New Ideas

During the nineteenth and the twenty centuries musicians adopted new rules. Some of the rules would be not to follow rules or some composers would follow the rule that required them to return to emotional restrains. Whether it was the Impressionistic composer Claude Debussy performing La Mer or the Neoclassical composer Igor Stravinsky performing The Rite of Spring, the composers of this time period certainly had noteworthy ideas.

“I love music passionately. And because I love it I try to free it from barren traditions that stifle it. (brainyquote.com)” Claude Debussy (1862-1918) never caged himself with rules that composers usually confine themselves to. He was once asked by a professor, “What rules do you observe. (Smith and Carlson, 178)” The budding musician replied, “None-only my own pleasure! (Smith and Carlson, 178)” Unfortunately there are some rules that are best followed. Through Debussy’s life, a number of tragedies were observed. He had suicidal tendencies as well as marital issues that led to divorce. Debussy’s life and music was spent by breaking rules. Some of the rules were valuable whereas others were cells just waiting to be broken out of. Claude Debussy both harmed and helped the world with his life, but he certainly paved new trails in almost whatever he did.

The group of musicians that tried portray sounds, smells, feeling, or tastes in their music are called Impressionistic composers. The Impressionistic Period lasted from about 1870-1920 (Kabule, Martin E.). If a person were to compose a song titled “The Smell of Leaves” of “The Ticking of a Clock” a listener would probably be able to imagine themselves smelling died leaves in a forest or the sound of ticking from a clock on the wall. The Impressi...

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