Expressionist music isn't everyone's cup of tea! Its unusual sounds can make it feel abstract and sometimes even scary. Composers who worked in this style experimented with methods that give their music a sense of structure. These techniques are important to study because they...
Smartsy Blog
What is Sprechstimme?
Let's listen to examples of the interesting vocal technique called sprechstimme. This cross between singing and speaking was used by many Expressionist composers. It was most famously used in Schoenberg's set of songs called Pierrot Lunaire. Check this out! To tell a singer to...
Bartók's Field Music
Hungarian musician Béla Bartók was one of the world's first ethnomusicologists. He roamed the Eastern European countryside, recording folk tunes all across Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria with his Edison phonograph.  Let's listen to some of Bartók's actual field recordings!  Now listen to...
Meet the Theremin
Invented by the scientist Leon Theremin, the theremin is an instrument that uses two antennas and an electromagnetic field to create sound. One antenna controls which notes the instrument plays, while the other affects the volume. Playing the theremin requires...
Stravinsky's Firebird
The Modernist composer Igor Stravinsky wrote music for several ballets. One of his most famous ballets was The Firebird, based on an old Russian legend. In the story, the firebird is a spirit who protects Prince Ivan as he battles an evil sorcerer...