Debussy in Performance

by Edited by James R. Briscoe

• ISBN13: 9780300076264
• ISBN10: 0300076266
• Format: Trade Book
• Copyright: 2000-02-09
• Publisher: Yale University Press

Summary

Claude Debussy, who composed works of major significance in a wide range of musical and theatrical genres, has exerted a fundamental influence on musicians of the twentieth century. This book explores how Debussy's compositions are brought to life in performance, investigating the composer's own expectations, the traditions surrounding the performance of his music, and the internal and contextual evidence that can give insight to performers of his works.

Leading international scholars and interpreters of Debussy's music draw on his letters and music criticism as well as on the memoirs of performers close to him to discuss issues of performance forces, tempo and its flexibility, performer license, and the interpretation of expressive indications in the scores. They urge performers to recognize the symbolism and the value of silence in Debussy's work. And they show that it is particularly important to focus on aspects of timbre, voice-leading, and the musical arabesque, together with meter and phrase ambiguities, when playing his music. The book also includes t

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Part One The Spirit of Debussy Performance
Debussy on Performance: Sound and Unsound Ideals	3	(25)
Richard Langham Smith
Symbolism and Performance	28	(17)
Claude Abravanel
Pelleas et Melisande in Performance	45	(22)
Louis-Marc Suter
Part Two The Genres in Performance
Debussy and Orchestral Performance	67	(24)
James R. Briscoe
Debussy and Early Debussystes at the Piano	91	(28)
Cecilia Dunoyer
Debussy, the Dance, and the	119	(16)
Faune Stephanie Jordan
Thoughts on the History of (Re)interpreting Debussy's Songs	135	(22)
Brooks Toliver
Part Three Interpreters on Debussy
How Not to Perform	157	(19)
Pelleas et Melisande Desire-Emile Inghelbrecht
Debussy, Pelleas, and Orchestral Conducting: An Interview with Pierre Boulez	176	(17)
James R. Briscoe
Part Four Debussy Performance and Score Analysis
Structure and Performance: Metric and Phrase Ambiguities in the Three Chamber Sonatas	193	(32)
Richard S. Parks
Timbre, Voice-leading, and the Musical Arabesque in Debussy's Piano Music	225	(32)
Jann Pasler
Notes	257	(28)
Bibliography	285	(6)
Contributors	291	(2)
Index	293