Serialism

Serialism is a highly structured method of composition that emerged in the early 20th century, exemplified by its pioneering use in twelve-tone music developed by Arnold Schoenberg. It involves constructing compositions using a series, or "row," of pitches, rhythms, dynamics, or other musical elements in a fixed, pre-determined order, ensuring that no element is repeated until the series is complete. This technique promotes atonality, eschewing traditional harmonic and melodic development. Composers like Anton Webern, Alban Berg, and later, Pierre Boulez, expanded serialism's reach, applying its rigorous principles to multiple parameters of music. The resulting works often possess a cerebral quality, offering intricate textures, and challenging listeners' perceptions of musical coherence and progression. Serialism's influence can be seen in the complex, avant-garde compositions of figures such as Karlheinz Stockhausen and Milton Babbitt.

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Alban Berg
André Boucourechliev
Anton Webern
Arnold Schoenberg
Bas Wiegers
Brian Ferneyhough
Bruno Maderna
Diego Masson
Dieter Schnebel
Ernst Krenek
Fartein Valen
Franco Donatoni
Hanns Eisler
Hans Abrahamsen
Hans Werner Henze
Henri Pousseur
Hermann Heiss
Josef Matthias Hauer
Karel Goeyvaerts
Karlheinz Stockhausen
Klaus Huber
Leopold Spinner
Lou Harrison
Louis Andriessen
Luciano Berio
Luigi Nono
Marcus Weiss
Milton Babbitt
Per Nørgård
Peter Rundel
Philippe Manoury
Pierre Boulez
Roberto Gerhard
Roger Sessions
Stefan Wolpe
The California Parallele Ensemble
Walter Piston
Pierre Boulez
Arnold Schoenberg
Luciano Berio
Anton Webern
Alban Berg
Karlheinz Stockhausen
Hanns Eisler
Hans Abrahamsen
Hans Werner Henze
Lou Harrison
Peter Rundel
Louis Andriessen
Per Nørgård
Marcus Weiss
Luigi Nono
Roberto Gerhard
Ernst Krenek
Bruno Maderna
Brian Ferneyhough
Stefan Wolpe
Walter Piston
Milton Babbitt
Fartein Valen
The California Parallele Ensemble
Josef Matthias Hauer
Henri Pousseur
Franco Donatoni
Diego Masson
Philippe Manoury
Roger Sessions
Karel Goeyvaerts
Klaus Huber
Dieter Schnebel
Bas Wiegers
Leopold Spinner
Hermann Heiss
André Boucourechliev