Impressionism is a term first applied to describe late nineteenth century paintings by artists such as

Monet, Renoir and Degas who used small brushstrokes and blurred outlines.1 Just as Impressionist
art emphasises atmosphere instead of a clear and detailed object, Impressionist music evokes a
mood, in part aided by suggestive titles.2 Claude Debussy made distinctive use of harmony in his
Impressionist works, incorporating chords of 7th and 9th (and sometimes 11th and 13th); modes;
chromaticism; pentatonic and whole-tone scales and chords; and parallel movement of chords.3
Examples of Debussy's Impressionist works include:4
• Pelleas Et Melisande - used ancient modes
• Pagodes from Estampes - used pentatonic scales and chords
• Voiles - used the whole tone scale
• La Cathedrale Engloutie - used successive chords in parallel movement
Debussy's orchestration was large but seldom loud, with the strings often divided and muted;
woodwind instruments featured in solos; horns and trumpets muted and playing soft phrases; and
varied percussion that added colour.5

1. Michael Kennedy, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music, 3rd ed. (London: Oxford University
Press, 1980), 315.

2. H.S. Yong, Guidelines on History of Music, 2nd ed. (Penang: Rhythm MP, 1999), 33.

3. Kennedy, Concise Oxford Dictionary, 315.

4. H.S. Yong, Guidelines on History of Music, 34.

5. H.S. Yong, Guidelines on History of Music, 34.

Bibliography

Burkholder, J. Peter, Donald Jay Grout and Claude V. Palisca. A History of Western Music, 10th ed.
New York: W. W. Norton, 2019.

Kennedy, Michael. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music, 3rd ed. London: Oxford University
Press, 1980.

Yong, H.S. Guidelines on History of Music, 2nd ed. Penang: Rhythm MP, 1999.