Sturm und Drang

                Sturm und Drang was a movement in German literature and music in the late 1760s-1780s. It was focused on the individual by means of perspective, belief, and desire. Emotional extremes meditating on human desire were mainly examined during this through terms of free expression. This served as a reaction to the prior imposed rationalism imposed by the Enlightment with more pragmatic and moralistic agenda.

                A typical Sturm und Drang work is often powerful and builds into violent action by means of human motive (versus the idealistic moral).  Also associated with this time were works focused on anti-aristocratic perceptions and all real and painful subjects that earlier were less touched in the artistic fields. This stemmed from a rise in the 18^th century middle class and an increase in the power garnered to the aristocracy. This tension became a fuel for most of literacy and other artistic mediums and essentially the proved to be a catalyst to the movement.  In turn with this violence and dissent, music in this time was darker than previous. Most songs were written in a minor key with difficult or depressing themes of melody and dynamics. Some prominent musicians during this time were Haydn, Mozart, and Bach with their music focused on the professed darker themes.

                It was also during this time that theater became a significant place of artistic representation. Here we see opera really take on a new light with focus on increasing emotional expression. A notable ballet (that some might recognize) is that of Christoph Gluck’s Don Juan. The stage essentially became a place for writers to critique societal issues and take shots on current and unfair situations through colorful representation of emotion and the human condition. Popular writers of this time were Johann Anton Leisewitz, Heinrich Leopold Wagner, Goethe, Fredrich Schiller, Jakob Lenz, and Frierich Klinger. For all those who want to get a glimpse into specific works look into Prometheus or Die Leiden des jungen Werthers  both written by Goethe and which deal with dramatic themes of God and deadly love (ending in suicide). 

                                                                  References:
                                             ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturm_und_Drang