Music 1st Q-Music 10

20 th
Century Musical Styles

impressionism Music
Cliff Walk at
Pourville (1882)
Beach in Pourville:
Claude Monet
Impressionism
The start of the 20th century saw the
rise of distinct musical styles that
reflected a move away from the
conventions of earlier classical
music.
These new styles were:
impressionism, expressionism, neo-
classicism, avant garde music, and
modern nationalism.
One of the earlier but concrete forms
declaring the entry of 20th century music
was known as impressionism. It is a French
movement in the late 19th and early 20th
century.
The sentimental melodies and dramatic
emotionalism of the preceding Romantic
Period were being replaced in favor of
moods and impressions.
IMPRESSIONISM- Musical
style uses a whole-tone scale.
It also applied suggested,
rather than depicted, reality.
It created a mood rather than
a definite picture.
Cliff Walk at
Pourville (1882)
Beach in Pourville:
Claude Monet
Sounds of different chords
overlapped lightly with each
other to produce new subtle
musical colors.
Most of the impressionist
works centered on nature
and its beauty, lightness,
and brilliance
.
In music, a whole-tone scale is a scale in which each note is separated from its neighbors by
the interval of a whole tone.
FAMOUS IMPRESSION
COMPOSERS
1. CLAUDE DEBUSSY
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
(1862–1918)
Debussy was born in St. Germain-en-Laye in
France on August 22, 1862.
His early musical talents were channeled into
piano lessons.
His music represents revolution, beauty and
poetry.
One of the most important and
influential of the 20th century
composers was Claude Debussy.
He was the primary exponent of the
impressionist movement and the
focal point for other impressionist
composers.
His music represents revolution,
beauty and poetry.
He held a passionate love for
the sea’ Indeed, his life and
music, in many ways, connect
with water.
Clair De Lune
His most popular

piano compositions;
a set of lightly
textured pieces
containing his
signature work Claire
de Lune (Moonlight)
LA MER 1905-—a highly imaginative and atmospheric
symphonic work for orchestra about the sea
Pelleas et Melisande (1895)—his famous
operatic work that drew mixed extreme reactions for
its innovative harmonies and textural treatments. 
Ariettes Oubliees
Prelude to the Afternoon
of a Faun
String Quartet
His musical compositions total more
or less 227 which include orchestral
music, chamber music, piano music,
operas, ballets, songs, and other
vocal music.
His role as the “Father of the Modern
School of Composition” made its mark
in the styles of the later 20th century.
MAURICE RAVEL (1875–
1937)
was born in Ciboure, France
to a Basque mother and a
Swiss father.
During his stint with the
school where he stayed until
his early 20’s, he had
composed a number of
masterpieces
These are extensively used in his
works of a programmatic nature,
wherein visual imagery is either
suggested or portrayed.
 Many of his works deal with water in
its flowing or stormy moods as well
as with human characterizations.
Bolero
Miroirs (Mirrors), 1905, a work for piano known for
its harmonic evolution and imagination,
Daphnis et Chloe (1912), a ballet commissioned by master
choreographer Sergei Diaghilev that contained rhythmic
diversity, evocation of nature, and choral ensemble 
Rhapsodie Espagnole
Pavane for a Dead Princess (1899)
Jeux d’Eau or Water Fountains
String Quartet (1903)
Sonatine for Piano (c.1904)
Le Tombeau de Couperin (c.1917)
 Whiletheir musical works sound quite similar in
terms of their harmonic and textural characteristics,
the two differed greatly in their personalities and
approach to music.
 Whereas Debussy was more spontaneous and liberal
in form, Ravel was very attentive to the classical
norms of musical structure and the compositional
craftsmanship.
 Whereas Debussy was more casual in his portrayal of
visual imagery, Ravel was more formal and exacting
in the development of his motive ideas.
ACTIVITY 1:
Based on the artwork, what do
you think the artist is trying to
express?
Create a short poem about the
two paintings from
Impressionism Movement
Beach in Pourville:
Claude Monet
Cliff Walk at
Pourville (1882)
ACTIVITY 2
While listening to “Clair de
Lune” by Claude Debussy draw a
sketch (pen and paper) of your
most memorable moment that
happened on a moonlit night.
Clair De Lune
A. MAURICE RAVEL B. CLAUDE DEBUSSY
1. String Quartet (1903) 11. Pavane for a Dead

2. Nobles et Sentimentales Princess (1899)
3. String Quartet 12. Sonatine for Piano
4. Bolero
5. Rhapsodie Espagnole
13. Prelude to the
6. Le Tombeau de Couperin Afternoon of a Faun
7. Ariettes Oubliees 14. Pelleas et Melisande
8. Images, Suite Bergamasque, 15. La Mer (1905
and Estampes
9. Miroirs (Mirrors), 1905,
10. Jeux d’Eau or Water Fountains
1
16. The use of whole-tone scales is a
characteristic of Impressionist music.
What is a whole-tone scale?
a. A scale with only half steps
b. A scale consisting of whole steps
only
c. A scale with both whole and half
steps
17. Which piece is considered
one of Claude Debussy's most
famous Impressionist
compositions?
a. "Moonlight Sonata"
b. "Bolero"
c. "Clair de Lune"
18. Which composer is often
considered the pioneer of
Impressionist music?
a. Ludwig van Beethoven
b. Claude Debussy
c. Maurice Ravel
19. Impressionist composers
were influenced by:
a. Military marches
b. Baroque dance forms
c. Visual arts
20. What is the primary focus
of Impressionist music?
a. Rhythmic complexity
b. Emotional expression
c. Creating an atmosphere
or mood

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20 th

Century Musical Styles

His most popular

1. String Quartet (1903) 11. Pavane for a Dead

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