Expressionism (music)
Expressionism in music, flourishing roughly between 1905 and the early 1930s, is defined by extreme emotional intensity, atonal harmony, and innovative timbral experiments.
Music History & Eras
Explore Music History & Eras with clear music dictionary guides to periods, composers, styles, movements, and cultural change.
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Classical Era (Music)
The Classical era (c. 1730–1820) marked a shift toward clarity, balance, and structured forms such as the symphony and sonata. It emerged from the late Baroque and laid the groundwork for the Romantic period.
Renaissance Music (c. 1400–1600)
The Renaissance music era (c.1400–1600) marked a flourishing of polyphonic texture, modal harmony, and the rise of printed music, shaping Western art music for centuries.
Age of Enlightenment (Music)
The Age of Enlightenment in music, roughly spanning 1720–1820, marks the transition from Baroque complexity to Classical clarity, emphasizing balanced forms, homophonic texture, and the rise of the public concert.
Disco Era (Music)
The Disco Era (mid‑1970s to early‑1980s) was a dance‑music movement defined by four‑on‑the‑floor beats, lush orchestral arrangements, and pioneering studio techniques that reshaped popular culture.
Jazz Age (c. 1920–1930)
The Jazz Age, spanning roughly 1920 to 1930, was a cultural period marked by the rapid rise of jazz music, speakeasy dance halls, and a broader social shift toward modernity in the United States.
Baroque Era (Music)
The Baroque Era (c. 1600–1750) was a period of dramatic, ornate music marked by the rise of tonal harmony, basso continuo, and expressive contrast. It laid the groundwork for modern Western art music.
Streaming Era (music)
The Streaming Era, spanning roughly from 2015 to the present, marks the dominance of subscription‑based digital platforms in music consumption. It is defined by algorithmic playlists, shortened release cycles, and data‑driven production practices.
Big Band Era
The Big Band Era (mid‑1930s to late‑1940s) was a period when large jazz orchestras dominated popular music, defined by swing rhythms and elaborate arrangements.
Madrigal Era
The Madrigal Era (c.1520‑c.1590) marks the height of secular polyphonic vocal music in the Renaissance, renowned for expressive text‑setting and intricate counterpoint.