Music(Impressionism)

• Impresionism- It is the french movement in the late 19th and 20th century. The sentimental melodies and dramatic emotionalism pf the proceeding omantic period were replaced in favor of moods and impressions. An extensive use of chords and effects, vague melodies, and innovative chords leading to mild dissonances. The sounds of different chords overlapped lightly with each other to produce new subtle colors.
• Claude Debussy- most important and influential of the 20th century composers. He was a primary exponent of the impressionist movements and focal points for other impressionist composers. He changed the course of musical development by dissolving rules and conventions into new language in harmony, rhythm, form, texture and color. He died on March 25, 1918 in Paris. Less than 227.
• claude deubussy was born in St. Germain en Laye on August 22, 1862 and entered Paris conservatory in 1873. In 1884, he won the top prize at the Prix de Rome with his composition in L Enfant Prodigue. He gained reputation as erratic pianist and rebel in theory and harmony. study 2 yrs in rome when he got exposed to music of Richard Wagner, specifically his opera Tristan and Isolde, he didnt share the grandiose style.
• composition of debussy: Ariettes Oubliees, Prelude to the afternoon of the faun, String quartet, Pelleas et melisande(1895), La mer (1905), Images, Suite, Bargamesque, and Estampes, Claire de lune( Moonlight), Premiere Arabesque
• Joseph Maurice Ravel- was born in Ciboure France to a Basque mather and a Swiss fother. Born Mar 7 1875. Entered Paris Conservatory in age of 14 where he studied with eminent French composer Gabriel Faure. mainly characterized by uniquely innovative but not atonal style of harmonic tretment. It demands technical virtousity from perform which is the character, skill and ability of a virtuoso. PLeasantly elgantly and dissonant sophisticated. His refined color, contrasts and effects add to difficulty in the proper execution of the musical passages. He died in Paris on Dec 28 1937.
• Debussy is thirteen years older than Ravel
• Arnold Schoenberg

  1874-1951, German composer
• Born in a working class suburb of Vienna, Austria


  September 13, 1874
• Arnold Schoenberg

  • Taught himself music theory
  • Took lessons in counterpoint
  • Influenced by German composer Richard Wagner
• Works influenced by Wagner

  • Symphonic poem Pelleas et Melisande, op 5 (1903), a counterpoint of Debussy opera of the same title
• Influence of Wagner

  Schoenberg's tonal preference turned to the dissonant and atonal, as he explored the chromatic harmonies
• Schoenberg's music

  • Extremely complex, creating heavy demands on the listener. Works are 213.
• Schoenberg's works are extreme reactions, either strong hostility from general public or enthusiastic acclaim from supporters
• Schoenberg died in Los Angeles, California, USA


  July 13, 1951 where he was settled since 1934
• Compositions of Schoenberg: Verklarte Night , Three Pieces for piano, op 11, Pierrot Lunaire, Gurreleider, Verklarte Night (Transfigured Night 1899), Violin Concerto, Skandalkonzert
• Schoenberg made the twelve tone system
• Igor Stravinsky 1882 1971 - was born in Oranienbaum Russia on June 17 1882.His musi c was eflected byhis French teacher, Nikolai Rimsky- Korsakov. The Firebird suite composed for Diaghelv's russian ballet, his skillful handling of material and rhytmic inventiveness went beyond by his russian predecessors. The Rite of spring was an outstanding work.He left the country for US in 1939, he turned his back onRussian nationalism and cultivated his neo classical music. he died on April 6, 1971. Around 127 works.
• Petrouchka is another work of igor featuring shifting rhythms and polytonality. The Rake progress, a full length opera of bach and mozart. The Nightingale (1914), Three tales for Children (1917), Duo Concertant 1932, Pulcinella (1920)
• compositons of Ravel: Pavane for a dead princess, Jeux d Eau, String quartet, Sonatine for piano, Mirrors, Gaspard de la nuit, Valses nobles et sentimentales, Le tombeau de couperin, Rhapsodie espagnole, Bolero
• This trend came new combinations of extended chords, hrmonies, whole tone, chromatic scales, and pentatonic scales. To create mood rather than a picture. It was translucent and hazy like seeing a rain drenched window. Different chords overlapped lightly to produce new subtle musical colors. Chords didnt have a definite order and a sense of clear resolution.
• it uses tonic dominant relationship that gives the finality of the piece, moods, harmonic vagueness, textures, and structures of certain chords.
• Debussy has a role as a "Father of the Modern School of Composition."
• Ravel works - programmatic nature. Deals with water, stormy and moods as well the human characterizations.