Impressionism

Question 1

Impressionism - Dates

Answer 1

Late 1890s-Early 1900s

Question 2

What can Impressionist pieces be described as?

Answer 2

Dream-like

Question 3

Impressionist pieces can often use lots of….

Answer 3

Ornamentation

Question 4

Impressionism - Tonality

Answer 4

Vague - implied by pedals

Modal (e.g. Dorian mode)

Question 5

Impressionism - Scales used

Answer 5

Pentatonic
Whole tone
Chromatic

Question 6

Impressionism - Harmony

Answer 6

Parallel harmonies 
Dissonances
Added 7th/9th chords
Static harmony
Bare 5ths
Chromatic + modal progressions
Diminished chords

Question 7

Impressionism - Rhythms/Tempo

Answer 7

Cross rhythms 
Detailed approach to tempo
Triplets
Irregular, complex rhythms
Designed to sound almost non-metrical (changing time signatures)

Question 8

Impressionism - Composers

Answer 8

Debussy
Ravel
Vaughan Williams

Question 9

Impressionism - key features

Answer 9

• Slow changing (static) harmony
• Parallel chords/harmony including 7th and 9th chords
• Whole tone & pentatonic scales
• Free structures
• Bare 5ths, chromatic & modal progressions
• Vague tonality implied by pedals
• Programmatic forms
• Unresolved dissonances
• Detailed approach to tonality, dynamics & tempo