Question 1:
Listen to the following selections from Claude Debussy and Gustav Mahler. How would you describe and compare their music? Which of the two composers do you prefer?
Sources:
Debussy and Mahler
Chapter 33 (p. 1093-1094), Debussy; (pp. 1104-1105), Mahler
Gustav Mahler,Symphony No. 2, Finale(Resurrection Symphony)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RONBzkthUjM
Claude Debussy, (Préludeàl'après-midid'unfaunePrelude to the Afternoon of a Faun)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx6i7sXcRqo
Question 2:
The artistWassilyKandinsky wrote:
“If you let your eye stray over a palette of colors, you experience two things. In the first place you receive a purely physical effect, namely the eye itself is enchanted by the beauty and other qualities of color. […] These are physical sensations, limited in duration. They are superficial, too, and leave no lasting impression behind if the soul remains closed. And so we come to the second result of looking at colors: their psychological effect. They produce a correspondent spiritual vibration, and it is only as a step towards this spiritual vibration that the physical impression is of importance. ... Generally speaking, color directly influences the soul."
In chapters 33 and 34, there are many art works described by artists like Van Gogh, Seurat, Cezanne, Gauguin, Munch, Picasso, Braque, and Matisse. From the attachedpdf, choose two works of art and describe them, taking into account Kandinsky’s quote above concerning the psychology of color. How do the artists use color effectively? Which of these is your favorite?
PostImpressionistArtists.pdf (1.074 MB)
Instructions:
Please respond to either question 1 or 2 with an initial post of at least 150 words, using the textbook and links to sources provided below.