Claude Debussy

Claudia Jaquith
FAM3000: Listen to the Music
December 11, 2015

On the tails of the Romantic Era, a particularly intriguing form of musical

composition evolved: Early Modernism. Composers began challenging formal the
formal structure and rigidness of classical composing and created music to depict

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stories and evoke emotions in listeners. One of the most influential composers of
this period was Claude Debussy. Of French descent, Debussy rejected traditional
form and musical characteristics as he was taught in his musical training and
developed a more artistic and expressive collection of music. 1 Debussys
experiences in his early life, artistic inspirations, and his French heritage led him to
be a successful Early Modernist composer.
Claude Debussy was born on August 22, 1862 in St. Germain-en-Laye. His
parents operated a small china shop and he later became the oldest of five children.
At the age of 11, he began musical training at the Paris Conservatory. 2 Debussy
originally intended to become a pianist, but settled his focus on composing at the
Conservatory.3 While in school, Nadezhda von Meck hired Debussy as a music
teacher for her children; through travel, concerts and acquaintances, she provided
him with a wealth of musical experience.4 These involvements exposed Debussy to
new composers and styles like Russian composers Borodin and Mussorgsky, which
influenced his work.5 In 1884, after formally beginning composition studies at the
Paris Conservatory, Debussy won the Grand Prix de Rome, a scholarship in fine arts,
for his work titled LEnfant prodigue.6 This honor awarded him the opportunity to
1 Kerman, Joseph, Gary Tomlinson, and Vivian Kerman. Listen. 7th ed. Boston:
Bedford/St. Martin's, 2012.
2 Schrott, Allen. "Claude Debussy Biography." AllMusic. Accessed December 7,
2015. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/claude-debussy-mn0000768781/biography.
3 "Claude Debussy." Naxos. Accessed December 7, 2015.
http://www.naxos.com/person/Claude_Debussy_27153/27153.htm.
4 Schrott, Claude Debussy Biography
5 Ibid.
6 Lockspeiser, Edward. "Claude Debussy." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. June 5,
2015. Accessed December 07, 2015. http://www.britannica.com/biography/ClaudeDebussy.

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study in Rome. He was particularly inspired by Wagners operas during his time in
Rome. 7 The inspiration influenced his style as a young composer. Debussy cut his
stay in Rome short after two years in the program and returned home to Paris.
After discontinuing his formal education, Debussy began an era of exploration
as a composer. He traveled extensively and soon realized a need to drop his strong
Wagnerian influence in his compositions. 8 This stylistic period in Debussys life is
often referred to as bohemian and highly symbolic. Debussy settled into Parisian
caf life, becoming a familiar bearded figure in his broad-brimmed hat and following
cape.9 In his early thirties, Debussys signature musical style materialized with
momentous influence from French impressionism and poetry. 10 He premiered his
first immensely successful work, Prlude laprs-midi dun faune, in 1894.11 This
piece, in true symbolist nature, challenged conventional use of form and harmony.
Work following this piece continued in the same stylistic manner and developed a
sense of newfound distinctiveness. Debussy continued to be inspired by French
poets and impressionist artists, which influenced his musical style. 12
In the early twentieth century, Debussys personal life took a dramatic turn.
He married his first wife, Lilly Texier, in 1895, then divorced her five years later to

7 Ibid.
8 Franois Lesure and Roy Howat. "Debussy, Claude." Grove Music Online. Oxford
Music Online. Oxford University Press, accessed December 8, 2015,
http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/07353
9 Kerman, Joseph, Gary Tomlinson, and Vivian Kerman. Listen.
10 Ibid.
11 Lockspeiser, Edward. "Claude Debussy."
12 Ibid.

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pursue his second wife, Emma Bardac.13 Texier tragically responded to the events by
attempting suicide after he relocated to be with Bardac. 14 Debussy and Bardac gave
birth to a daughter in 1905, who would later become inspiration for various works
including the well-known Childrens Corner suite.15 As his life progressed, his
compositional output declined as global turmoil ensued prior to the beginning of
World War I. Debussys battle with cancer took his life in 1918. 16
Debussy wrote across nearly every genre and his work was highly regarded
for its refreshing revision of traditional, nineteenth-century style. Like other French
composers in the early twentieth century, his work was influenced by impressionist
artists and French poetry. The influence of both art forms can be observed in even
his earliest works as he begins to reject traditional instrumentation and common
musical characteristics.17 Debussy translated characteristics in French language and
poetry into musical terms by using unconventional interpretations of melody,
harmony, rhythm, texture, and timbre focused on creating an aural experience
instead of following rules of classical composition. 18 His orchestral works
established him as a master of instrumental color and texture. It is this attention to
tone color -- his layering of sound upon sound so that they blend to form a greater,
evocative whole -- that linked Debussy in the public mind to the Impressionist

13 Franois Lesure and Roy Howat. "Debussy, Claude."

14 Ibid.
15 Ibid.
16 Schrott, Claude Debussy Biography
17 Lockspeiser, Edward. "Claude Debussy."
18 Hall, Shannon K. An analysis of Nocturnes for orchestra by Claude Debussy.
Masters Thesis, Kansas State University, 1983.

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painters.19 Debussy used a loose translation of theme and motives in his works:
mirroring the variations in French poetry and language structure.
While Debussys work is renowned today and he is widely recognized as an
influential composer of his time, some experts say it was until his later work,
Pellas, that he gained fame and recognition.20 The opera debuted in 1902 and
created a buzz around the composer. His earlier works gained interest and began
being performed on a greater scale than when they previously premiered. Outside
of his home country France, Debussys work was played occasionally, but during
this time the infatuation of Wagners work was still prominent. 21 Because Debussy
was a sort of revolutionary during his compositional years, it is not surprising that
his work lacked recognition in the beginning. Patrons required a sense and
appreciation for his artistic and poetic musical style.
Nocturnes exhibits Debussys modernist style in three storytelling
movements. Composed in 1899 and premiered a year later, Nocturnes stands as
one of Debussys greatest works, despite early criticism. 22 The second movement of
the piece, Ftes, guides the listener through the vibrating, dancing rhythm of the
atmosphere with sudden flashes of light. 23 This work consists of three movements:
Nuages (Clouds), Ftes (Festival), and Sirnes (Sirens). Nocturnes, like the
majority of Debussys collection, is based off a series of impressionist paintings by

19 Schrott, Claude Debussy Biography

20 Franois Lesure and Roy Howat. "Debussy, Claude."
21 Ibid.
22 "Nocturnes." LA Phil. Accessed December 07, 2015.
http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/music/nocturnes-claude-debussy.
23 Ibid.

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James McNeill Whistler.24 The title, Nocturne, means night, but the work focuses on
elements of light and dark rather than physical night. 25 Debussys use of
instrumentation, extra-musical ideas, and unconventional mode changes contribute
to the effective storytelling nature of this movement.
Debussy used a comprehensive instrumentation style in Ftes. He replaced
traditional string melodies from earlier stylistic periods and used the woodwind
family to add color to the piece. The lyrical sound of the woodwinds adds a layer of
color to the piece and sound like they could be easily replaced by voices. Beginning
at 0:15, the flutes enter with a brisk melody accompanied primarily by the string
section. The flutes, bassoons, and clarinets stand as the primary focus of this
melody in the first theme. As the melody develops, the strings play briskly to move
the piece forward briskly. At 0:30, the trumpets dominate the melody. A strong
percussion line develops at the same time, adding to a dramatic climax. The harp
initiates the second section of theme A with a glissando at 0:43. This short feature
illustrates the distinguished timbre of the instrument and adds watery-like texture to
the piece. Continuing to expose the woodwind section, the oboe is featured at 1:20.
The expressive qualities of this instrument add emotion to the piece. Debussy used
the string section to build a dramatic climax at the end of the first theme, beginning
around 2:23.
Low pitches from the string and percussion sections commence the dramatic march
of the second theme. Debussy uses the low timbre of these instruments to create
distance and drama. The second theme develops similarly to the first, actively
drawing attention to all instruments on stage and using each instrument as a sort of

24 "Nocturnes." LA Phil.
25 Ibid.

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character in this musical story. Debussy uses the deviating pitch range and tone
colors of each instrument to portray different emotions.
Ftes exemplifies Debussys ability to create extra musical ideas and
incorporate stories into his musical works. As the piece begins, its as if the listener
is approaching a festival of sorts (just as the title suggests). The brisk tempo and
major mode of the first theme create an upbeat, cheery mood. Its easy to imagine
the setting with people dancing and having a good time. The lyrical nature of the
woodwind section imitates voices of people, contributing to the party scene. To
accompany the woodwinds, the strings keep the music moving along and create a
busy underlying harmony.
The dancelike theme of the first section ends dramatically and transitions to
the quiet march of the second section. Unlike the first, this section is in the minor
mode, which changes the mood of the listener. This section develops into a
triumphant march and uses dynamics to move the listener closer to the action. In a
particularly avant-garde manner, Debussy changes the mode of this movement
frequently to depict mood and setting changes. As the middle march section ends, a
familiar version of theme A returns in the major mode. This section plays variations
of the melody from the original theme A with the same overall tempo and mood.
Debussys ability to compose work based on paintings and French poetry and
his innovative interpretation of musical characteristics made him one of the most
influential composers of his time. His critically acclaimed library of music carved a
path for the unconventional composers who would follow and continue to innovate
musical characteristics and style.

Bibliography
"Claude Debussy." Naxos. Accessed December 7, 2015.
http://www.naxos.com/person/Claude_Debussy_27153/27153.htm.
Hall, Shannon K. An analysis of Nocturnes for orchestra by Claude Debussy.
Masters Thesis, Kansas State University, 1983.
Franois Lesure and Roy Howat. "Debussy, Claude." Grove Music Online. Oxford
Music Online. Oxford University Press, accessed December 8, 2015,
http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/07353.
Kerman, Joseph, Gary Tomlinson, and Vivian Kerman. Listen. 7th ed. Boston:
Bedford/St. Martin's, 2012.

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Lockspeiser, Edward. "Claude Debussy." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. June 5,
2015. Accessed December 07, 2015.
http://www.britannica.com/biography/Claude-Debussy.
"Nocturnes." LA Phil. Accessed December 07, 2015.
http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/music/nocturnes-claude-debussy.
Schrott, Allen. "Claude Debussy Biography." AllMusic. Accessed December 7, 2015.
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/claude-debussy-mn0000768781/biography.