Ravel’s Jeux d’eau (“Water Play”) is a fine example of this. Jeux d’eau is full of pianistic effects that mimic the motion of water – how droplets of water sound, how water trickles and runs, splashes and glimmers in the light, and so on. It gives us an impression of water. Debussy’s Feux d’artifice (“Fireworks”) is another good example. There are explosive sounds that rocket up the keyboard, like a firework, and there are also soft subtle sounds that remind me of the chirping crickets, or the feeling of lying down on grass outside at night on the 4th of July – an impression of a night spent outside watching fireworks.
I’ve always been amazed at how many of these kinds of parallels there are between two disciplines, such as visual art and music, which may seem on the surface only distantly related. It’s worth mentioning as well that, while of course all the above-mentioned art, music and contextual information can be found online, I’ve found it very fulfilling to experience it in person for myself. Seeing the original paintings in real life and walking in some of the same places that some of the greatest composers walked somehow makes one feel closer to their work, which, in turn, inspires one to study it more intently and thoughtfully. I think that’s very exciting!
Works Cited
Wall text, De l’impressionisme au néo-impressionnism, Musée d’Orsay, Paris
Wall text, The Water Lilies Cycle, Musée de l’Orangerie, Paris
Wikipedia contributors.
