Impressionism – Late 19th and Early 20th Century
Impressionism was a period of music focused on the mood instead of a more detailed harmonic picture. This movement in music complimented French art during the same time with painters like Monet. French symbolist poetry also followed the same trend of creating a mood using symbolic language.
Famous Impressionist Composers
- Frederic Chopin
- Claude Debussy
- Maurice Ravel
- Franz Liszt
- Erik Satie
What Instruments Were Used in Impressionism?
- Piano – Piano was an important instrument in Impressionism. Composers often used different scales to create exotic sounds. One scale they used was called the whole-tone scale.
- Woodwinds – Woodwinds were used to create an exotic sound. Some of their inspiration was taken from Asian music.
- Harp – The harp was a good instrument for creating soft moods.
- Strings – Strings were used in Impressionism to create atmosphere. Tremelo and muted strings were used to create different timbres and effects.
- Brass – Brass was used experimentally in impressionist music. Instruments could be muted or paired in unconventional combinations.
- Percussion – Cymbals, tambourines, and other percussion instruments were used with less emphasis on a beat to create effects and moods.
The Whole Tone Scale
Claude Monet
The Lives and Important Works of Impressionist Composers
Click on the names below to learn more about Impressionist composers.
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Achille Claude Debussy was an important French composer of Impressionist music. Debussy was a very talented child. Although he was born in a modest household, he was admitted to the Conservatoire of Paris at the age of ten. His primary instrument was the piano, but he soon found his talent in composition. He studied at the Conservatoire of Paris for eleven years. The faculty disapproved of his compositional technique because it did not adhere to traditional rules. But in 1884, Debussy won the Prix de Rome, a very prestigious compositional award. The winning composition was his cantata L’enfant Prodigue.
After winning the Prix de Rome, he moved to the Villa Medici to continue his studies. Debussy found the music there boring but was inspired by Franz Liszt, who would sometimes visit and perform at the Villa Medici. After many years of study, Debussy completed his only opera, Pelleas et Melisande, and finally achieved international fame.
Characteristics of Impressionism
Mood
Impressionist music tends to be mellow and create atmospheres and feelings.
Harmony
Static harmonies, extended harmonies, and parallel motion were used.
Timbre
Impressionist music uses the timbre of each instrument to create musical colors.
Length
Works by Impressionist composers tend to be short, one-movement pieces.
Form
Traditional classical music forms are avoided in Impressionism. The idea that music expresses feeling dominants the composition of the piece.
Melody
Melodic movement in some Impressionist music lacks movement. Other music draws inspiration from Oriental music scales, favoring whole-tone, modal, and pentatonic scales.
Style
The style of Impressionism is very lyrical and has a close connection with the art of that time and nature.
Critical Thinking Questions
- Listen to “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy and imagine a scene. Write down or discuss with the class what you imagined.
- How does Impressionist music differ from Romantic Era music?
- Has Impressionism influenced the music of today? How?