Quarter 1

Music of the 20th Century

Lesson 1

IMPRESSIONISM

• It is made use of the Whole-tone scale. It also applied suggested, rather than depicted. It created a
mood rather than a definite picture. It had a translucent and hazy texture, lacking a dominant- tonic
th, fifth Octaves, 9th intervals, resulting in a
relationship. It made use of overlapping chords , with 4
nontraditional harmonic order and resolution

3 Characteristics of Impressionism

• Use of Tone Color (it is not just something you see, you can hear it as well) or timbre (tone Quality)

Example: Lead Guitar vs. Bass Guitar

• Creating Atmosphere – meaning when you listen to impressionist music it is if you are being transported to
another place whether that place is real or imagined

• Use of Unusual Chords- unusual scales

Example: Whole tone scale, major scale

IMPRESSIONISM COMPOSERS

• CLAUDE DEBUSSY
• JOSEPH MAURICE RAVEL

CLAUDE DEBUSSY (Father of the Modern School of Composition)

• He was born in St. Germain-en-Laye in France on August 22, 1862. His early musical talents were channeled
into piano lessons. He entered the Paris Conservatory in 1873. In 1884, he won the top prize at the Prix de
Rome competition with his composition L’ Enfant Prodigue (the Prodigal Son)

CLAUDE DEBUSSY’s Works:

 String Quartet
 La Mer (1905)- a highly imaginative and atmospheric symphonic work for orchestra about the sea
 Premiere Arabesque
 Claire de Lune (Moonlight)- the third and most famous movement of Suite bergamasque

Joseph Maurice Ravel

• Born on: March 7, 1875 in Ciboure, France
• At the age of 14, he entered the Paris Conservatory
• Compositional Style: Atonal Style (music that is written in a way that is not based on any particular key)
• Died: March 25, 1918 but he could not have a public funeral because Paris was being heavily bombed at the
end of World War I.

Maurice Ravel’s Works:

 Pavane for Dead Princess
 String Quartet (1903)
 Sonatine for Piano (c. 1904)
 Rhapsodie Espagnole
 Bolero
Quarter 1
Music of the 20th Century

Lesson 1

IMPRESSIONISM

• It is made use of the Whole-tone scale. It also applied suggested, rather than depicted. It created a
mood rather than a definite picture. It had a translucent and hazy texture, lacking a dominant- tonic
th, fifth Octaves, 9th intervals, resulting in a
relationship. It made use of overlapping chords , with 4
nontraditional harmonic order and resolution

3 Characteristics of Impressionism

• Use of Tone Color (it is not just something you see, you can hear it as well) or timbre (tone Quality)

Example: Lead Guitar vs. Bass Guitar

• Creating Atmosphere – meaning when you listen to impressionist music it is if you are being transported to
another place whether that place is real or imagined

• Use of Unusual Chords- unusual scales

Example: Whole tone scale, major scale

IMPRESSIONISM COMPOSERS

• CLAUDE DEBUSSY
• JOSEPH MAURICE RAVEL

CLAUDE DEBUSSY (Father of the Modern School of Composition)

• He was born in St. Germain-en-Laye in France on August 22, 1862. His early musical talents were channeled
into piano lessons. He entered the Paris Conservatory in 1873. In 1884, he won the top prize at the Prix de
Rome competition with his composition L’ Enfant Prodigue (the Prodigal Son)

CLAUDE DEBUSSY’s Works:

 String Quartet
 La Mer (1905)- a highly imaginative and atmospheric symphonic work for orchestra about the sea
 Premiere Arabesque
 Claire de Lune (Moonlight)- the third and most famous movement of Suite bergamasque

Joseph Maurice Ravel

• Born on: March 7, 1875 in Ciboure, France
• At the age of 14, he entered the Paris Conservatory
• Compositional Style: Atonal Style (music that is written in a way that is not based on any particular key)
• Died: March 25, 1918 but he could not have a public funeral because Paris was being heavily bombed at the
end of World War I.

Maurice Ravel’s Works:

 Pavane for Dead Princess
 String Quartet (1903)
 Sonatine for Piano (c. 1904)
 Rhapsodie Espagnole
 Bolero