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The Reflection of Liberalism in 20th Century Classical Music
March, 2025
Faris Abdul Al
Music has always responded to the whims of society, the notions of philosophers, and the never-ending turbulence of political landscapes. It always served as a reflection of humanity's ever-changing desires, conflicts, and beliefs… From here, some principles of liberalism might have found a resonating voice within the realm of Modern classical music.
Liberalism in a Nutshell
Liberalism is a political and philosophical ideology that emerged during the late 17th and early 18th centuries through the Enlightenment or the Age of Reason. Its principles challenged the systems of absolute monarchy and authoritarian rule, stimulating a shift in intellectual thought, the value of reason, individual rights, and freedom. The rise of liberalism was profoundly influenced by thinkers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who advocated for the protection of natural rights, limited government interference, and the importance of consent from the governed, to promote progress and equality in society. The American Revolution, which then led to the formation of the United States, serves as an example for the practice of the ideals of liberalism, with its emphasis on individual freedom and liberal principles. Similarly, the French Revolution spread the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity throughout Europe by overthrowing the monarchy and gaining republican control.
Individualism in Modern Classical Music
Two of the pre-eminent principles of liberalism are individualism and the freedom of individual expression. As mentioned, liberalism champions personal autonomy and liberty; it promotes the idea that individuals should have the freedom to pursue their own interests and happiness, limited only by the need to respect the rights and freedoms of others. This encouraged classical composers to express their individuality and emotions freely through their music, which led to the unprecedented use of music as a means of conveying unique perspectives and experiences, separating from the strict constraints of traditional musical themes. A great example is Olivier Messiaen’s "Quartet for the End of Time" (1941). Composed while the French composer was imprisoned during World War II, the piece is a deep personal expression of his religious beliefs and experiences. In the quartet, which is arranged for piano, violin, cello, and clarinet, he combines traditional instruments with birdsong transcriptions, unique rhythms, and harmonies, creating a profoundly spiritual and innovative work (Brown, 2013).
A more recent example of pieces reflecting unusual personal expression in music is “4’33” (1958) by the American composer John Cage. Considered one of the most radical works in classical music, “4’33” is a 3-movement piece of silence. Cage challenged the notion of what music could be and urged his listeners to pay attention to the ambient sounds around them, in which he once said after his piece’s premiere: “They missed the point. There's no such thing as silence. What they thought was silence, because they didn't know how to listen, was full of accidental sounds. You could hear the wind stirring outside during the first movement. During the second, raindrops began pattering the roof, and during the third the people themselves made all kinds of interesting sounds as they talked or walked out.” (Classical Music, 2024). Hence, individualism and freedom of expression, key libera principles, became increasingly prominent in music of the 20th century despite their peculiarity and unorthodoxy.
Rejection of Traditional Rules
During the Modern era, many new musical elements and methods that reflected liberal influence rose to prominence, including serialism and atonality. It began with the Austrian-American composer and music theorist Arnold Schoenberg, who is considered a pivotal figure in the realm of musical innovation during the early 20th century and the father of Modernism. He created the twelve-tone technique, a method that involves arranging the twelve different pitches of the chromatic scale in a specific order, giving all notes equal importance, and thus liberating music from traditional tonality. This system of organizing pitches, rhythms, and timbres in an ordered series is given the name “Serialism.” As liberalism advocates for social equality and freedom, this technique creates a sense of musical equality and abolishes the hierarchical relationship between musical elements, rejecting conventional boundaries of harmony and melody (Chase, 2006).
Similarly, atonality refers to the absence of a tonal center or key in a musical composition. In traditional tonal music, a piece is organized around a specific key, with certain notes serving as a sense of resolution and stability. However, in atonal music, composers intentionally avoid these tonal centers and write music that lacks a clear sense of harmony. Schoenberg's use of dissonance and exploration of expressionism brought emotional intensity into his compositions, which left a profound impact on the world of music and inspired countless film composers and renowned musicians, such as Hans Zimmer and John Williams. Therefore, the Modern era of classical music witnessed the domination of innovative musical elements and techniques that were notably influenced by liberalism, championing artistic freedom and pushing boundaries in the field of music.
Incorporation of Folk and World Music
With the liberal spirit of embracing diversity and cultural exchange, composers began to incorporate folk music and elements from various world traditions into their compositions. This led to a fusion of different musical styles and expanded the sonic palette of classical music. A great example of a Modern composer who employed this device is Claude Debussy, a French composer known to be the first Impressionist composer. Debussy was once fascinated with the Javanese Gamelan music of Indonesia, which influenced him to compose "Pagodes," a piece from his piano suite "Estampes" (1903). The piece showcases the delicate balance of exotic and traditional elements, embracing world music within a classical framework (Pearson, n.d.).
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Another example of this device is Igor Stravinsky’s most famous ballet and orchestral work “The Rite of Spring” (1913). Stravinsky was a Russian composer, widely regarded as one of the most prominent musical figures of the 20th century. With its ferocious atmosphere, wild dissonances, barbaric rhythms, and unconventional use of instruments, the revolutionary piece depicts an ancient ritual of primitives celebrating the arrival of spring. Its premiere in Paris shocked the public immensely that it caused raging riots and serious criticism (Schwarm, 2023). Nevertheless, the integration of folk music and different world traditions into Modern classical compositions marked, to a certain extent, a liberal embrace of multiculturalism.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as the realm of the Modern era unfolded, the profound influence of liberalism grew evident. The principles of individual freedom and expression strongly found their way into music. Composers broke away from the constraints of tradition and embraced their unique perspectives, defying norms, and the liberal view of cultural diversity led to the merging of folk and world music in compositions, painting vibrant musical elements and themes onto the global musical canvas. This profound mixture of musical innovations left a long-living legacy of artistic freedom, exploration, and unbounded creativity that continues to inspire generations till this day.
References
Brown, C.A. (2017). Messiaen: Rhythm and Birdsong in Quartet for the End of Time. UC Davis: Prized Writing.
Chase, W. (2006). Atonality—Atonal Music, 12 Tone, Serialism, and Why it Sounds Chaotic. In How Music Really Works! (2nd ed.). Roedy Black Publishing.
Classical Music. (2024, December 9). ‘There’s no such thing as silence’: What is the point of John Cage’s
4’33"? Classical Music by BBC Music Magazine. https://www.classical-music.com/features/works/john-cage-433
Pearson. (n.d.). Claude Debussy: Estampes – Nos. 1 and 2 (‘Pagodes’ and ‘La soirée dans Grenade’) (for component 3: Appraising). Pearson. https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/A%20Level/Music/2016/teaching-and-learning-materials/AS-Debussy-set-work-support-guide.pdf
Schwarm, B., & Kuiper, K. (2023, August 4). The Rite of Spring | History, Composer, & Facts. Britannica. Retrieved August 21, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Rite-of-Spring
