Level 2 · Course 21
Analysis of Modern and Contemporary Composers
Debussy, Ravel, Stravinsky, Messiaen, Satie, Beatles, Radiohead, Morricone — from impressionism to rock, how the 20th century reinvented harmony.
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Pause Culture · Chords as colours — freeing harmony from the dominant-tonic resolution
Claude Debussy (1862–1918)
Debussy was expelled from the Paris Conservatoire several times for playing 'incorrect' chords. His teacher noted: 'He does as he pleases.' That was exactly his intention.
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À retenir : Debussy treats chords like colours on a canvas — a 9th chord need not resolve; it can float and create an atmosphere, like a brushstroke of impressionist paint.
8 COMPOSERS — From Impressionism to Contemporary Rock
From Debussy breaking tonality through colour, to Radiohead fusing Messiaen with electronics — the 20th century multiplied harmonic languages. Click each card to explore the techniques, hear the progression and understand the reference work.