Claude Debussy

1862-1918

Life Story
Born near Paris, France in 1862 Trained at the Paris Conservatoire
Was admitted when he was only 11 years old Decided to become a composer rather than a pianist

22 years old when his cantata, The Prodigal Son won the Pix de Rome Considered one of the great impressionists
"I am trying to do 'something different'- in a way realities- what the imbeciles call `impressionism' is a term which is as poorly used as possible, particularly by art critics." - Claude Debussy in a letter of March, 1908
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDHxk9GT9Ws

Debussys Style
Smaller and simpler musical structures Impressionist music
Ambiguous: focuses on setting the mood or atmosphere rather than developing a story line Bitonality: two harmonies at once, left and right hands playing in different keys Left open to interpretation Dissonance between chords

Monet's Impression, Sunrise

Opera

Pellas et Mlisande
Complete opposite from Wagners operas Adapted from Maurice Maeterlinck's play His only opera ever written Very simple melodies and very simple ornamentation Love, jealousy, murder

Piano Music

Deux Arabesques
One of his earliest pieces Comprised of two sections, Arabesque No. I and Arabesque No. II Already demonstrate Debussys style
Used bitonality

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28Qi4jLtigc&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfIokSkH8As

Suite bergamasque
Most famous suite for piano Began the suite in 1890 but did not complete it until 1905 Clair de lune demonstrates the bitonality Contains four movements:
Prlude Menuet Clair de lune Passepied
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlvUepMa31o

Orchestral Music

Prlude l'aprs-midi d'un faune

Prelude to the Afternoon of the Faune Inspired from the poem, Prlude l'aprs-midi d'un faune by Stphane Mallarm Dreamlike Motifs can be found throughout the piece

Start at 1:08 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpw4-J49auQ&feature=related

More orchestral compositions

Three Nocturnes La Mer
The Sea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66hX8Ms0FwE Start at 1:30 Comprised of three movements:
De l'aube midi sur la mer Jeux de vagues Dialogue du vent et de la mer

The Three Images

Cites
http://www.naxos.com/person/Claude_Debussy_27153/27153.htm http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/public-domain/composers/debussy.html http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/music/kamien/student/olc/29.htm http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/public-domain/composers/debussy.html http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/Mike/capmusic/impressionism/impressi.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prlude__l'aprs-midi_d'un_faune http://www.tcd.ie/Music/JF%20History/debussy.html