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Debussy

Published on Nov 18, 2015

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PRESENTATION OUTLINE

CLAUDE DEBUSSY

CHESTER CHAN
Photo by Piano Piano!

FRENCH COMPOSER

  • One of the greatest composers in the last hundred years
  • Contributed heavily to Impressionist music
  • 1862-1918
  • From Saint-Germaine-en-Laye, France
  • Later lived in Paris

MUSIC EDUCATION

  • Began piano at seven
  • Drew the attention of a somewhat famous teacher, who claimed to have studied with Chopin
  • Studied at the Paris Conservatoire fore eleven years
  • Brilliant pianist, but loved experimenting with music
  • This led to a passion and career in composing, rather than performing

MUSICAL INFLUENCE

  • Debussy worked for the patroness of Tchaikovsky for a time
  • Interestingly, the two composers had very little interest in each other--their musical tastes were quite different
  • His major support came from a singer and friend, Marie-Blanche Vasnier
  • He was introduced to the French poet, Paul Verlaine

PAUL VERLAINE

  • A poet of the Symbolist movement
  • One of the greatest poets of the "fin de siècle" (turn to the 20th century)
  • This movement of Symbolism wished to evoke distinct moods, emotions, and thoughts through symbolism
  • In many cases, these symbols were " euphemisms"
  • He was well-known and well-regarded during his time...many French composers sought his poems for inspiration

MUSICAL STYLE

  • With many different influences, Debussy's music was taking its own style
  • He wanted freedom, and wanted to express his ideas in music
  • At first, he was not very successful...others described his style as an "enigma"
  • Richard Wagner's operas, as well as Javanese gamelan music inspired Debussy

CLAIR DE LUNE

  • One of his most well know pieces today
  • Based off a poem by Verlaine of the same name
  • This was one of his earlier pieces, part of a larger suite

Stanza of Verlaine's "Clair de Lune"
Tout en chantant sur le mode mineur
L'amour vainqueur et la vie opportune
Ils n'ont pas l'air de croire à lemur bonheur
Et lemur chanson se mêle Abu clair de lune,

English translation
All sing in a minor key
Of victorious love and opportune life,
They do. It seem to believe in their happiness
And their song mingles with the moonlight,

MUSICAL STYLE CONT.

  • Rudolph Reti analyzed Debussy's style and influence in Europe
  • Glittering passages that hide an absence in tonality
  • Parallel chords--not true harmony, bitonal chords
  • Whole tone and pentatonic scale
  • Interesting and unprepared modulations

DEBUSSY'S LEGACY

  • Many credit him for having huge influence on 20th century composite
  • His experimenting with tonality, texture, and feeling is huge
  • Thomas Service says Debussy was revolutionary in that he used music "as a thing in itself"
  • He wasn't trying to represent anything--he wanted to make an experience, and he very well did