Neo-classicism was a moderating

factor between the emotional excesses

of the Romantic period and the violent
impulses of the soul in expressionism. It
was,in essence,a partial return to an
earlier style of writing,particularly the
tightly-knit form of the Classical period,
while combining tonal harmonies with
slight dissonances.`
 It also adopted a modern,free
use of the seven-note diatonic
scale.Ex; Bela Bartok’s Song of the
Bagpipe and Piano Sonata.
In this latter piece,the Classical
three movement format is
combined with ever-shifting time
signatures,complex but exciting
rhythmic patterns,as well as
harmonic dissonances that produce
harsh chords.
 The neo-classicist style was
also used by composers such
as Francis Poulenc,Igor
Stravinsky,Paul Hindemith,and
Sergei Prokofieff.
SERGEI PROKOFIEFF(1891-1953)
Sergei Prokofieff is regarded
today as a combination of neo-
classicist,nationalist,and avant-
garde composer.His style is
uniquely recognizable for its
progressive
technique,pulsating
rhythms,melodic
directness,and a resolving
dissonance.
 Born in the Ukraine in 1891,Prokofieff
set out for the St. Petersburg
Conservatory equipped with his great
talent as acomposer and pianist.His
early compositions were branded as
avant-garde and were not approved of
by his elders.He continued to follow his
stylistic path and fled to other
places,hoping for a better acceptance of
his creativity.
 His contacts with Diaghilev and
Stravinsky gave him the chance to
write music for the ballet and
opera,notably the ballet Romeo and
Juliet and the opera War and Piece.
Much of Prokofieff’s opera was left
unfinished,due in part to resistance
by the performers themselves to the
seemingly offensive musical content.
He became prolific in writing
symphonies,chamber music,concerti
and solo instrumental music .
He also wrote Peter and the Wolf,a
lighthearted orchestral work intended
for children,to appease the continuing
government crackdown on avant-
garde composers at the time.
Prokofieff was highly succesful in his
piano music,as evidenced by the
wide acceptance of his piano
concerti and sonatas,featuring
toccata-like rhythms and biting
harmonic dissonance within a
Classical form and structure.
 Other significant compositions
include the Symphony no.1(also
called Classical Symphony),his most
accessible orchestral work linked to
the combined styles of classicists
Haydn and Mozart and neo-classicist
Stravinsky.
 He also composed violin sonatas,some
of which are also performed on the
flute;two highly regarded violin
concerti,and two string quartets inspired
by Beethoven. Prokofieff’s musical
compositions include concerti,chumber
music, film scores,operas,ballets,and
official pieces for state occasions. He died
in Moscow on March 15, 1953.