CLAUDE DEBUSSY

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