new Classicism

Neoclassicism (also spelled Neo-classicism) was a Western cultural movement in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that drew inspiration from the art and culture of classical antiquity.

: of, relating to, or constituting a revival or adaptation of the classical especially in literature, music, art, or architecture.

The neoclassical impulse found its expression in such features as the use of pared-down performing forces, an emphasis on rhythm and on contrapuntal texture, an updated or expanded tonal harmony, and a concentration on absolute music as opposed to Romantic program music.

Neoclassical then refers to any compositional styles following this brief, especially between 1917 to 1930. Many refer specifically to works by Igor Stravinsky, Paul Hindemith, Arthur Honegger or Dmitri Shostakovich.

The primary Neoclassicist belief was that art should express the ideal virtues in life and could improve the viewer by imparting a moralizing message.

Neoclassicism was so named because writers imitated the classical structures of the Romans and Greeks of ancient times. Between 1660 and 1798, writers created works that embraced logic and reason and eschewed the ideas of the Enlightenment.

Neoclassical music is a genre that has been steadily growing in popularity over the past few decades. It is a unique blend of classical music and modern styles, creating a sound that is both familiar and innovative.

Neoclassicism was instigated by Igor Stravinsky, according to himself, but attributed by others to composers including Ferruccio Busoni (who wrote "Junge Klassizität" or "New Classicality" in 1920), Sergei Prokofiev, Maurice Ravel, and others.

composer Igor Stravinsky Composers who returned to the sounds and structures of the classics and used them as a model were called neoclassicists and created a new genre of music often identified as neoclassicism. It is commonly understood that the composer Igor Stravinsky and his contemporaries created this genre of music in the 1920s.

Neoclassicism in music became a popular trend, with composers wanting to return to the principles of “classicism”, such as order, balance, clarity, economy and emotional restraint – a reaction against late Romanticism's unrestrained emotionality and lack of structure.

Neoclassical art is a revival of ancient Greek and Roman styles, put to a modern purpose. It continues to be popular today. Examples of Neoclassical art abound in the United States. Buildings such as the US Capitol and the Supreme Court, as well as numerous state capitols, were built in the Neoclassical style.

To aid in this believability the following three rules of reality, morality, and generality were applied. Reality is composed of the unity of time, place, and action. To be realistic, the play must take place in a twenty-four hour period, must stay in the same location, and the action must be logical and credible.