Piano Forum

...I would really appreciate it if you could elaborate on what makes you think so.

The thing is that the best impressionism seems to attain its effect while avoiding direct imitation, that is to say there are always at least two levels to it. Would the piece evoke some deeper aspect were the associative sensations unknown to the listener ? I suppose it is just opinion like most things musical, but for me, deliberate imitations of birds chirping, lions roaring, storms with thunder and so on are more tedious than transporting; good for silent picture accompaniment perhaps but not something I would sit down and listen to. Quantum's march, on the other hand, sticks some sort of prod into the psyche at once which elicits all sorts of imagery from a listening mind. There is also a certain essential mystique or enigma inherent in the programme itself, and that was recognised by those who commented. What were his feelings on marching to school ? Why is the mood so overreachingly eldritch ? Good impressionism always opens the listening mind to conjecture and implication.

I find some of the twentieth century English composers, particularly Bridge and Ireland, very striking in this regard. The imagery of pieces such as "The Midnight Tide", "Gargoyle" and "Chelsea Reach" is brilliantly impressionistic, but the effect is implicit, never imitative.  If I said the process was a gift it is probably because I am not much good at it myself and I do not fully understand the ability. The only time I have come close to succeeding at it on this forum is here:

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=45145.msg492037#msg492037

I find it difficult to operate from some rigid premise or programme, but for Neil it is second nature.