The Color of Sound: Music and Art in the Impressionist Era

Class Description

Step into the glimmering world where paintings glow, music shimmers, and artists across two centuries dared to capture the fleeting, the atmospheric, and the beautifully imperfect. This six‑week course invites you to explore how painters like Monet, Renoir, Degas, Manet, Morisot, and Pissarro and composers like Debussy, Ravel, Satie, Fauré, and Boulanger transformed the arts forever.

You’ll see how Impressionist painters broke free from rigid academic rules to chase sunlight, movement, and modern life, while composers painted with tone color, exotic scales, and scintillating harmonies to create sound worlds that feel like living, breathing landscapes.

This isn’t a lecture series—it’s an experience. You’ll see, hear, and feel Impressionism come alive. Whether you’re an art lover, a music enthusiast, or simply someone who wants to understand why Impressionism still captivates the world, this course will deepen your appreciation and awaken your senses.

Glenn Derringer began his musical career at the age of 9 appearing on the Jackie Gleason Show, Perry Como, and as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. After graduation from Temple University he held executive positions with Wurlitzer, Baldwin, Gibson Guitar, and has taught music for more than 50 years.

All virtual classes are recorded and made available to participants registered in the class. These recordings are password-protected and available for up to two weeks after the class ends.

What to Expect

Format: Virtual 

Class Capacity: 30 

Class Style: Mix of lecture and discussion; participation encouraged 

Materials List

Required

• Instructor-Distributed Materials

A Brief Syllabus

1. The Birth of Impressionism: Context, Culture, and the “Impression” Idea
2. The Painters: Monet, Renoir, Degas, Pissarro, Manet
3. The Composers: Debussy, Ravel, Satie, Fauré, Boulanger
4. Side-by-Side: How Painters and Composers Create Atmosphere
5. Symbolism, Cross-Cultural Influence, and the Expansion of Impressionism
6. Legacy, Criticism, and Student Presentations

Cost and Registration

6 Sessions, $245 ($220.50 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.

We offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($245), Community Supported ($225), and Sponsor ($265). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.

To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.

Having trouble signing up? Take a look at our step-by-step guide to registration by clicking here.

The views and opinions expressed in this class and/or by the instructor are not necessarily representative of the Newberry. We aim to ensure that in our classes, participants can have respectful disagreement to foster critical thinking. This is a space to challenge and expand our own worldviews to work towards better understanding and appreciating humanity.

Take a Look

View our full schedule of adult education classes.

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Questions?

Call us at (312) 255-3700 or send us an email at adulteducation@newberry.org.

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