What is the primary feature of the Impressionist movement in music?

The primary feature of the Impressionist movement in music is its focus on atmosphere and color. This movement, flourishing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, sought to evoke mood and imagery rather than convey a straightforward narrative. Composers like Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel explored innovative approaches to melody, harmony, and orchestration, using unique scales such as the whole tone scale and various modes to create shimmering tonal effects that evoke natural scenes and emotions.

This characteristic emphasis on creating an impression, rather than detailing specific events or themes, differentiated Impressionist music from the more structured and thematic approaches previously dominant in Western classical music. The primary goal became to stir feelings and sensory perceptions through sound, similar to how Impressionist painters captured light and atmosphere in their artwork. Thus, the idea of inviting listeners into an ambient sound world, with layered textures and nuanced dynamics, stands as the hallmark of the movement.