influenced Expressionism as well. Expressionism can be seen as an extension of the “deep exploration of inner emotional expression” initially attempted by Empfindsamer Stil, developed in a more extreme and innovative manner.

In summary, while Empfindsamer Stil and Expressionism belong to different eras and aesthetic contexts, they share commonalities in their emphasis on emotional expression and the liberation of form. However, differences in the nature of emotions and social backgrounds significantly distinguish their artistic approaches.

I asked ChatGPT4o: "Was the influence of Sturm und Drang on Romantic music greater than that of Empfindsamer Stil?"

Both Empfindsamer Stil and Sturm und Drang played important roles in influencing Romantic music, but due to differences in the type and scope of their influence, it is difficult to definitively state which had a “greater” impact. However, by considering the following points, we can compare their influences.

1. Influence of Empfindsamer Stil on Romanticism

• Characteristics and Influence
  Empfindsamer Stil, a style that pursued the delicacy and introspective expression of emotions, was particularly developed by C. P. E. Bach in the mid-18th century. Its significant influence lies in its direct connection to the Romantic musicʼs “depth of emotional expression” and "reflection of the individualʼs inner self."
  • Introspective Emotional Expression
    The nuanced emotional expression in Romantic songs and instrumental music (e.g., works by Schubert and Schumann) was influenced by Empfindsamer Stil.
  • Free Form
    The improvisational elements and flexibility of form seen in Empfindsamer Stil became the foundation for the poetic and free structures of Romantic music.
  • Delicate Sound
    Especially in keyboard works, the subtle nuances influenced Romantic piano music.

2. Influence of Sturm und Drang on Romanticism

• Characteristics and Influence
  Sturm und Drang pursued more dramatic and intense emotional expression than Empfindsamer Stil. It strongly influenced the “dramatic” and "passionate emotional expression" of Romanticism.
  • Dramatic Emotional Expression
    The intense minor key expressions and dynamic contrasts typical of Sturm und Drang are clearly seen in the works of Beethoven, Brahms, and Mahler.
  • Themes of Fate and Anguish
    Themes of conflict with nature and fate, favored in Sturm und Drang, were inherited by the spirit of Romantic music.
  • Influence on Symphonies and Operas
    The dramatic structure had a significant impact on Romantic symphonies and operas, particularly seen in Wagnerʼs music dramas and Mahlerʼs symphonies.

3. Differences in Types of Influence

• Influence of Empfindsamer Stil: Introspective and Delicate Emotional Expression

  • Empfindsamer Stil established a method of delicately depicting personal emotions in music. This influenced the lyricism of Romantic songs and chamber music, as well as the development of piano music.
  • Notable influence is seen in composers like Schubert, Schumann, and Mendelssohn.

• Influence of Sturm und Drang: Dramatic and Passionate Expression

  • Sturm und Drang emphasized drama and extreme contrasts in emotions in music. This directly connected to the grand expressions in Romantic symphonies and operas.
  • Particularly significant influence is seen in the works of Beethoven, Brahms, Wagner, and Mahler.

4. Conclusion: Which Influence Was Greater?

• Considering the Diversity of Romantic Music, Both Are Important

  • In the lyrical and introspective aspects of Romanticism, the influence of Empfindsamer Stil is significant, especially in songs and chamber music.
  • Conversely, in the dramatic and grand expressions of Romanticism, particularly in symphonies and operas, the influence of Sturm und Drang stands out.

• Influence by Genre

  • Songs and Lyrical Works: Empfindsamer Stil
  • Symphonies and Operas: Sturm und Drang

Both provided essential elements from different directions to shape Romantic music. It can be said that Empfindsamer Stil and Sturm und Drang played indispensable roles in establishing both the "introspective and poetic expression" and the “dramatic and passionate expression” of Romantic music.

I asked ChatGPT4o: "Are there any other artistic movements besides Empfindsamer Stil and Sturm und Drang that influenced the emotional expression of Romantic music?"

Several important movements and ideas, besides Empfindsamer Stil and Sturm und Drang, influenced the emotional expression of Romantic music. These movements and ideas directly or indirectly impacted the artistic vision and emotional expression of Romanticism.

1. Classicism

• Background and Characteristics
  • Classicism developed from the late 18th to early 19th century, particularly centered around the Viennese Classical School (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven).
  • It emphasized aesthetic balance, formal symmetry, and universal emotional expression.
• Influence on Romanticism
  • The structural stability and formal beauty of Classicism were inherited by Romantic composers.
  • Conversely, the introspective and passionate expression in Beethovenʼs later works served as a bridge to Romanticism.

2. Gothic Revival

• Background and Characteristics
  • From the late 18th to early 19th century, a revival of medieval aesthetics occurred in architecture and literature.
  • Characterized by mysticism, supernatural elements, and a dark atmosphere.
• Influence on Romanticism
  • The Gothic Revival influenced Romantic literature (e.g., Mary Shelleyʼs “Frankenstein,” Bram Stokerʼs “Dracula”) and music (e.g., Berliozʼs “Symphonie Fantastique” and Schumannʼs works), providing a backdrop for mystical and dramatic emotional expression.

3. Nature Worship

• Background and Characteristics
  • From the late 18th century, as a reaction against Enlightenment thought, a movement to worship nature and express the harmony and sublimity between humans and nature spread.
  • Thinkers like Rousseau and Goldschmidt influenced this movement.
• Influence on Romanticism
  • The sublimity and mysticism of nature were frequently depicted in Romantic music.
  • Examples: Schubertʼs “Winterreise,” Mendelssohnʼs overture “The Hebrides,” Wagnerʼs “Siegfried Idyll.”

4. Enlightenment

• Background and Characteristics
  • An intellectual movement centered around the 18th century, pursuing reason, science, and universal values.
  • While emphasizing the balance of reason and emotion, it also sparked interest in emotions and the inner self.
• Influence on Romanticism
  • The Enlightenmentʼs emphasis on “individual freedom” and “respect for emotions” connected to Romanticismʼs “individualism” and “introspective expression.”
  • Particularly, Beethovenʼs works celebrating freedom and humanity (e.g., Symphony No. 9) bridged Enlightenment thought to Romanticism.

5. French Revolution

• Background and Characteristics
  • The French Revolution, which began in 1789, advocated for liberty, equality, and fraternity, breaking down the feudal system.
  • Themes of individual liberation and dramatic social change were central.
• Influence on Romanticism
  • The dramatic emotional expression and heroic themes of the revolution became subjects in Romantic music.
  • Examples: Beethovenʼs Symphony No. 3 “Eroica,” Berliozʼs “Revolutionary and Romantic Symphony.”

6. Orientalism

• Background and Characteristics
  • From the late 18th to 19th century, interest in Asia and the Middle East increased.
  • Inspired by exoticism and mysterious cultures, it was incorporated into literature and music.
• Influence on Romanticism
  • Orientalism was incorporated into music as exotic emotional expression and unique harmonic progressions.
  • Examples: Lisztʼs “Hungarian Rhapsodies,” Rimsky-Korsakovʼs “Scheherazade.”

7. Symbolism

• Background and Characteristics
  • A poetic and artistic movement that developed in the late 19th century.
  • Emphasized expressing emotions and ideas in symbolic forms.
• Influence on Romanticism
  • The seeds of Symbolism can be seen in Romanticism, particularly influencing approaches to abstract emotional expression.
  • Examples: Chopinʼs piano works and Wagnerʼs music dramas.

8. Literary Movements

• Background and Characteristics
  • Romantic literature (Goethe, Schiller, Byron, etc.) directly influenced the emotional expression in music.
• Influence on Romanticism
  • Songs, symphonic poems, and operas inspired by literature became central to Romantic music.
  • Examples: Schubertʼs “Winterreise,” Lisztʼs symphonic poem “Faust Symphony.”

Conclusion

The artistic movements and ideas that influenced the emotional expression of Romanticism are diverse. In addition to Empfindsamer Stil and Sturm und Drang, Classicism, Gothic Revival, Nature Worship, Enlightenment, French Revolution, Orientalism, Symbolism, and Literary Movements played significant roles.

These movements and ideas laid the foundation for emotional expression in Romantic music and expanded the possibilities for diverse and complex expressions. Each influenced specific aspects of Romanticism, contributing to the rich emotional expression of Romantic music.

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