Claude Debussy

Achille-Claude Debussy (August 22, 1862 – March 25, 1918) was a composer of European classical music. He developed the style commonly referred to as Impressionist music. Debussy's music represents the transition from late-romantic music to 20th century music.

Middle Period

Beginning in the 1890s, Debussy developed his own musical language independent of Wagner's influence. In reaction to the enormous works of Wagner and other late-romantic composers, Debussy chose to write in smaller, more accessible forms. Debussy's String Quartet in G minor (1893) paved the way for his later, more daring harmonic exploration. In this work he utilized the Phrygian mode as well as less standard modes, such as the whole-tone scale, which creates a sense of floating, ethereal harmony.

Related Topics:
String Quartet - Phrygian mode

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Influenced by the contemporary symbolist poet Stéphane Mallarmé Debussy wrote one of his most famous works, the revolutionary Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune. In contrast to the large late-romantic orchestra, Debussy wrote this piece for a smaller ensemble, emphasizing orchestral colors and timbres of the instruments. The work caused controversy at its premiere and subsequently launched Debussy into the spotlight as one of the leading composers of the era.

Related Topics:
Stéphane Mallarmé - Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune

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In reaction to Wagner and his overblown late-romantic operas, Debussy wrote the mellow, symbolist opera Pelléas et Mélisande, which would be his only finished opera. Based on the play by Maurice Maeterlinck, the opera proved to be immensely influential to younger French composers, including Maurice Ravel. Pelléas, with its rule of understatement and deceptively simple declamation, also brought an entirely new tone to opera — but an unrepeatable one. These works brought a fluidity of rhythm and color quite new to Western music.

Related Topics:
Pelléas et Mélisande - Maurice Maeterlinck - Maurice Ravel

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Among Debussy's major orchestral works are the three Nocturnes (1899), characteristic studies in veiled harmony and texture ('Nuages'), exuberant ('Fêtes'), and seductive whole-tone ('Sirènes'). La Mer (1905) essays a more symphonic form, with a finale that works themes from the first movement, although the middle movement (Jeux de vagues) proceeds much less directly and with more variety of color.

Related Topics:
Nocturnes - La Mer

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The three Images (1912) are more loosely linked, and the largest, Ibéria is itself a triptych, a medley of Spanish allusions and fleeting impressions. The mystery play Le martyre de St. Sébastien (1911) a lush and dramatic work, is remarkable in sustaining an antique modal atmosphere that otherwise was touched only in relatively short piano pieces.

Related Topics:
Triptych - Modal

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During this period Debussy wrote much piano music. The Suite bergamasque (1890) recalls, in Verlainian fashion, rococo decorousness with a modern cynicism and puzzlement. This suite contains Debussy's most popular piece Clair de Lune. The set of pieces entitled Pour le piano, (1901) utilizes rich harmonies and textures which would prove influential to Jazz music. His first volume of Images pour piano 1904?1905, combine harmonic innovation with poetic suggestion. ("Reflets dans l'eau") is a musical description of rippling water. (Hommage à Rameau), the second piece, is a slow, mysterious court dance in the manner of Jean-Philippe Rameau.

Related Topics:
Suite bergamasque - Rococo - Jazz - Jean-Philippe Rameau

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In his evocative Estampes for piano (1903), Debussy gives impressions of exotic locations, such as an Asian landscape in the pentatonic Pagodes, and of Spain in La soirée dans Grenade. Debussy wrote his famous Children's Corner Suite(1909) for his beloved daughter whom he nicknamed Chou-chou. These beautiful and poetic pieces recall classicism as well as a new wave of rag-time music. Debussy also pokes fun at Richard Wagner in the popular piece Golliwogg's Cake-walk.

Related Topics:
Spain - Children's Corner - Richard Wagner

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The first set of Preludes, twelve in total, proved to be his most successful set of pieces for piano, frequently compared to Chopin's famous set of preludes. These masterpieces of subtlety and description are filled with rich, unusual and daring harmonies. These pieces include the popular La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin and La Cathédrale Engloutie

Related Topics:
Preludes - Chopin

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During this period and up until his death, Debussy worked on other opera projects and left substantial sketches for two pieces after tales by Edgar Allan Poe (Le diable dans le beffroi and La chute de la maison Usher), but neither was completed.

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