Claude Debussy Terms

Question 1

Define <b>symphonic poem</b>

Answer 1

one of the most popular forms of orchestral program music

single movement work, generally in free form, with literary or pictorial associations

invented by <b>Franz Liszt</b>

Question 2

Define <b>impressionism in music</b>

Answer 2

reflects French artistic movement

employs expanded harmonic vocabulary : whole tone, modal, pentatonic scales; parallel chords

suggests images rather than directly depicting

features innovative orchestral colors, including individual treatment of instruments and use of muted instruments

obscuring of metric pulse

Question 3

Define <b>Symbolism</b>

Answer 3

French literary movement of the late 19th century

symbolist writers include Paul Verlaine and Stéphane Mallarmé

authors sought to suggest subject matter rather than depict it specifically

stresses the beauty of the word itself