what is neoclassicism in music

Neoclassicism in music is a trend that emerged in the 20th century, particularly popular in the period between the two World Wars. It is characterized by a return to aesthetic precepts associated with the broadly defined concept of "classicism," such as order, balance, clarity, economy, and emotional restraint. Neoclassicism was a reaction against the unrestrained emotionalism and perceived formlessness of late Romanticism, as well as a "call to order" after the experimental ferment of the first two decades of the twentieth century. Some key features of neoclassical compositions include harmony based on tonal centers rather than modality and an emphasis on balanced triadic melodies. Neoclassicism had two distinct national lines of development, French and German, and important nineteenth-century precursors. Argentine composers associated with neoclassicism include Jacobo Ficher, José María Castro, and Luis.