Impressionism

I'm trying to learn the style of impressionism, and to help me get it into my head i've been listening to alot Debussy and watching the score. I get that the idea of impressionism is just to sort of suggest a melody/atmosphere, and to create a mood with the sounds. If anyone has any advice, tips, things to not do, i'd be very grateful.

thought i'd put this just so you'd know what i was listening to

Debussy pieces: Images (1&2), Estampes, Children's Corner, Pour Le PIano, Deux Arabesques, Mazurka, Preludes(1&2), L 'isle Joyeuse. Those are all the recordings i have. I don't have the score to all of them, but some. I've got the score to Suite Bergamasque too.

You should also listen to ravel. He provides a much more enjoyable style of impressionism than Debussy, I think.

Also, you should listen to the petit suite. Perhaps my least favorite piece of all time, but definitely worth a listen if you're studying impressionism.

Random modulations are always good.

I think you should listen further to orchestral works and, of course, to keep on looking to the scores and analyzing them. In the piano pieces you'll see a beautiful treatment of the instrument, but in orchestral pieces you'll find tons of impressionist resources, mainly because one of their main preoccupations was colour (harmonic as well as timbrical). Think about impressionist painting: diffuse, lightning effects, pure colours, vague ideas, nuances, etc.

Listen to pieces such as La Mer, La Valse, Bolero, Danse Sacre and Danse Profane, Tzigane, Jeux, Raphsodie Espagnole, and just anything you find by Debussy and Ravel! I should also recommend Pictures of an Exhibition by Mussorgsky (Ravel's orchestration).

Let's not forget - there are other impressionists as well. I'd recommend the American Charles Griffes and the Norwegian Alf Hurum.

A trick my tutor taught us when trying to imitate Debussy's harmonic style is:

1) Start with a dominant ninth chord on any note.

2) Follow with another dominant ninth chord a third away (can be up or down, major or minor third - doesn't matter)

3) Repeat (Debussy always repeats everything)

4) Move to a half diminished chord on any note.

Another trick I would suggest is the use of the whole tone scale - again repetition is important here.

I've made an example (pretty stupid but hopefully you the get the picture) of all this: Take a look - hope it's helpful.

Also - but I haven't put this in the example Debussy tends to use the old-church modes quite a lot - have a look at Canope (preludes book 2) (pdf below).

Cheers,

Matt

Thanks guys, that's alot of good stuff. I started writing a marimba solo to try and get that style under fingers, so here's what i got so far. It's short,doesn't really develop yet, but it has the sound that I think I want. Kind of. It's like it almost sounds like I want it to sound like but not quite, which I think is the point? Anyway, here's the solo, and my first attempt at writing in this style. There's bound to be tons to improve on, so let those comments and criticism fly

Marimba Solo 3.MID

Marimba Solo 3.MUS

Finale 2005b - [Marimba Solo 3.pdf

This is how I see impressionism.

There really is no rule in impressionism, but that you follow your instincts. Your "impressions" so to speak. It's like impressionist art. You can use common practice harmonies if you want to, but there is, in impressionism, absolutely nothing wrong in repeated parallel fifths, chromatic chords, pretty much anything goes however the composer feels. It can create a "soundscape" or background, but it can also propel forward, like Debussy's La Mer. All that impressionism is is one step beyond romanticism: It's all instinctive. If I were to play a C chord, and decide to play a Bb chord AT THE SAME time, that's impressionistic. If I decide that I don't WANT to resolve a seventh the usual way, I'm being "impressionistic."

In other words, "impressionism" = instinctive

Good to know. Thanks for the info. It's more less do-what-you-feel then.

Good to know. Thanks for the info. It's more less do-what-you-feel then.

I just could not stay away, the computer was calling, my name. :) Keep working, I am working on the Contra Bass Clarinet Solos now.:)

Thanks guys, that's alot of good stuff. I started writing a marimba solo to try and get that style under fingers, so here's what i got so far. It's short,doesn't really develop yet, but it has the sound that I think I want. Kind of. It's like it almost sounds like I want it to sound like but not quite, which I think is the point? Anyway, here's the solo, and my first attempt at writing in this style. There's bound to be tons to improve on, so let those comments and criticism fly

If its solo then I'd say let the defined tempo go and play it however you want.

Always draws out a little more feeling thats my two cents.