Impressionism in music
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| - | The '''impressionist movement in music''' is a movement in [[European classical music]], mainly in France, that had its beginnings in the late nineteenth century and continued into the middle of the twentieth century. Like its precursor in the visual arts, musical [[Impressionism]] focused on suggestion and atmosphere rather than strong emotion or the depiction of a story as in [[program music]]. Musical Impressionism occurred as a reaction to the excesses of the [[Romantic music|Romantic era]]. While the Romantic era was characterized by a dramatic use of the [[major scale|major]] and [[minor scale|minor]] scale system, Impressionist music tends to make more use of [[dissonance]] and more uncommon scales such as the [[whole tone scale]]. Romantic composers also used long forms of music such as the [[symphony]] and [[concerto]], while Impressionist composers favored short forms such as the [[nocturne]], arabesque, and [[prelude]]. | ||
| - | Musical Impressionism was based in [[France]], and the French composers [[Claude Debussy]] and [[Maurice Ravel]] are generally considered to be the two "great" Impressionists. However, composers are generally not as accurately described by the term "Impressionism" as [[painters]] in the genre are. Debussy renounced it, saying "I am trying to do 'something different'- in a way realities- what the imbeciles call `impressionism' is a term which is as poorly used as possible, particularly by art critics." [[Maurice Ravel]] composed many other pieces that aren't identified as Impressionist. Nonetheless, the term is widely used today to describe classical music seen as a reaction to 19th century Romanticism. | + | '''Impressionism in music''' was a movement among various composers in Western [[classical music]], mainly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, whose music focuses on suggestion and atmosphere, "conveying the moods and emotions aroused by the subject rather than a detailed tone‐picture". In identifying [[Claude Debussy]] and his imitators as "impressionists", contemporaries compared their work in music to the earlier work of [[Impressionism|the impressionists]] in the visual arts. |
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| + | Claude Debussy found inspiration in [[Music of Java|Javanese]] music. Debussy later wrote to a friend, "Do you not remember the Javanese music, able to express every shade of meaning, … which makes our tonic and dominant seem like ghosts?" He and [[Maurice Ravel]] were generally considered to be the two "great" impressionists. However, these days composers are generally not as accurately described by the term "Impressionism" as [[painters]] in the genre were. | ||
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| + | Debussy renounced it, saying: "I am trying to do 'something different' – in a way realities – what the imbeciles call 'impressionism' is a term which is as poorly used as possible, particularly by art critics." | ||
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| + | [[Ernest Fanelli]] was claimed to have innovated the style, though his works were unperformed before 1912. | ||
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| + | Other composers said to have been influenced by Impressionism include [[Isaac Albéniz]], [[John Alden Carpenter]], [[Frederick Delius]], [[Paul Dukas]], [[Manuel de Falla]], [[Charles Tomlinson Griffes]], and [[Ottorino Respighi]]. | ||
| - | Accordingly, many musical instructions in "impressionist" pieces contain musical instructions written in [[French language|French]], as opposed to the traditional [[Italian language|Italian]]. | ||
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Impressionism in music was a movement among various composers in Western classical music, mainly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, whose music focuses on suggestion and atmosphere, "conveying the moods and emotions aroused by the subject rather than a detailed tone‐picture". In identifying Claude Debussy and his imitators as "impressionists", contemporaries compared their work in music to the earlier work of the impressionists in the visual arts.
Claude Debussy found inspiration in Javanese music. Debussy later wrote to a friend, "Do you not remember the Javanese music, able to express every shade of meaning, … which makes our tonic and dominant seem like ghosts?" He and Maurice Ravel were generally considered to be the two "great" impressionists. However, these days composers are generally not as accurately described by the term "Impressionism" as painters in the genre were.
Debussy renounced it, saying: "I am trying to do 'something different' – in a way realities – what the imbeciles call 'impressionism' is a term which is as poorly used as possible, particularly by art critics."
Ernest Fanelli was claimed to have innovated the style, though his works were unperformed before 1912.
Other composers said to have been influenced by Impressionism include Isaac Albéniz, John Alden Carpenter, Frederick Delius, Paul Dukas, Manuel de Falla, Charles Tomlinson Griffes, and Ottorino Respighi.
