Impressionist Music Style Period By Nikki Miller and

Impressionist Music Style Period By Nikki Miller and Peter Magazzu

Overview • 1890 -1940 • The Impressionist music style was found during the ninetieth century to the beginning of the twentieth century in France • The Impressionist style was a reaction to the romanticism style • It wants to make an impression, not clearly describe the tone of the music

Characteristics • It uses whole tone scales as opposed to major and minor scales as the romantic style used in the past • It involves a lot of dissonance- chords weren’t used to relieve tension as they had in the past • It includes short melodies that have different moods throughout each piece

Important Composers The two “great” impressionists: – Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel Others include: Paul Dukas, Charles Griffes, Alexander Scriabin, and Ralph Vaughan Williams The style influenced many composers in the future

Claude Debussy • August 22, 1862 – March 25, 1918 • French composer • Music was not centered around one tone or pitch, he used symbolism • Used many parallel chords and unprepared modulations • Music was usually about events that occurred in his life • Clair de Lune was one of his most famous works

Maurice Ravel • • March 7, 1875 – December 28, 1937 French composer Influenced by Claude Debussy Known for his melodies, orchestral, and instrumental textures and effects • His music is found a lot in concert repertoire, also widely known for his orchestra pieces • His piece “Miroirs” (Mirrors) was a five piano piece was a “harmonic revolution”

Impressionism (1890– 1940) • The Impressionism period occurred in the 19 th century in France and was a painting movement as well • It also focused on literature • Basically, it was a radical movement by all art forms- involving topics and styles that had not been focused on or brought up before

“The Embarkation for Cythera" by Jean-Antoine Watteau. • This painting was made by Jean- Antoine Watteau that Claude Debussy based “L'îsle Joyeuse" ("The Island of Joy") on

The End