[Listening extract, audio available printed QP. Read questions below.] A late 19th-century piano piece uses whole-tone scales, parallel chords and vague har...
Question 1 Report
[Listening extract, audio available printed QP. Read questions below.]
A late 19th-century piano piece uses whole-tone scales, parallel chords and vague harmonic progressions, suggesting atmosphere rather than a clear tonal centre.
Which musical movement is this? [1]
Answer Details
The correct answer is Impressionism. [1]
Impressionism was a musical movement that emerged in the late 19th century, primarily in France. It takes its name from the visual art movement of the same period, which aimed to capture the impression of a scene rather than depicting it in precise detail.
The key musical features of Impressionism include:
- Whole-tone scales - scales built entirely from whole steps, creating a floating, ambiguous tonality
- Parallel chords - chords that move in the same direction without following traditional rules of voice leading, producing a shimmering, colourful effect
- Vague harmonic progressions - harmony that avoids strong cadences and clear resolution, so the music suggests atmosphere rather than establishing a firm tonal centre
Claude Debussy is the composer most closely associated with musical Impressionism. His piano works such as Clair de Lune and orchestral pieces such as Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune demonstrate all of these characteristics. The emphasis is on colour, mood and suggestion rather than on the dramatic narrative typical of Romantic music.
Download The App On Google Playstore
Everything you need to excel in your exams
