Introduction
Welcome to the Impressionist Music Pathfinder
This wiki is organized into the following categories:
An Activities page is included for teachers to use as an extension to learning.
Online sources contain links to webpages, online reference sources, and multimedia resources
(images, audio, video).
Print sources include books and music scores.
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Navigate through the wiki by clicking on the pages to the right.
Georgia Performance Standard:
MMSIP.9 - Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
b. Identify distinguishing characteristics of repertoire representing various periods, composers,
cultures, styles, and genres.
Research Topic:
Discuss the characteristics that define the music in the
Impressionistic period of the late 19th century. (Be sure to
mention specific composers and their works.) In what ways does
music composition "resemble" the visual art depicted in
impressionism? and do you think the music was influenced by
the art?
For the Teacher
1. Scope and Depth:
This pathfinder is designed to meet the high school Georgia Performance Standard for
Intermediate Piano (Grades 9-12) in cultural and historical context. These links and resources
were selected in conjunction with the unit prepared by the music teachers and focus particularly
on the impressionist musicians and artists of that period. They contain information on the
impressionist movement, impressionist artwork and biographical information on impressionist
composers and their works. The teacher page contains extension activities that can be completed
in conjunction with the research to enhance understanding of this period.
Georgia performance Music Standard:
MMSIP.9 - Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
b. Identify distinguishing characteristics of repertoire representing various periods, composers,
cultures, styles, and genres.
Research Topic:
Discuss the characteristics that define the music in the Impressionistic period of the late
19th century. (Be sure to mention specific composers and their works.) In what ways does
music composition "resemble" the visual art depicted in impressionism? and do you think
the music was influenced by the art?
2. Who this is intended for:
This pathfinder is intended to be used by the high school music students and teachers in order to
help address the Georgia Performance Standard MMSIP.9.b.
3. How it can be used:
This pathfinder is intended to provide quality reference sources to high school students in their
research to understand the impressionist period and how it impacted musicians. Additional
resources and activities may be added as needed.
4. OPAC Subject Headings and Dewey Decimal Call Numbers:
When searching the OPAC for more materials on impressionism, students
should use the OPAC Subject Headings:
Debussy, Claude
Impressionism
Impressionist Art
Impressionist Music
Monet, Claude
Ravel, Maurice
The Dewey Decimal Call Numbers where relevant print resources will be found
are:
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754 and 759 Paintings
780 and 786 Music
920 and 921 Biographies
5. How to use the pathfinder:
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
Navigate through the wiki by clicking on the pages to the right.
Edit the wiki and add content using the instructions posted below.
This pathfinder is intended for use by both students and teachers as a “hub” for media and
resources on the music impressionists. The activities page is included for teachers and contains
links to activities on the web as well as ready-made activities on the page. The best feature of the
pathfinder is that you can continue to improve it by adding your own resources and activities that
you would like to share with the high school community.
Activities
Lesson Extensions
An Exhibition
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/impressionism-and-beyond.cfm
This lesson plan has students watch a video on Impressionism. Then, in groups, they select an artist,
browse paintings online to select a favorite and write their interpretations and observations of the
impressionism style of their painting. Students print out their paintings and post their paintings and
descriptions around the room for an “exhibition”. (This lesson plan could be adapted to music by using
the audio files provided on the “Online Sources” page. Music could be integrated into this presentation
as well.)
Link to video – Discovering the Arts: Impressionism and Beyond
Colors in Music and Impressionistic Art and Music Comparison and Analysis
http://hti.math.uh.edu/curriculum/units/2005/01/05.01.12.php
This page has a nice introduction and seems to be from an authoritative source (see About Us on the
site). It is a large page, but approximately two-thirds down, lesson plans 4 and 5 could be adapted with
resources provided in this pathfinder. (some of the links provided in their lessons are broken)
Lesson Plan 4 – Discusses the meaning of color in paintings to create an overall mood or feeling, and
how music can also have color and accomplish the same with tones. Students will analyze what
elements or instruments in the music create that image. They might also create a sample “tone-picture”
such as a waterfall, raindrops, a walk in the park, etc.
Lesson Plan 5 – Uses the Paideia Seminar arrangement to discuss a series of questions after observing an
impressionist artwork and piano piece. (Links can be found on Online Source page - Golliwog's Cake
Walk is from Children's Corner by Debussy.)
Matching Impressionistic Art and Music
http://www.claudemonetgallery.org/
Use this link to view paintings while listening to various music clips of Debussy. Have students work in
groups to pair a painting with a particular music work from Ravel or Debussy. Students must write a
short explanation of why they made their selection.
Another idea might be to have students draw their own impressionist artwork while listening to a longer
selection such as Debussy’s La Mer. (see audio sources)
Online Sources
Click on the images to link to the sites.
A brief overview of the term impressionism as it relates to music, literature and art. (DICTIONARY)
http://ts.isil.westga.edu/login?url=http://www.credoreference.com/entry/harvdictmusic/impressionism
An encyclopedia article on impressionist music. Note what Debussy thought of the impressionist
artwork. (ENCYCLOPEDIA)
http://ts.isil.westga.edu/login?url=http://www.credoreference.com/entry/ebconcise/impressionism/1
An article that discusses the composition and settings of compositions of both Debussy and Ravel.
(ARTICLE)
http://search.proquest.com/docview/223384185?accountid=15017
This is a questionable source, but a really interesting article. However, sources are cited and the author
appears to be affiliated with University of Michigan as well as the root of this address comes from
University of Dublin. He directly quotes material in books and names his sources. (ARTICLE)
http://www.tcd.ie/Music/JF%20History/debussy.html
Multimedia Sources
Images
Some information on the style and lots of images of paintings. (IMAGES)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impressionism
A wonderful image gallery. (IMAGES)
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/theme/impressionnisme.html
Audio
An index of sound files of Debussy’s works. Suggested listening: Estampes – Jardin sous la pluie track.
(Garden in the Rain) (SOUND, INDEX)
http://clmu.alexanderstreet.com.ts.isil.westga.edu/Composer/198442
An index of sound files of Ravel’s works. Suggested listening: Miroirs (Mirrors). (SOUND, INDEX)
http://clmu.alexanderstreet.com.ts.isil.westga.edu/composer/200675/search/attribute/instrumentid/1
353
Video
View a short biographical video on Maurice Ravel and his influences. (VIDEO, BIOGRAPHICAL)
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=5183C9AC-DDD1-40E2-9315F60DA9D75B68
Another longer video on Impressionism focusing mostly on art. (VIDEO)
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=E64DCC36-4464-402C-AB4AB39E1568C864
Print Sources
Discusses Debussy's sources of inspiration as well as interpretations of his music.
Dewey: 786.2/092
Piano music scores from impressionistic composers.
Anthology of Impressionistic Piano Music edited by Maurice Hinson
LC: M21.A555 H4 2004
Debussy Man and Artist by Oscar Thompson
LC: ML410.D28 T472
Impressionism in Music by Christopher Palmer
Dewey: 780/.9034
LC: ML197 .P26 1974
Large book with lots of illustrations of impressionistic paintings.
The Great Book of French Impressionism by Diane Kelder
Dewey: 759.4/09/034
LC: ND547.5.I4 K43 1997
References
Discovering the Arts: Impressionism and Beyond. (2012). In Discovery Education. Retrieved from
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=E64DCC36-4464-402C-AB4AB39E1568C864
Godell, T. (2000, Overview: Debussy and ravel. American Record Guide, 63, 44-54. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/223384185?accountid=15017
Hinson, M. (2004). Anthology of impressionistic piano music: Intermediate to early advanced works by 20
composers. Van Nuys, CA: Alfred Publishing.
Impressionism. (2002). In Web Museum, Paris. Retrieved from
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/theme/impressionnisme.html
Impressionism. (2003). In The Harvard Dictionary of Music. Retrieved from
http://www.credoreference.com.ts.isil.westga.edu/entry/harvdictmusic/impressionism
Impressionism. (2009). In Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Retrieved from
http://www.credoreference.com.ts.isil.westga.edu/entry/ebconcise/impressionism/1
Impressionism. (2012). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impressionism#Associates_and_influenced_artists
Kelder, D. (2001). The great book of French impressionism (2nd Abbeville ed.). New York: Abbeville
Press.
Music Online: Classical Music Library. (2012). In Music by Debussy, Achille-Claude. Retrieved from
http://clmu.alexanderstreet.com.ts.isil.westga.edu/composer/198442/search/attribute/instrumentid/1
3534
Music Online: Classical Music Library. (2012). In Music by Ravel, Maurice. Retrieved from
http://clmu.alexanderstreet.com.ts.isil.westga.edu/composer/200675/search/attribute/instrumentid/1
353
Palmer, C. (1974). Impressionism in music. New York: C. Scribner's Sons.
Ravel and the Musical Trends of the Early Twentieth Century. (2012). In Discovery Education. Retrieved
from http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=5183C9AC-DDD1-40E2-9315F60DA9D75B68&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US
Roberts, P. (1996). Images: The piano music of Claude Debussy. Portland, Or: Amadeus Press.
Thompson, O. (1967). Debussy: Man and artist. New York: Dover Publications.
Tsai, Shendgar. (n.d.). Impressionist Influences in the Music of Claude Debussy. Retrieved from
http://www.tcd.ie/Music/JF%20History/debussy.html