The Impressionist Composers
POSTED August 24, 2020
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Besides referring to the famous paintings of the mid-to-late 19th century, the term Impressionism was also applied to musical compositions. Similar to Impressionist paintings, Impressionist music conveys moods, scenes, and emotions rather than detailed stories. Impressionism formed a bridge between the Romantic and Modern eras of classical music. It is characterized by the use of "tone 'color' or timbre* [sidebar] through different textures, harmonics, and orchestrations to arouse feelings and create atmosphere." [1]
Besides referring to the famous paintings of the mid-to-late 19th century, the term Impressionism was also applied to musical compositions. Similar to Impressionist paintings, Impressionist music conveys moods, scenes, and emotions rather than detailed stories. Impressionism formed a bridge between the Romantic and Modern eras of classical music. It is characterized by the use of "tone 'color' or timbre* [sidebar] through different textures, harmonics, and orchestrations to arouse feelings and create atmosphere." [1]
Claude Debussy, one of the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was just eleven years old when Monet, Pissarro, Degas, Renoir, Sisley and Berthe Morisot organized the "Exhibition of the Impressionists" in Paris in April 1874. Although Debussy vigorously rejected the label, he is generally considered the first composer to create in the impressionist musical style. "La Mer" ("The Sea") is his masterpiece and one of the supreme achievements of orchestral music.
Claude Debussy, one of the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was just eleven years old when Monet, Pissarro, Degas, Renoir, Sisley and Berthe Morisot organized the "Exhibition of the Impressionists" in Paris in April 1874. Although Debussy vigorously rejected the label, he is generally considered the first composer to create in the impressionist musical style. "La Mer" ("The Sea") is his masterpiece and one of the supreme achievements of orchestral music.
Debussy's fascination with the sea started when his mother Victorine took her children to visit her sister in law Clémentine, in Cannes at the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian Warin 1870. The young Claude kept a fond memory of his trip to the Côte d'Azur. In later years, he developed an even greater appreciation of the other seas surrounding France - the Atlantic and the Channel. [2]
Debussy's fascination with the sea started when his mother Victorine took her children to visit her sister in law Clémentine, in Cannes at the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian Warin 1870. The young Claude kept a fond memory of his trip to the Côte d'Azur. In later years, he developed an even greater appreciation of the other seas surrounding France - the Atlantic and the Channel. [2]
Debussy told his friends that he would have liked to become a painter. According to his biographer, "La Mer" draws its influences from Monet, Turner, and Hokusai. La Mer is subtitled "Three Symphonic Sketches" and the names of the movements provide us with verbal suggestions to stimulate our own sense of imagery: "From Dawn to Midday on the Sea," "Play of the Waves," and "Dialog Of The Wind And The Sea." [2,3]
Debussy told his friends that he would have liked to become a painter. According to his biographer, "La Mer" draws its influences from Monet, Turner, and Hokusai. La Mer is subtitled "Three Symphonic Sketches" and the names of the movements provide us with verbal suggestions to stimulate our own sense of imagery: "From Dawn to Midday on the Sea," "Play of the Waves," and "Dialog Of The Wind And The Sea." [2,3]
[A Cleveland Orchestra performance of La Mer conducted by Pierre Boulez is in the sidebar. You can find another great performance, Charles Münch and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, here.]
[A Cleveland Orchestra performance of La Mer conducted by Pierre Boulez is in the sidebar. You can find another great performance, Charles Münch and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, here.]
Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937) is another composer strongly associated with Impressionism. Around 1900 Ravel and a number of innovative young artists, poets, critics and musicians joined together in an informal group; they came to be known as Les Apaches, a name coined to represent their status as "artistic outcasts". Among the enthusiasms of the Apaches was the music of Debussy. Ravel was among the first composers to recognize the potential of recording to bring their music to a wider public. From the 1920s, he took part in recordings of several of his works. [4]
Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937) is another composer strongly associated with Impressionism. Around 1900 Ravel and a number of innovative young artists, poets, critics and musicians joined together in an informal group; they came to be known as Les Apaches, a name coined to represent their status as "artistic outcasts". Among the enthusiasms of the Apaches was the music of Debussy. Ravel was among the first composers to recognize the potential of recording to bring their music to a wider public. From the 1920s, he took part in recordings of several of his works. [4]
Besides "Bolero", one of Ravel's most well-known songs is "Pavane for a Dead Princess" [sidebar]. Although Ravel was at pains to point out that it ‘is not a funeral lament for a dead child, but rather an evocation of the pavane that might have been danced by such a little princess as painted by Velázquez’, his words were unheeded. One commentator notes that a pavane is a slow processional dance from Padua, and according to an old Spanish tradition, it was performed in church as a stylish gesture of farewell to the dead. [5, 6]
Besides "Bolero", one of Ravel's most well-known songs is "Pavane for a Dead Princess" [sidebar]. Although Ravel was at pains to point out that it ‘is not a funeral lament for a dead child, but rather an evocation of the pavane that might have been danced by such a little princess as painted by Velázquez’, his words were unheeded. One commentator notes that a pavane is a slow processional dance from Padua, and according to an old Spanish tradition, it was performed in church as a stylish gesture of farewell to the dead. [5, 6]
A younger contemporary of Debussy, Ravel too rejected the term Impressionist to describe his music. James Bennett, blogging at the WQXR website writes this about artistic labels:
A younger contemporary of Debussy, Ravel too rejected the term Impressionist to describe his music. James Bennett, blogging at the WQXR website writes this about artistic labels:
[They] are tricky little things because they trap artists in a kind of musical amber with others that we deem just similar enough. The result? It becomes all the more difficult to look at a composer’s body of work individually. And yet. Those same labels can be a useful tool in discovering new music and expanding your palette.
With that, Bennett introduces us to "12 'Impressionist' Composers Not Named Debussy or Ravel." Among the dozen is the Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909) best known for his piano works and as a leader of the Spanish nationalist school of musicians. During the last 3 years of his relatively short life he worked on his masterpiece called "Iberia" - a series of works evoking the moods of Spain and heavily influenced by Claude Debussy. This work, consisting of 12 different movements turned out to be both Spanish and Impressionistic in color. [7]
With that, Bennett introduces us to "12 'Impressionist' Composers Not Named Debussy or Ravel." Among the dozen is the Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909) best known for his piano works and as a leader of the Spanish nationalist school of musicians. During the last 3 years of his relatively short life he worked on his masterpiece called "Iberia" - a series of works evoking the moods of Spain and heavily influenced by Claude Debussy. This work, consisting of 12 different movements turned out to be both Spanish and Impressionistic in color. [7]
Also in the sidebar is a link to the WQXR blog where you can discover the rest of the "twelve impressionist composers not named Debussy or Ravel."
Also in the sidebar is a link to the WQXR blog where you can discover the rest of the "twelve impressionist composers not named Debussy or Ravel."
Notes : *Timbre or tone color refers to the distinctive sounds that different instruments make when playing the same note. The distinctive sounds can be used to elicit different emotions, and timbre plays an important part in orchestration.
References : [1] "Impressionism in Music", Parker Symphony Orchestra [2] "Everything you need to know about "La Mer" by Debussy, France Musique [3] "Waves of Sound: Debussy's La Mer", NPR [4] Wikipedia [5] Classic fm [6] Chicago Symphony Orchestra Notes, Philip Huscher [7] mfiles
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