Impressionism is an art movement that originated in France in the 19th century, originally and mainly referred to the art of painting, characterized by emphasizing instant impressions and natural light. Impressionism brought a revolutionary change to those who sought precise-artistic-forms and perfection, and spawned many original and forward-looking works. Impressionism also laid the foundation for later art movements, such as Cubism and Abstract Expressionism.
In music, "Impressionism" usually refers to a musical style in which composers attempt to express emotions or feelings through the melody, harmony, and sound of a piece. This musical style is often influenced by Romanticism and philosophical ideas, and places a great emphasis on atmosphere and emotional expression in music.
Writer: Frankie Chan
Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer, the predominant musical figure during the transition between the Classical to Romantic eras. He occupies an unprecedented dominance in the history of Western music history, and has been widely regarded as the greatest, most influential and most popular musician who ever lived.
Beethoven's music inherited the artistic atmosphere of Haydn and Mozart, penetrated the desire for dignity, vented the anger tortured by fate, and demonstrated his determination to fight with fate.
Compared to other musicians, Beethoven is effectively to interact the philosophy of life with audience through music. Although he was not a romantic, he had become the object followed by other romantics.
As a musician, Beethoven suffered from ear diseases. However, he was unwilling to succumb to fate, vowing to take fate by the throat, and continue to complete his career. In the last ten years of his life, without hearing any sound, his compositions influenced the development of music for nearly two hundred years.