Claude Debussy:

Claude Debussy, a true-blooded French, lived from 1862-1918.

He linked the Romantic era with the Twentieth century. He studied at the Paris Conservatory from the tender age of 11 till he was 22. His teachers regarded him as a talented rebel who was a radical of his time. in 1884, he won the prestigious Pris de Rome which subsidised his three years of studies in Rome. He left Rome after two years seemingly out of inspiration once he was out of Paris.

Debussy's work were influence by Russia where he work as a pianist for Nadezhda von Meck(Tchaikovsky's patroness) adn Asian music performed at the Paris International Exposition in 1889. He was also influenced by Wagner who were having a profound impact on Paris which both attracted and repelled Debussy.

For years, Debussy led a hand to mouth life surviving on the small income obtained by giving piano lessons. His friends were mostly writers such as Stephane Mallarme. Debussy often attended literary gatherings of his friends. He was little known to the public and was not sure of himself though he composed many vital works such as String Quartet and Prelude to the "Afternoon  of a Faun". His opera Pelias and Melisande marked a turning point in his life. Debussy was considered one of the most important French composer of his time. Debussy led a life filled with financial and emotional crisis. he was constantly borrowing money from his friends to sustained his luxurious lifestyle. He had many sordid affairs. He was not a good conductor and neither does he like apperaing in hte public. He undertook concert tours eventually to sustained his lifestyle and presented his music to almost the whole of Europe.

Debussy's Music:

LIke the impressionist painters and poets of his time, Debussy evoked misty atmosphere and subtle mood. The titles of his works suggest it eg. Reflets dans l'eau (Reflections in the water) and Nuages (Clouds). He was often inspired by literary and pictorial ideas and his music sounds free, spontaneaous and improvised. He strees on timbre, atmosphere and fluidity which are the main characteristics of an impressionist work.

Timbre though sensous and beautiful at the beginning might undergo changes. The orchestra was utilised fully to produce a massive sound. Brass which were previously muted was allowed to blow in its full glory and prominance.

Debussy revolutionalised the treating of harmony. He uses a chord more for its special colour. He discards old standard progressions and he used suceesions of dissonant chord that does not lead to a resolve. Parallel chords are characteristics of his works.

He abandoned the sense of tonality and uses pentatonic scales and other scaled to recreate the exoticism of the Orient. The pulse of Debussy's music was also vague. The rhythmic flexibility reflects the fluidity of many oriental music. The essence of impressionistic writins is nebulous, mysterious, dreamlike. Though Debussy's output is not large, his writing ended the Romantic era and falg off the 20th century.