What characterizes the impressionist movement in music?

The impressionist movement in music is characterized by creating a general impression of a scene or emotion rather than providing precise details. This approach aligns with the goal of evoking feelings and atmospheres through music, similar to how impressionist painters depicted light and color without focusing on the exact representations of their subjects. Composers like Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel often utilized ambiguous harmonies, innovative scales, and unique orchestral color to immerse the listener in a specific mood or experience rather than conveying a straightforward narrative. This emphasis on ambiance over specificity is a defining trait of impressionism, making it distinctly different from styles that center on intricate melodies or rhythmic precision.