20th century classical music was extremely varied and thus there was no dominant style. However, a salient feature in classical music during this period was the increased use of dissonance. Because of this, the 20th century is sometimes called the "Dissonant Period" of classical music, because much of its music was a reaction to, or against, the common practice period, which emphasized consonance. The International Paris Exposition celebrating the centennial of the French Revolution in 1889 is referred to by one writer as the watershed transitional moment from consonance to dissonance.
