Which musical form is generally NOT associated with neoclassical composers?

The musical form that is generally not associated with neoclassical composers is Impressionistic free-form. Neoclassicism emerged as a reaction against the Romantic style, emphasizing clarity, balance, and structure, often drawing inspiration from the forms and styles of earlier periods, particularly the Classical era.

Impressionistic free-form, on the other hand, is closely linked with the Impressionist movement in music, which focused on tone color, atmosphere, and fluidity, often eschewing strict forms and traditional harmonic progressions. Composers like Claude Debussy, who were instrumental in developing this style, utilized non-traditional structures and often prioritized expressive qualities over formal clarity, resulting in a contrasting approach to that of neoclassical composers, who favored more rigid and established forms such as sonata form, fugue, and theme and variations, which emphasize formal structure and thematic development.

Thus, Impressionistic free-form represents a departure from the neoclassical ideals, highlighting why it is not typically associated with this particular movement in music.