Impressionism in 20th Century Music – Key Points for Exam

20th Century Overview

• The musical works of the 20th century introduced new styles with dissonances, percussive sounds, and irregular rhythms.
• Influenced by European movements: impressionism, expressionism, neo-classicism, avant-garde, and modern nationalism.

Transitory Period and the Musical Movement

• The transitory period linked to major movements: Impressionism, Expressionism, Modern nationalism, Neo-classicism, Avant-Garde.

Impressionism

• Focus: suggestion and atmosphere rather than depicting emotions.
• Timeframe: late 19th to early 20th century (roughly 1890–1920).
• Aim: convey moods and atmospheres; not depict reality.
• Nature-inspired imagery: waves, flowing rivers, birds; music evokes beauty and atmosphere.

Characteristics

• Color (timbre) and Atmosphere as central ideas.
• Chords: often without a definite order or clear resolution.
• Let ring: sustain notes to create atmosphere (conceptual).
• Whole-tone color: use of scales and harmonies that blur traditional tonal centers.

Whole Tone Scale

• Definition: a scale in which each successive note is a whole tone apart.
• Mathematical form: $ext{Whole Tone Scale} = {0,2,4,6,8,10} \quad (\text{semitone steps})$
• Effect: creates ambiguous tonality and a dreamlike atmosphere.

Notable Composers

Claude Debussy (1862–1918)

• French composer; father of the Modern School of Composition; principal exponent of impressionism.
• Sought to change the sequence of music and develop a new language of harmony, rhythm, form, texture, and color.
• Major works include: Ariettes Oubliées, Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Pelleas et Melisande, La Mer, Suite Bergamasque, Estampes, Claire de Lune.

Maurice Ravel (1875–1937)

• French composer; known for extended chordal components; virtuoso in technique.
• Perfectionist who adheres to classical form, specifically ternary structure.