The Expressionist Style Schoenberg decided to eliminate tonality in the works from his expressionist period, beginning in 1908 with the Three Piano Pieces , opus 11. Though this melody is simply an F minor arpeggio, it is still remarkable since it spans a range of six octaves. Such a melody would be unthinkable in the vocal-based Classical style. As the Romantic era progresses, composers use melodies of this sort more often. Wagner, Parsifal , II Schoenberg uses these disjunct melodies frequently.
Harmonic ideas change drastically as well.
The idea of functional harmony breaks down, and composers select the notes in chords more for their color than for their relationship to other chords. Again, though, there are precedents in Romantic music. 11 Schoenberg's Three Piano Pieces , opus 11, are a landmark in his work, as well as for expressionism in general. Interestingly, he returns to a genre in which he had written very little, the suite of piano pieces, a favorite genre of Brahms. Piano piece, op.11, no.2 Though Brahms would never have written such dissonant harmonies, the texture is similar to that of Brahms's piano pieces.