Expressionism

Expressionism in music emerged in the early 20th century, mainly in Central Europe, like some sort of highbrow rebellion against all that romantic fluff. It favours dissonance and complex structures, sounding like a musical anxious breakdown; think less 'dance around the maypole' and more 'wrestle with your inner demons' in every key imaginable. The genre isn't just a mood swing for the musically inclined but also sparked countless debates, particularly about who could handle the shrieks and who couldn’t—much like a family dinner gone wrong.