Impressionism in Music Overview

Impressionism in Music

• Originated in France during the late 19th century as a reaction against the Romantic style, emphasizing emotional expression.
• Characterized by a focus on atmosphere, using tones and harmony rather than clear melodies and rhythmic lines.
• Techniques include timbre, texture, harmony, and rhythm to convey messages subjectively.

Characteristics of Impressionist Music

• Utilizes whole-tone scales, modal scales, and exotic scales, moving beyond conventional Western classifications.
• Employs complex chords such as 9th chords, creating depth beyond basic triads.
• Features ambiguous chord progressions and unresolved passages, fostering a sense of uncertainty.
• Consists of unusual forms and irregular phrasing, breaking traditional musical structures.
• Instrumental timbre is crucial for expressing color and meaning in compositions.

Claude Debussy

• Born on August 22, 1862, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France.
• Key figure in impressionism, credited with influencing 20th-century music.
• Demonstrated musical talent early, entering the Conservatoire de Paris at age 11.
• His travels, especially after meeting wealthy patron Nadezhda von Meck, shaped his sensitive style.
• Most known for "Clair de Lune" and won the Grand Prix de Rome for "L’enfant prodigue."
• Significant works include:
  • "L’enfant prodigue" – for soprano, tenor, baritone, and orchestra.
  • "Petite suite" – for piano.
  • "String Quartet in G minor."
  • "Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune" – a symphonic poem.
  • "Pelléas et Mélisande" – an opera.
  • "La Mer" – orchestral work.
• Passed away on March 25, 1918, in Paris at age 55.

Maurice Ravel

• Born on March 7, 1875, in Ciboure, France, another leading figure in impressionism.
• Entered the Conservatoire de Paris at 14 and was involved in the Prix de Rome competition, though he did not win.
• Music adheres to contemporary norms but possesses personal nuances, similar to Debussy's work.
• Known for using modal scales, added thirds to triads, and ambiguous progressions in compositions.
• Important piano works include:
  • "Jeux d'eau" (1901).
  • "Miroirs" (1905).
  • "Gaspard de la nuit" (1908).
  • "Le Tombeau de Couperin" (1917).
  • Two piano concertos.
• Major orchestral contributions include "Rapsodie espagnole" and "Boléro."
• Lived alone in the forests of Rambouillet, finding contentment in solitude.
• Toured the U.S., Canada, and England in 1928, receiving an honorary music degree from Oxford University.
• Suffered from aphasia in 1932, impacting communication but not his musical creativity.
• Died on December 28, 1937, in Paris.