Music in the Early 1900's

Wagner, Debussy and Schoenberg changed music in general in the Classical era. It was at this turn of the century, when these few composers deviated from traditional music styles, developing there own along the way. The new styles were revolutionary, and often thought of as unusually enjoyable during this time. Music takes a whole new turn as conventional rules are stripped from the conservative formats of classical music.

Tonality or overcoming the conventional boundaries of harmonious music set up the main changes of this era. Richard Wagner was one of the first to get his feet wet with the concept of tonality. He makes many attempts to stretch tones as a new formulaic idea for his music. Claude Debussy follows with impressionist music. This displays different, obscure but peaceful uses of tonality. Later on a famous composer, Arnold Schoenberg, brought around a revolution in music incorporated with new tonality. He completely eliminated the use of conventional tonality in his songs. His new technique the twelve-tone technique dramatically differed from most composers classical styles. Even though thought of as offensive at the time later down the road, his music gained revolutionary and inspirational status.

Dissonance was a change that occurred in the process of morphing classical music. Earlier classic musicians established dissonance as a weak phase that needed strengthening. Audiences were appalled at first by the drastic change but eventually accepted the unusual, catchy style. Though soon, satisfaction went down again and came back to haunt composers, for audiences didn't get a sense of completeness when the song was over because the increased use of dissonance left the endings of music hanging just as part of the general style.

The new century also brought with it a new and improved national style. National characteristics came through most from composers from Western to Midwestern European countries. A sense of national pride developed through these songs for many themes were taken directly form old country songs and new inspirational songs for that country. In total, changes in tonality in music, dissonance in music and a sense of national pride in music, caused the turn of the century to be a vital part in the forming of music throughout the ages all around the world.