1. Impressionist Music Style Period
By Nikki Miller and
Peter Magazzu

2. Overview
The Impressionist music style was found during the ninetieth century to the beginning of the twentieth century in France
The Impressionist style was a reaction to the romanticism style
It wants to make an impression, not clearly describe the tone of the music

3. Characteristics
It uses whole tone scales as opposed to major and minor scales as the romantic style used in the past
It involves a lot of dissonance- chords weren’t used to relieve tension as they had in the past
It includes short melodies that have different moods throughout each piece

4. Important Composers The two “great” impressionists:
Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel
Others include: Paul Dukas, Charles Griffes, Alexander Scriabin, and Ralph Vaughan Williams
The style influenced many composers in the future

5. Claude Debussy August 22, 1862 – March 25, 1918 French composer
Music was not centered around one tone or pitch, he used symbolism
Used many parallel chords and unprepared modulations
Music was usually about events that occurred in his life
Clair de Lune was one of his most famous works

6. Maurice Ravel March 7, 1875 – December 28, 1937 French composer
Influenced by Claude Debussy
Known for his melodies, orchestral, and instrumental textures and effects
His music is found a lot in concert repertoire, also widely known for his orchestra pieces
His piece “Miroirs” (Mirrors) was a five piano piece was a “harmonic revolution”

7. Impressionism (1890–1940)
The Impressionism period occurred in the 19th century in France and was a painting movement as well
It also focused on literature
Basically, it was a radical movement by all art forms- involving topics and styles that had not been focused on or brought up before

8. “The Embarkation for Cythera" by Jean-Antoine Watteau.
This painting was made by Jean- Antoine Watteau that Claude Debussy based “L'îsle Joyeuse" ("The Island of Joy") on

9. The End