The Impressionists

Debussy

Ravel

Debussy

Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun Poem by Mallarme Starts with a solo flute Veiled rhythms Use of harp/flute Loose A-B-A form

Ravel (1875-1937)

Entered the Paris Conservatory at the age of 14, Ravel tried five times to win the Prix de Rome, failing. Composing in a "neoclassical" style, he is best knownfor Bolero (1928), which he claimed was "seventeen minutes of orchestral fabric without music." Among his other important works include Daphnis and Chloé (ballet first performed 1912), Gaspard de La Nuit (1908), L'enfant et les Sortileges (1925) and Rhapsodie Espagnol (1907). He died in 1937 soon after brain surgery to cure his aphasia. Many years after his death, his works still earn considerable royalties.

Impressionism in Music

Attracted to LightDaybreakThe seaWaterSpanish dance rhythmsExperimented with “old” scales

Debussy vs. Ravel

Rhythms veiled Debussy turned to

Classical forms only at the end of his career

Rhythms more driving Harmony more dissonant Melodies are broader Handled orchestra more

like predecessors Liked the Classical forms

His orchestral music

Bolero most popular (Bo Derek 10) Feria, from Spanish Rhapsody

Very SpanishSpanish instruments

Castanets Tambourine Triangle

Feria (from Spanish Rhapsody)

Written: 1907-08 Suite for orchestra (4 movements) Feria is last movement

Jota – Dance songQuick triple meterLoose ternary formHarp glissando and timpani rolls