IMPRESSIONISM (MUSIC) Flashcards
An art movement or style that originated in France in the late 19th century.
Impressionism
Impressionism is characterized by the suggestion of ___________ or ___________, which gives a feel of an “atmosphere,” where one may find meaning in what a composer would like to impart.
images, themes
Characteristics of Impressionism
- Use of whole tone, modal, and exotic scales
- Use of complex chords, such as the 9th chord
- Use of ambiguous chord progressions and unresolved passages
- Use of unusual forms and irregular phrases
- Use of instrumental, orchestral timbre, and texture
It is based on purely whole tone intervals.
Whole tone scale
Diatonic scales with a set of musical characters.
Modal scales
It refers to any that is beyond the Western scale classification.
Exotic scales
Birth and death date of Claude Debussy.
August 22, 1862 - March 25, 1918
He was credited for being one of the composers who paved the way for what we call today as 20th century music.
Claude Debussy
At _____ years old, Debussy manifested his piano skills.
nine
Where did Debussy grew up?
Desolate suburb of Paris
Debussy met a woman who was a Russian millionaire.
Nadezhda Filaretovna von Meck
In 1884, Debussy won the ____________________ with his composition, “L’enfant prodigue.”
Prix de Rome (Grand Prix de Rome)
A cantata with text by Edouard Guinand.
L’enfant prodigue
A big choral composition, which may be either sacred or secular.
Cantata
3 artists who influenced the works of Debussy
- Richard Wagner
- Alexander Borodin
- Modest Mussorgsky
This seeks to refine emotional responses and expose one’s imagination in a shadowy manner, gave way to Debussy’s compositional style.
Gesamtkunstwerk
How many compositions does Debussy have?
141
6 works of Debussy
- L’enfant prodigue
- Petite suite
- String Quartet in G minor
- Prelide a l’apres-midi d’un faune
- Pelleas et Melisande
- La mer
A composition for piano.
Petite suite
A composition for soprano, tenor, baritone, and orchestra.
L’enfant prodigue
A symphonic poem for the orchestra.
Prelude a l’apres-midi d’un faune
An opera
Pelleas et Melisande
Where was Debussy born?
Saint-Germain-en-Laye in France
An orchestral work
La mer
Where was Ravel born?
Ciboure, France
Birth and death date of Maurice Ravel
March 7, 1875 - December 28, 1937
He was encouraged by his family to cultivate his musicianship when it began to manifest at his early age.
Maurice Ravel
Ravel entered the __________________ at the age of _____ in __________.
Conservatoire de Paris, 14, 1889
Ravel made his compositions based on _______________.
modal scales
2 of Ravel’s contribution to western music’s orchestral works
- Rapsodie espagnole
- bolero
Ravel was single throughout his life and was content living alone in the _____________________________________.
forest of Rambouillet near Paris
In _______, Ravel contacted __________ (a disorder).
1932, aphasia
A communication disorder resulting in the inability to comprehend and communicate words.
aphasia
