Claude Debussy

by Roberts, Paul

• ISBN13: 9780714835129
• ISBN10: 0714835129
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-04-23
• Publisher: Phaidon Press

Summary

Born near Paris in 1862, Claude Debussy was one of the most influentialomposers of his age, affecting profoundly the works of later generations ofomposers, both in his native France and elsewhere. He was trained at thearis Conservatoire, and decided there on a career as a composer rather thans a pianist, his original intention. His highly characteristic musicalanguage, thoroughly French in inspiration, extended the contemporary limitsf harmony and form, with a remarkably delicate command of nuance, whether inomposition for the piano or in the handling of a relatively large orchestra.onsidered by many to be the most important composer of piano music sincehopin, Debussy also produced a single opera, "Pelleas et Melisande", whichrought an entirely new tone to the genre. This, however, was his onlyompleted opera and instead his work predominantly comprises orchestralieces, piano sets and songs. The orchestral works include "The Threeocturnes" (1899), "The Three Images" (1912) and "The Ballet Jeux" (1913).;ebussy's piano music begins with works that, Verlaine fashion, look back at

Author Biography

Paul Roberts combines concert pianism, writing and teaching in a career that takes him all over the world. He has recorded several discs of Debussy’s piano music to wide critical acclaim, a DVD on Debussy’s Preludes (Amadeus Press, 2006) and is the author of Images: The Piano Music of Claude Debussy. A book on Ravel, Reflections, is in preparation. He is an honorary fellow of London’s Guildhall School of Music & Drama, visiting professor at the Royal Northern College of Music, and director of the piano summer school near Toulouse, France, Music at Castelfranc.

Table of Contents

The Quest for Debussy 1862-1918	p. 9
A Boy's Life 1862-80	p. 21
The Path to Rome and Back 1880-7	p. 39
From Achille to Claude 1887-93	p. 71
Masterpieces 1893-5	p. 99
Poetry, Painting and Music 1894-9	p. 129
Lilly Debussy 1899-1905	p. 149
Images 1905-12	p. 169
Wisdom 1912-18	p. 195
Epilogue	p. 220
Why I Wrote Pelleas	p. 222
Classified List of Works	p. 224
Further Reading	p. 230
Selective Discography	p. 232
Index	p. 236
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