Music of the 20th Century Flashcards
Year of Impressionism
1870-1920
A style of music and of painting that avoids definite forms or obvious statements.
Impressionism
Focuses on creating particular atmosphere or mood rather than following traditional harmonic or formal structures.
Atmosphere and mood
Convey feelings and emotions evoked by a scene, much like captured effects of light and color
Atmosphere and Mood
features fluid and free flowing rhythms that mirror the flow of natural phenomena
Fluid Rhythms
rhythmic flexibility contributes to the improvisational quality of the music, giving performers room to interpret the music with a sense of spontaneity.
Fluid Rhythms
special scale in music that sounds a bit mysterious and dreamy
whole tone scale
Root - Whole Step - Whole Step - Whole Step - Whole Step - Whole Step - Whole Step (and then back to the root)
Whole-Tone Scale Formula
also known as parallel motion, occur when two or more musical voices or parts move together in the same direction by the same interval
Parallel or Gliding Chords
one note goes up or down, the other notes in the chord move in the same direction by the same amount. This creates a harmonically smooth and connected sound.
Parallel or Gliding Chords
to sounds that don’t quite fit together nicely and might sound a bit harsh or tense
dissonance
“musical discomfort.”
dissonance
-Born on August 22, 1862 near Paris.
-At 11 he entered the Paris Conservatoire.
-Within few years of studies. He used unique harmonies to the point that it defied the sacred rules of music theories.
Claude Debussy
1862-1918
Claude Debussy
one of Debussy’s most iconic pieces, known for its dreamy and impressionistic qualities. It’s often performed on the piano and is a beloved work in the classical music repertoire
Clair de Lune
Suite Bergamasque
Clair de Lune
orchestral piece is considered a masterpiece of Impressionism and is based on a poem by Stéphane Mallarmé. It’s celebrated for its evocative and sensual atmosphere
Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
a symphonic suite consisting of three movements. Debussy’s use of orchestration and impressionistic techniques brilliantly captures the imagery and mood of the sea
La Mer
The Sea
La Mer
-born March 7, 1875
-1889 entered the Paris Conservatoire at 14
-His works depicts incisive rhythms and harmonies are more dissonant
Maurice ravel
his mastery of orchestration and ability to create mesmerizing musical experiences through repetition and gradual development. It remains a beloved and influential piece in the classical music repertoire
Boléro
1928
Boléro
