My impression on Impressionism

In soleil levant by Claude Monet, a person may get several different views of what is actually in the painting. There is water involved, a boat, a sun, and MAYBE some trees. My point is that Monet gives the person looking at the painting, a faint or blurry view. He leaves the rest up to them to decide. The other aspect is the idea that there is nothing blarring or sharp. Every color works with the other colors to softly enter the eye. This doesn't mean that there are no prominent parts of the painting, well, because there are: the sun.

To me, this painting runs parallel to many of the works by another Claude. Claude Debussy. As a composer he is very interesting. He doesn't follow the same path that say Mozart or Beethoven did. He actually didn't start composing original material until his late 20's. So, for anyone out there who is looking to start, why not? He was a great pianist who from a very early age gave concerts and learned highly difficult works. This would eventually show up in his own compositions (Some preludes, Images, and Etudes). In his compositions he works a great deal with colors, very similar to the way Monet does. There is not much tension in the music and when there is, it usually comes in as fast as it goes out. Although everyone knows his Clair de Lune, one interesting short piano piece is L'Isle joyeuse. Coming in at about 5 1/2 minutes, it carries quite the punch. The ending climax is one for the ages and will definitely leave a mark on any audience.

He would later move on to using modes and other scales (octatonic, whole tone, pentatonic) in a very excessive manner (compared to his predecessors). This resulted in very fine music that spans several different mediums of ensemble. His music is very special to most pianists and his compositions are at the top of the piano repertoire. Don't forget to check out his chamber music!

So when I think of Debussy, the next name that hits my mind is Ravel. Even though he has music that is quite different and eventually neo-classical. I have always thought that there is something in the waters of France that makes these guys compose like this. Who can argue with Gaspard? Or can any one fight with the beauty of his pavane for a dead princess? Ravel's compositions are maybe the most consistent of any composer besides Bach. His sets are amazing and his concerti are some of the best. His concerto for the left hand has a climax that ranks up there on the list of best climaxes EVER. Besides the climax it also has humor and makes you want to jam on it. Jam on it . . .? You know

Jam on it!!

Anyways, with that said, I have no more to say about these guys. But looking over this, I really have nothing negative to say. My only complaint is that I wish they could have composed EVEN more! Until next time. . .