Claude DebussyJanel Herde

Biography

Biography Born August 22, 1862 in St. Germain en

Laye, France. Oldest of 5 children. Family owned china shop.

Closed and the family relocated to Clichy, France.

Claude’s grandmother takes them in.

First piano lesson – 7 years old. Teacher – Jean Cerutti (Jean)

1871 Antionette Maute as piano teacher. Paris Conservatory School of Fine Arts –

Age 10 1876 – First appearance at a public

concert. Accompanied Leontine Mendes (Singer)

1879 – Leans the attractions of a life of luxury – stays with Marguerite Wilson-Pelouze. Decides to become a composer.

1880 – Hired by Nadezhda Von Meck Teaches her children to play piano

1884 – Enters “The Prodigal Son” Won the Prix de Rome

Influences Not influenced by Russian composer Richard Wagner’s opera Tristan und

Isolde. Javanese Gamelan

First saw at Paris World Exposition 1889 Brass percussion, strings, bamboo flutes

Opera – Pelleas et Melisande Based on play by Marice Maeterlinck Only finished opera

Controversy around first performance Music was either hated or loved

His music was impressionist Rejected traditional rules Pieces were dissonant Lacked tonal quality

Later Years Changes in style Not readily accepted Other composers weakened popularity Composed music until death Diagnosed – rectal cancer 1915

Unsuccessful surgery to cure cancer Passed away March 25, 1918 3 unfinished pieces for “Six Pieces for

Various Instruments”

Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun)

History Written in 1892, completed in October

1894 Symphonic poem for orchestra First performance

Paris – December 1894 Concerts of the Society Nationale de

Musique Conductor – Gustave Doret

Inspired by poem “L”après-midi d’un faune” by Stephane Mallarme Also basis for ballet “Afternoon of a Faun” Choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky

One of best known compositions Performed again the next day

Society’s doors were opened to the public for the first time.

First performance – conductor and Debussy made changes up until the start

Orchestration 3 flutes 2 oboes 2 clarinets 4 horns 2 harps 2 violins Violas Chellos Contrabasses

One of Debussy’s most famous works Turning point in music Flutes and soft must added new depth

Listening Guide Section A

0:00 Part A – flute solo, harps glissando, horns extend theme

0:45 Part A – horns and harp repeat. Horns background, harp is more prominent

1:06 Part A – Flute reappears, oboes take melody at times

1:31 Part B – Horns return, flute and oboe resume these, crescendos, theme repeated. Harps glissando

2:46 Part C – Flutes continue theme, clarinet extends the theme, flutes at the end of theme

Section B 3:16 Part D – Oboe leads new theme. Strings –

plucking methods – which accompany clarinet. Violins take over the melody

3:44 Part D – French horns return. Clarinet plays melody. Similar to first theme

4:01 Part E – oboe returns with melody. Quicker and shorter notes. Strings added – screscendo take melody

4:19 Part E – Dynamics soften – violins play togther. Chang tempo and rhythm. Crescendo with climax and diminishes

4:48 Part E – Soften with horns flutes and oboes. Crescendos and decrescendos. Twinkling sound.

Section B 5;50 Part A Flute has main melody,

accompaniment of harp. Obo plast staccato notes

6:23 Part A Horns accmpany with crisp melody. Theme reiterates Theme A

6:55 Part A Flutes play melody, violini pianissimo. Flute, cello take melody. Harp in backgorund. Oboe Brings melody. Flute and harp fade to a close.

Clair de Lune

History Third movement in Suite begamasque Famous piano suite, with four

movements Prelude, Menuet, Clair de Lune, Passepied

Composed in 1890 When it came time to publish, Debussy

hated the style. Major modification Revised version published in 1905

Inspiration Poem “Clair de Lune” by Paul Verlaine All four movements written from works

of Paul Verlaine. Written for piano solo First performance

Debussy performed it himself firs time ever performed.

Listening Guide Section A

0:00 Opens in D flat. Pianissimo. Warm sound. Chords and scales – both hands. Expressive, andante

1:00 Dissonant low notes. More chords than scales. Repeated with minor changes.

1:39 Dissonance resolved with arpeggio.

Section B 1:49 More movement. Arpeggios.

Pianissimo. Crescendos and decrescendos throughout piece. Melody – right hand.

2:25 Key changes, melody move up an octave.

2:35 Melody back down in lower octaves

Section A’ 3:04 Melody from beginning restated 3:38 Coda, arpeggios from second

section. Contour same as theme A 4:19 Arpeggios brought together. End

slowly with diminuendo.

Bibliography Claude Debussy. 2007. June 2011

<http://www.debussy.fr/cdfr/bio/bio5_03-09.php>. Dumesnil, Maurice. "Claude-Achille, Young Musician." Claude

Debussy, Master of Dreams. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1979. 181.

Mandel, Marc. Claude Debussy “Prélude à l’Après-midi d’un faune”. n.d. June 2011 <http://www.bso.org/images/program_notes/debussy_prelude_faun.pdf>.

Nichols, Roger. "The Life of Debussy." New York: Cambridge University Press, 1998.

Notable Biographies. n.d. June 2011 <http://www.notablebiographies.com/De-Du/Debussy-Claude.html>.

Vallas, Leon. "Claude Debussy - His Life and Works." Lightning Source Inc., 2007.