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

Sturm und Drang and Expressionism

I asked ChatGPT4o: "What is the relationship between Sturm und Drang and Expressionism?"

Sturm und Drang and Expressionism are movements belonging to different eras and contexts, but they share several commonalities, and an interesting relationship can be found through their comparison.

1. Background and Characteristics of Sturm und Drang

• Era and Place

  • Developed mainly in literature and music in Germany during the late 18th century (around the 1760s to 1780s).
  • Emerged as a reaction against the Enlightenment, emphasizing emotion and individual inner impulses over reason.

• Characteristics

  • Intense emotional expression, irregular forms, and a strong interest in nature and fate.
  • In German literature, Goethe (The Sorrows of Young Werther) and Schiller are representative figures.
  • In music, the symphonies and sonatas of Haydn and Mozart, as well as the works of Emanuel Bach, were influenced by Sturm und Drang.
  • Notable for the use of dissonance, sudden dynamic changes, and frequent use of minor keys.

2. Background and Characteristics of Expressionism

• Era and Place

  • Centered in Germany and Austria in the early 20th century, spanning multiple fields such as art, literature, and music.
  • Amidst societal instability and the crisis surrounding World War I, it pursued the expression of human inner emotions and extreme feelings.

• Characteristics

  • Depiction of inner turmoil, anxiety, and extreme emotions.
  • In music, Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern were central figures, with notable use of dissonance and the breakdown of tonality.
  • In art, Edvard Munch (The Scream) and Kandinsky are representative figures.

3. Commonalities

• Emphasis on Emotion

  • Both movements prioritized emotion over reason, placing inner impulses and intense emotions at the center of their art.
  • Sturm und Drang tended to link the intensity of emotions with the forces of nature and fate.
  • Expressionism focused the intensity of emotions on human inner anxiety and loneliness.

• Freedom of Form

  • In Sturm und Drang, traditional forms in literature and music were broken, pursuing unpredictable developments.
  • Expressionism also emphasized free expression unconstrained by form or tonality.

• Depiction of Anxiety and Conflict

  • Sturm und Drang depicted conflicts with nature and fate, with instability at the core of its expression.
  • Expressionism focused on themes of societal and interpersonal conflicts, as well as inner self-conflict.

4. Differences

• Historical Background

  • Sturm und Drang was a movement in the late 18th century, sandwiched between the Enlightenment and Classicism, expressing the nascent modern individualism.
  • Expressionism was influenced by the crisis of modern society, wars, and technological innovations in the early 20th century.

• Direction of Emotion

  • In Sturm und Drang, emotions often soared, displaying a heroic spirit challenging nature and fate.
  • Expressionism emphasized inward emotions, often highlighting despair, anxiety, and isolation.

• Advancement and Influence of Technology

  • Sturm und Drang deepened emotional expression mainly within the bounds of tonality.
  • Expressionism transcended tonal boundaries, pursuing the limits of expression with atonality and new harmonic methods.

5. Relationship and Influence

Sturm und Drang laid the foundation for Romantic music and literature by emphasizing emotional expression. It is considered that its innovative spirit was carried forward through the subsequent Romanticism and Symbolism, leading to Expressionism in the early 20th century.

In music, in particular, the emotional intensity of Sturm und Drang can be seen as having a certain continuity with the extreme emotional expression and freedom of form in Expressionism. However, while Sturm und Drang possessed emotional exaltation and heroism, Expressionism focused on the extreme depths and anguish of emotions.

Conclusion: Sturm und Drang shares commonalities with Expressionism in terms of emphasizing emotion and freeing form, but differences in the nature of emotions, historical background, and approach significantly distinguish the two. Nonetheless, Sturm und Drangʼs pioneering exploration of emotional expression can be regarded as one of the foundations of Expressionism.

I asked ChatGPT4o: "Are there any Romantic composers influenced by Sturm und Drang?"

There are numerous Romantic composers who were influenced by Sturm und Drang. As a movement in the late 18th century, Sturm und Drang was characterized by intensified emotional expression, drama, frequent use of minor keys, and irregular rhythms. This style became a significant foundation for Romantic music as it further deepened emotional expression. Below are some Romantic composers considered to be influenced by Sturm und Drang and their notable works.

1. Ludwig van Beethoven

• Influence from Sturm und Drang
  Beethoven inherited and further developed the intensified emotional expression and dramatic tension seen in Sturm und Drang. His works often prominently feature the use of minor keys and intense dynamics.
• Representative Examples
  • Symphony No. 5 “Fate” (dramatic development in a minor key)
  • Piano Sonata No. 8 “Pathétique”
  • String Quartet No. 11 “Serioso”

2. Franz Schubert

• Influence from Sturm und Drang
  Schubert inherited the dramatic expression of Sturm und Drang while adding lyricism. His songs often emphasize emotional fluctuations and tension.
• Representative Examples
  • Song cycle “Winterreise” (inner turmoil and emotional agitation)
  • Symphony No. 8 “Unfinished” (tension and lyricism in a minor key)

3. Felix Mendelssohn

• Influence from Sturm und Drang
  Mendelssohn partially inherited elements of Sturm und Drang, blending them with the transparency characteristic of Romanticism. His use of dramatic elements and minor keys shows this influence.
• Representative Examples
  • String Octet (dramatic tension and energy)
  • Overture “The Hebrides” (nature depiction and drama)

4. Robert Schumann

• Influence from Sturm und Drang
  Schumann deepened the emotional conflicts and inner turmoil of Sturm und Drang, adding poetic and dreamlike elements.
• Representative Examples
  • Piano cycle “Fantasiestücke” (diversity of emotions and dramatic development)
  • Symphony No. 4 (intense emotional conflict and tension)

5. Johannes Brahms

• Influence from Sturm und Drang
  Brahms further developed the deep emotional expression and drama of minor keys from Sturm und Drang using the language of Romanticism. His music is notable for its inner tension.
• Representative Examples
  • Symphony No. 1 (Sturm und Drang-like tension and grand drama)
  • Piano Quintet (dramatic development and inner conflict)

6. Richard Wagner

• Influence from Sturm und Drang
  Wagner expanded the dramatic expression of Sturm und Drang, influencing the emotional exaltation and tension in his operas.
• Representative Examples
  • Music drama “Tristan und Isolde” (extreme tension and emotional heightening)

7. Gustav Mahler

• Influence from Sturm und Drang
  Mahler inherited the spirit of intensified emotional expression from Sturm und Drang, expanding it further into the 20th century.
• Representative Examples
  • Symphony No. 6 “Tragic” (dramatic minor key and deepening of emotions)
  • Symphony No. 9 (introspective and deep emotional expression)

Summary

The emotional expression and drama of Sturm und Drang became the core of Romantic music, significantly influencing the entire Romantic movement, particularly through Beethoven and Schubert. Romantic composers developed the elements of Sturm und Drang in their own styles, evolving towards deeper depictions of inner emotions and nature.

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