IMPRESSIONISM

MUSIC
HOW READY ARE YOU?
 Why should one compose?

 How does a composer’s work influence the musical

forms of a period?

 How does one person make a difference in his

period?
IMPRESSIONISM
As the nineteenth century came to an end, the artists
introduced a new period called impressionism. it was a
style of music and of painting that avoids definite forms
or obvious statements, instead highlighting suggestion
and atmosphere. This style covered the decades from
1870-1920.
In art, the Impressionists wanted to retain the freshness of
their impressions through their styles in painting. They
took painting out of their studio into the open air – since
one of their subjects is light. They prepared
“insignificant” material like everyday scenes of middle-
class life situation or nature in all aspects.
In music, Impressionist composers' works expressed reaction to
experience rather than the reality itself, keeping a calm perspective.

Impressionism in music describes many new styles in composition.

Impressionist composers found a new world of richness in rhythms,
scales and colors that showed contrasting styles with Western
traditional forms.

The musical styles of the Impressionism are the following:

A. WHOLE-TONE SCALE
Sometimes known as the “symmetrical scale” is a hexatonic
scale which means that it uses only six notes. It’s made up entirely
of whole step intervals (tones).
B. PARALLEL OR GLIDING CHORDS

This is the interval between the lowest and the highest

notes forming a chord. Forming of notes depend on the
preferred intervals of the composers.
OCTAVES AND FIFTHS
FIFTHS AND OCTAVES
NINTH CORD
This is the extend chord with the seventh and the ninth notes added from the
root note (or tonic).
In the key of C Major, it would look like this:
C. DISSONANCE
CLAUDE DEBUSSY (1862 – 1918)
He was born on August 22, 1862 in St. Germain-en-Laye, near Paris.
At eleven, he entered the Paris Conservatoire.

Within a few years of study, his professors were shocked by his unique
use of harmonies to the point that it defied the sacred rules of music
theories. Debussy introduced new chord combinations, whole-tone
chords, parallel and bitonal chords, chromaticism, dissonances, and
interesting rhythms and scales. He was even asked by his professors
for explanations of his ideas in compositions.
OTHER FAMOUS WORKS OF DEBUSSY:

 Jeux
 La Mer
 L’enfant Prodigue (The Prodigal Son)
 Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
MAURICE RAVEL (1875-1937)
While Debussy is acknowledged as the outstanding
Impressionist composer, Joseph Maurice Ravel was
known for his styles and Compositions. He was a French
post-Impressionist composer, conductor, and pianist.
Ravel was born on March 7, 1875 in a village near Saint-
Jean-de-Luz, France. He came from a family of artists.
He received every inspiration from his Swiss father
when his talent for music became obvious at an early
age.
Majority of his works described the following styles in music
composition:

 Rhythms are more incisive.

 Melodies are broader in span and used "added" notes and
unresolved appoggiaturas.
 Harmonies are more dissonant.
 Orchestration are influenced from the nineteenth-century
composers.
Some of the famous works of Ravel were Daphnis et Chloé, Rapsodie
Espagnole, and Boléro. The last two orchestral compositions were the
best known and exposed his excellent mastery of the art of
instrumentation.

Boléro is a one-movement orchestral piece where the theme is played

persistently by various instruments. Only the timbre changes, not the
melody f the theme. The piece had an opening rhythm on the snare
drum, with rhythm that continues persistently (in ostinato) throughout
the work. It proceeds as played either in solo, duet, or quartet.
ACTIVITY NO.1
(ANSWER THE FF. ON ½ SHEET OF PAPER)
Describe Impressionism and its musical characteristics as created by Debussy and
Ravel

Debussy:
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Ravel:
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ASSIGNMENT:
1. Watch and listen to Maurice Ravel’s orchestral composition of Bolero. As you watch
it, identify the different musical instruments that play the well-known theme of his
piece. Write your answer in the box below.

2. Name and describe at least three (3) different styles used in the composition you have
heard in the presentations of the theme.