Claude Debussy and Impressionism in Music
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Questions and Answers

What musical technique did Debussy use to lessen tension in his compositions?

  • Use of parallel fifths (correct)
  • Use of dramatic narratives
  • Use of traditional harmony
  • Use of major scales

Which of the following best describes the emotional character of Debussy's Nocturnes: No. 1, Nuages?

  • Dissonant and spiritualistic
  • Traditionally harmonic
  • Peaceful and spacey (correct)
  • Dramatic and intense

How did Scriabin's music differ from the traditional tonality of composers like Rachmaninoff?

  • Scriabin used more consonant harmonies
  • Scriabin incorporated more dramatic narratives
  • Scriabin moved away from conventional tonality into spiritualism (correct)
  • Scriabin used more traditional piano techniques

Which of the following is true about the musical style of Rachmaninoff?

<p>He used more traditional harmonic language (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary focus of the 'classical modernists' like Debussy compared to previous composers?

<p>Removal of dramatic narratives (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the musical language used by Debussy and Scriabin?

<p>Highly dissonant and tonally ambiguous (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one significant difference between Claude Debussy and Alexander Scriabin's approach to music composition?

<p>Debussy used modes to lessen tension, while Scriabin focused on spiritualism. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In terms of harmony, how did Serge Rachmaninoff differ from Alexander Scriabin?

<p>Rachmaninoff embraced traditional harmony, while Scriabin moved away from conventional tonality. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which musical technique did Claude Debussy employ in his compositions that was unconventional and challenged previous norms?

<p>Use of parallel fifths, which were avoided by earlier composers. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguished Impressionism in music as exemplified by Claude Debussy from traditional musical styles?

<p>Impressionism suggested musical ideas subtly without clear statements. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was a key motivator for Alexander Scriabin to deviate from conventional tonality in his compositions?

<p>Belief in music as a transcendental medium leading to spiritual realms. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did traditional composers like Beethoven differ from Claude Debussy in terms of musical expression?

<p>Beethoven employed clear dramatic narratives, while Debussy focused on subtlety and suggestion. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

First Generation of Modernist Composers

France: Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

  • Developed Impressionism in music and Symbolism in music
  • Removed dramatic narrative from compositions, suggesting ideas without directly stating them
  • Techniques: used modes, pentatonic and octatonic scales, and parallelism to reduce tension
  • Employed parallel fifths, which were previously avoided
  • Example: Nocturnes: No. 1, Nuages (NAWM 172) - peaceful, spacey, with an ostinato and pizzicato "raindrops" effect

Russia: Traditional Harmony

  • Serge Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
  • Composed in a more traditional harmony style
  • Example: Prelude in G minor, Op. 23, No. 5 (NAWM 176) - features a "da-da-dutt" rhythm, with an exception in the middle section

Russia: Non-Traditional Harmony

  • Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915)
  • Moved away from conventional tonality, embracing spiritualism
  • Believed music was a portal to transcendence
  • Example: Vers la Flamme, Op. 72 (NAWM 177) - features very dissonant, but still tonal, music for piano solo

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Description

Explore the musical style of Claude Debussy, a leading figure in Impressionism in music, and the use of Symbolism in his compositions. Learn about how Debussy's music differs from previous classical composers like Beethoven, including techniques such as modes, pentatonic scales, and parallelism.

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