2015
Art movements have influenced human life for many centuries even since before we developed language. As societies and technologies evolved, our lifestyle became more and more sophisticated and complex, the evolving artistic expressions reflected this, as we expressed our imagination on the canvas through shapes and colors. It evokes the atmosphere in the period where each piece was created, even if we still not even exist but art curates us the story that happened in that time.
Today, the world is changing, and so am I. Like many people today, I consume music through online platforms because it is easy and accessible. When we listen to music on Youtube, Spotify, or Soundcloud, the first thing we perceive is the cover, the album cover as we know is now displayed on our screens. Many songs have been released in the past months, and millions of songs have been released in the past 20 years. Yet album covers often remind us of the music contained under the digital sleeves. I am often surprised to witness how seeing one of those art designs can reopen my imagination to the music inside.
examples of classical music covers we found on the online platform
I think the design of album covers is important in music-making because it attracts listeners, making them wonder what's inside the box, it creates a visual identity that helps the music exist.
Claude Debussy:
A journey from art to music and new aesthetic to the modern world
One of the composers I am covering in my recital is Claude Debussy.
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Claude Debussy wrote most of his seminal works at a time characterized by changes that were reflected in the visual arts of the time: Impressionism gave way to Art Nouveau with its mutating design borrowing elements of the past as well as exploring newly imported aesthetics through the influence of Japonism.
Most French composers at that time evoked nature and were often influenced by the Arts of their time. Debussy's exploration of modernity was reflected in the new aesthetics introduced in his music. When Debussy first hears the rich new sounds from the East at the 1899’s Exposition Universelle in Paris, his perceptions are enlightened. The attraction of Gamelan music fascinates Debussy and inspires him to explore new colors as can be heard in his composition Pagodes from Estampes.
Debussy’s work is often described as the musical equivalent to impressionism. The harmonies, tone colors, delicate melodies mirror the subtle aesthetics of impressionist paintings The moods, feelings, lights, and shadows captured by the brush strokes of the painters can be heard through Debussy’s delightful harmonic shades.
Debussy’s music was often experienced in conjunction with the aesthetics of the time as can be witnessed on some of the posters advertising performances of his music.
Poster by Georges Rochegrosse for the premiere of Pelléas et Mélisande,
1902
Illustration of L'après-midi d'un faune, 1910
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But how has Debussy’s music been represented since the advent of recording ?
The designs for the album covers of Debussy’s work often represent the character of the music inside while embracing a wide variety of aesthetics.
Many of those covers make use of very abstract shapes and designs or sometimes use more direct figurative images. Each defines, in their own unique ways, different aspects of Debussy’s identity.
This early CD cover uses a simple approach, showing us Debussy himself along with the Faun along with other stylised imagery related to the musical content.
This cover, in contrast, uses Raoul Dufy’s fauvist representation of the Mediterranean outdoors, conveying at once the visual aesthetics of the early 20th century and a place where Debussy might have spent time on holiday and focusing on the sea/ aquatic theme.
This more recent cover uses an almost digital texture to provide a cover for the same pieces as the two albums above. The impression a listener will get from those covers will undoubtedly be very different.
Throughout the 20th century, music listeners got used to experiencing music not only through their ears but their imagination also guided by the designs of album covers.
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MUSIC, IMAGES & My Imagination
For this project, I would like to connect the music I play with the story I just described. By open my ears and my eyes, and connecting those senses, I will express what I feel about those pieces and deepen my understanding of the music.