A style of composition that originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, inspired by French impressionist paintings. The music created an atmosphere rather than a clear image. Hallmarks of this movement include extended harmonies, ambiguous tonality and modality, timbral exploration, veiled colors, and the avoidance of many common practice techniques. Two of the pioneers of the movement were Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel.
Impressionism
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