impressionist music

[BoliverAllmon]

I got back from an art exhibit today. I was looking at Monet's Water Lilies when the headset audio asked if I wanted to listen to some Impressionist music while looking at the painting. I said sure and some of the most fluid musical piano started playing. I was wondering what would you consider impressionist music? who would be the composers? what are some good pieces to listen to?

boliver

[eddie92099]

Debussy, Debussy, and a bit more Debussy,
Ed

[schnabels_grandson]

Don't forget Ravel and Satie.

[bernhard]

Add to that Delius, Dukas, Ibert, Severac.
Bax, Respighi, Ciryl Scott and Falla also show some inclination towards impressionism.

[chopiabin]

I hope I'm not offending anyone here, but am I the only one who finds Debussy sickeningly sweet? His constant pianissimo pastel sound just makes me ill. I like other impressionist music - Ravel, Satie - but Debussy kills me. I always try to go back and give it another listen, but, like a child who never learns his lesson, I regret it every time.

Chop  

[eddie92099]

Try listening to the Debussy 'cello sonata (not for an impressionist piece, but to get yourself back to Debussy),
Ed

[Noah]

I hope I'm not offending anyone here, but am I the only one who finds Debussy sickeningly sweet? His constant pianissimo pastel sound just makes me ill. I like other impressionist music - Ravel, Satie - but Debussy kills me. I always try to go back and give it another listen, but, like a child who never learns his lesson, I regret it every time.

Chop  

I have the same feeling as you with some of his music (piano trio, some preludes). However some of his works are masterpieces, like the violin sonata, the cello sonata, the images, estampes,...

[chopiabin]

Then I should definitely check those out. I bought a collection of preludes and the Suite Bergamasque, so  maybe I will try these more substantial pieces.

Chop

[dinosaurtales]

Debussy, Debussy, and a bit more Debussy,
Ed

But only if you already haven't had enough of ..... Debussy.

[dinosaurtales]

Boy, I'm with you guys on the Debussy thing.  A little goes a long way with me, too.  It's not like it's miserable, but listening to one piece, I'll think *Oh that was kind of nice* and then they'll start playing another, and I'll think, *oh no.  Not another one!*  It gets old fast with me.

[schnabels_grandson]

I also agree that Debussy is hard to stomach in large quantities.  Has anyone heard the Heifetz Beau Soir arrangement for Violin and Piano?  It's wonderful.

[chopiabin]

I bought the Horowitz 13 CD box set and it included L'isle joyeuse, which I did enjoy. Sort of like Scriabin with more fluff.

Chop

[eddie92099]

That is certainly one of Debussy's better pieces,
Ed

[BoliverAllmon]

I bought the Horowitz 13 CD box set and it included L'isle joyeuse, which I did enjoy. Sort of like Scriabin with more fluff.

Chop

Wow that is alot of Horowitz. Where did you get the cd's?

boliver

[thracozaag]

Add to that Delius, Dukas, Ibert, Severac.
Bax, Respighi, Ciryl Scott and Falla also show some inclination towards impressionism.

 And Griffes.

[erak]

L'isle Joyeuse is my favourite Debussy piece, especially Horowitz' recording. I haven't heard another recording that put so much 'joy' in it.
Can't get enough of Debussy. I've heard some people say that Clair de Lune is awful, what's so awful about it?

[eddie92099]

L'isle Joyeuse is my favourite Debussy piece, especially Horowitz' recording. I haven't heard another recording that put so much 'joy' in it.

Very true,
Ed

[ravel]

on the contrary, debussy is a composer , who can be different in every piece ( even thought u can sense a general style , but that u can do for any other composer),
probably the favourite of my favourites, debussy, i can never get tired of his music, not in my lifetime atleast haha,
and then ravel, i place him equal to debussy,
i think , both had something different to say about impressionism,  just like monet and pissaro or manet , were different.

[eddie92099]

and then ravel, i place him equal to debussy,

I place him above Debussy,
Ed

[dinosaurtales]

Me, too.

[pianomaestro88]

Debussy, Debussy, and a bit more Debussy,
Ed

Be careful what you say about Debussy. Granted he was highly impressionistic by the definition, et cetera, he always thought of himself as innovative and highly loathed impressionists.

[Chitch]

I hope I'm not offending anyone here, but am I the only one who finds Debussy sickeningly sweet? His constant pianissimo pastel sound just makes me ill. I like other impressionist music - Ravel, Satie - but Debussy kills me. I always try to go back and give it another listen, but, like a child who never learns his lesson, I regret it every time.

Chop  

You sir, are a genious.

[eddie92099]

You sir, are a genious.

And you sir, are not a genious genius,
Ed

[ravel]

comparisons between the two   ( debussy and ravel)
is hard ,
ravel did come up with the  "new piano technique " before debussy with his jeux d eau, but then i wouldnt place him above debussy for that.  
on the contrary to what people think, that they have similar styles, i think their styles differ a lot .
 " debussy is the shimmer, ravel is the sparkle " as i read some where, and i think this line describes fairly well the difference in their styles.
On what basis would u exactly compare them ?  ( just that both were impressionists, but they really werent, debussy , u know, hated being called that, and ravels approach to impressionism was much more casual, he kept on shifting between impressionism and neo classicalism  )

[trunks]

Debussy is the Chopin, Chopin is the Couperin;
Ravel is the Liszt, Liszt is the Rameau.

But Impressionistic music did not begin from Debussy. It begun from Liszt. Hey the Annees de pelerinage III, "un bord d'une source" from Annees II, "vision" and "chasse neige" from the Transcendental Etudes, and many of his later pieces . . .

[faulty_damper]

Debussy's music is too monotonous.  Listening to his more soft pieces will bore you... to sleep.  Or keep you asleep which is what it did when my alarm clock started up playing the Debussy preludes CD!    It was supposed to play the Alkan with the Symphony!

But what's great about Debussy is that you have to imagine what his music is representing and titles really help.  If you don't imagine it, you won't enjoy as much.

[comme_le_vent]

'It was supposed to play the Alkan with the Symphony!'

good choice!

[volcanoadam]

Interesting discussion about Debussy. To me it's the most picturesque music I've heard, especially Images and Preludes in Claudio Arrau's interpretation. I like listening to that in the dark room at night on the headphones. I just start it on and immediately the music brings the most beautiful images in front of my eyes. I love that and I'm never bored of Debussy.