Music Theory Materials: Impressionistic

Impressionistic Compositions
1870-1920

Click on the composer’s name to see a list of compositions by that composer.
Click on the composition title to see the topics covered by that composition,
and links to the score and a recording of the piece.
Click again on either the composer name or composition to collapse the view.

NOTE: Pieces marked NON-PD (Non-Public domain)  may not have a link
to a copy of the score.

 

Boulanger, Lili (1893-1918)

No. 2, D'un Jardin Clair, from Trois Morceaux Pour Piano (1914) - NON-PD

Topics: Ternary form

Sheet Music: Copyright: 1979, G Schirmer Inc.

 

Audio: YouTube

 

Les Sirenes (1918)

For 3-part chorus of mixed voices, soprano solo, piano accompaniment

Topics: Ternary form, whole tone scale, pentatonic scale

Sheet Music: Boulanger-Les Sirenes; Paris: Société Anonyme des Éditions Ricordi, 1918.
Copyright: Public Domain.

Audio: YouTube; Performed by: Chorus: Philharmonia Chor Stuttgart Soloist: Helene Schneiderman, mezzo-soprano Pianist: Émile Naoumoff

 

 

Coleridge-Taylor, Samuel (1875-1912)

Forest Scenes: 1. The Lone Forest Maiden, Op. 66 No. 1 (1907)

Topics: extended tertian harmony, Aug 6, Ternary form

Sheet Music: Forest Scenes, 1. The Lone Forest Maiden
Publisher: Augener, 1915. Plate 13552
Copyright: Public Domain

Audio: YouTube

 

Forest Scenes: 4. Erstwhile They Ride, The Forest Maiden Acknowledges Her Love, Op. 66 No. 4 (1907)

Topics: Rondo form

Sheet Music: Forest Scenes, 4. Erstwhile They Ride, The Forest Maiden Acknowledges Her Love
Publisher: Augener, 1915. Plate 13552
Copyright: Public Domain

Audio: YouTube

 

 

Debussy, Claude (1862-1918)

Clair de Lune, No. 3 of Suite bergamasque (1890-1905)

Analysis: A complete analysis can be found here.

Topics: Ternary form

Sheet music: Debussy-Clair de Lune; Publisher Info.-Paris: E. Fromont, 1905.
Copyright: Public Domain

Audio: Youtube; Artist- Moura Lympany; Album- Debussy: Suite bergamasque, CD 82, L. 75: III. Clair de lune
Licensed to YouTube by WMG (on behalf of PLG UK Classics); LatinAutorPerf, Sony Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing, Public Domain Compositions, Reservoir Media (Publishing), and 10 Music Rights Societies

Pour le Piano, No. 2, Sarabande (1894-1901)

Topics: Ternary form

Sheet music: Debussy-Sarabande; Edition Peters
Copyright: Public Domain

Audio:

Performer: Saša Gerželj-Donaldson (piano)
Publisher: aša Gerželj-Donaldson
Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives 3.0 

 

Faure, Gabriel (1845-1924)

Apres un Reve, No 1 of Three songs, Op 7. (1870-1877)

Topics: Modified strophic, extended tertian

Sheet Music: Faure-Apres Un Reve
Copyright – Creative Commons License Attribution 3.0 Unported edited by YOKOYAMA Shin-Itchiro http://shin-itchiro.seesaa.net/

Lyrics: Oxford Lieder

 

Audio: YouTube, performed by Kiri Te Kanawa

 

Les roses d’isaphan, No. 4 from 4 Melodies pour une voix Op 39 (1884)

Topics: Ternary form

Sheet Music: Faure-Les roses d’isaphan; J. Hamelle, 1885
Copyright – Public Domain

Lyrics: Oxford Lieder

 

Audio: YouTube

Performers: Kathleen Battle

 

Ravel, Maurice (1875-1937)

Le tombeau de Couperin, No. 4, Rigaudon (1914-1917)

Topics: Ternary form

Sheet Music: Ravel-Rigaudon; Durand & Cie.
Copyright: Public Domain

Audio: YouTube

 

Le tombeau de Couperin, No. 5, Menuet (1914-1917)

Topics: Ternary form

Sheet Music: Ravel Menuet; Durand & Cie.
Reprinted: Mineola: Dover Publications, 1997.
Copyright: Public Domain

Audio: YouTube

 

Pavane pour une infante Defunte (1899)

Topics: Rondo form

Sheet Music: Ravel-Pavane; Mainz: B. Schott’s Söhne, 1924.
Copyright: Public Domain

Audio: YouTube

 

String Quartet in F Major, Mvt 1: Allegro Moderato (1902-1903)

Topics: Sonata form

Sheet Music: Ravel-String Quartet in F Mvt1; Paris: G. Astruc, n.d.[1905]. Reissue – Paris: Durand, 1910. Reprinted: Mineola: Dover Publications, 1987.  Copyright: Public Domain

Audio: YouTube, Tacet Musikproduktion