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A BIOGRAPHY
Of
Claude Debussy’s Life and Music
By Tara Spencer
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“Music is God’s best gift to man: the
only art of heaven given to earth,
the only art of earth we take to
heaven.”
Walter Savage Lander
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Table of contents
Who Was Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy’s Professional Life
A Quick Life Summary
Well known Melodies
My Favorites
Clair de Lune
Arabesque
A B I O G R A P H Y
Of Claude Debussy’s life
Nocturne
Closing Remarks
Bibliography
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CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Claude Debussy was a man
who created heavenly,
beautiful, brilliant music.
Whenever I hear a song that
he wrote, I feel like I am in
heaven. This man was truly
gifted, and I believe he
created music that will live
on forever and stand the test
of time.
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EARLY LIFE
Claude was born August 22 1862
in St-Germain-en-Laye, France
He was the oldest of 5 children
He came from a very poor family
He was 7 when he had his first
piano lesson
In 1872 Claude attended the
Paris Conservatoire where he
stayed for 11 years
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The middle years
While attending school, he studied piano,
organ, music composition, music theory
and many other courses
Claude often pushed boundaries as he
experimented. He created music ahead of
his time. His music was very controversial
Claude was the winner of the 1884 Prix de
Rome. For his composition L’enfant
Prodigue and was able to receive a
scholarship to the academy des Beaux-Arts
He was able to attend the Villa Medici, the
French Academy in Rome from 1885-1887
He began creating some of his most famous
musical compositions during this time
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THE LATER YEARS
In 1902 Claude finished his first
and only opera, Pelleas et
Melisande. A very controversial
piece.
His later life was surrounded in
scandal.
His later music was very different
from the earlier music he created.
He suffered from cancer for the
last 8 years of his life.
He died of rectal cancer in Paris on
March 25 1918.
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Claude
Debussy:
A
Quick life
summary
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CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Born: August 22 1862 in Saint-
Germain-en-Lave, France
Died: March 25, 1918, in Paris-France
Remains: Buried: Cimetiere de Passy,
Paris, France
Occupation: Composer, French
Impressionist composer
Wife: Rosalie Texier (dressmaker, m.
1899, separated 1904 for Bardac)
Wife: Emma Bardac (m. 1908)
Daughter: Claude-Emma
("Chouchou")
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C L A U D E D E B U S S Y ’ S M U S I C I S A P E R F E C T E X A M P L E O F T H E Q U O T E T H A T I M E N T I O N E D E A R L I E R . I
T H I N K I T I S A R T F R O M H E A V E N . I T W I L L B E A R T T H A T W E W I L L B E A B L E T O T A K E W I T H U S W H E N
W E D E PA R T F R O M T H I S L I F E , A N D I T R U L Y T H A N K H I M F O R T H A T.
Claude Debussy’s Professional Life
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CLAUDE DEBUSSY’S PROFESSIONAL LIFE
Musician
Award Winning
Composer
Concert Pianist
Writer
Conductor
Teacher
Colleague
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Duex Arabesques
Riverie
Tarantelle Styrienne
Nocturne’s
Juex (Ballet)
Suite Bergamasque: Prelude,
Menuet, Clair de Lune, Passepied
Children’s Corner: Golliwogg’s
Cakewalk, The Little Shepard, The
Snow is Dancing, Serenade for the
Dolls, Jimbo’s Lullaby, Doctor Gradus
ad Parnassum.
WELL KNOWN FOR HIS MUSIC
A list of some of the most popular melodies Claude Debussy composed.
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MY FAVORITES CHOSEN FOR MY LISTENING
GUIDE
Clair de Lune
Arabesque
Nocturne
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RELAXING ~ BEAUTIFUL ~ PEACEFUL
CALMING ~ DREAM ~ COMPLETE
Claire de Lune
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CLAIR DE LUNE
Written between1890 and 1905
It is the third movement of the Suite bergamasque, and the
most popular of all 4 movements
Clair de Lune means Moonlight in French and was influenced
by a poem written by Paul Verlaine’s also called Clair de Lune
It is one of Claude’s most popular compositions and over the
last 20 years has been featured in more than 50 movies and TV
shows
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You can also enjoy
Clair de Lune in
such a beautiful
way, by watching
the Clair de Lune
Water show at the
Bellagio, in Las
Vegas Nevada.
It is simply
breathtaking…
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CALMING ~ BREEZY ~ PEACEFULRELAX ~ ENJOY ~ SLEEP SOUNDLY
Arabesque
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ARABESQUE
This was one of Debussy’s earlier compositions
It was finished in 1888 while he was still in his 20’s
One of the great pieces to show what was to come
from this brilliant composer
Full of scales and runs, mixed with harmonious
chords to create a seamless masterpiece
A favorite of many who enjoy his music
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ARABESQUE
I once saw a ballet number
that was choreographed to
the song Arabesque and was
blown away by how
beautifully they went
together. Then I
remembered that in ballet an
arabesque is an actual
movement performed by
dancers.
I can see why!
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UNCHANGING ~ SLOW ~ DISSOLVING
GREY ~ SOLEMN ~ L IGHT
Nocturnes
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NOCTURNES
This song was completed between 1897 and 1899
Debussy explains the feeling of this song as “the
unchanging aspect of the sky, and the slow, solemn
movement of the clouds dissolving in gray tints lightly
touched with white. The restless dancing rhythm of the
atmosphere interspersed with sudden flashes of light.”
It is another one of his most famous melodies
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NOCTURNES
Claude Debussy’s Nocturnes,
was said to have been
influenced by a series of
paintings. The series was
created by a famous artist by
the name of, James McNeill
Whistler.
This was one of the painting
in the series.
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LISTENING GUIDE
Claire de Lune
Arabesque
&
Nocturnes
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CLAIR DE LUNE
Introduction, slow, quiet and harmonious
It is repeated and played andante; it is taking its time
The timbre is harmonious and romantic
1:11 is when the chords start to evolve
Tempo rubato begins, and the chords seem to go fast and slow
This sequence is the heart of a lot of the song
It continues as it switches off with what you hear at the
beginning
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1:52 Then the main melody begins, which is slow and calm
You hear a very dreamlike sequence of runs and scales
The chords that are played along with that sequence to make a
beautiful blend of symphonic music
2:54 The middle through the end of the song is a sequence full of
seamless changes that take you on a ride
Fast and slow, high and low as it changes from the three main
melodies
The three melodies blend together with romantic tones and sounds
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5:02 the song ends
As the last note is
played, it seems to ring
as the song lingers
The rhythm of the entire
song flows peacefully
What a heavenly song…
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ARABESQUE
0:00 The song begins with a scale rising and falling, followed by a
low note and then repeats itself
0:14 Chords are then played to create the layers of a song that
sounds like a peaceful spring rain
This section is played very delicately
It is slightly fast or andantino might be a better description
The timbre of the piano is very soft and pure
0:26 is when one of the main melodies begins
The song begins to climb and get a little louder before the main
melody returns
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1:30 The middle section of this song is full of different melodies that blend
well with the main melody
1:40-4:00 There isn’t a real clear path for the piece during this section
This section has a lot going on, but somehow it all comes together as one
seamless composition
Lots of crescendo’s, it get’s very powerful and then soft again at a quick
pace
4:49 The ending is a nice wrap up of all the different melodies and
harmonies heard throughout the piece
If you close your eyes, you could picture springtime, just after the rain
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This piece truly
takes you to another
place
When it’s over you
feel moved by the
incredible peace and
stillness that comes
from the music
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NOCTURNES
The song begins on a very deep pure tone, that has a little bit
of darkness to it
A very high fast scale starts that pierces you, then falls back
to the deep
0:43 The melody begins, it creates a mood of sadness. The
timbre is pure and soft, very quiet like a reflection
2:00 As the song progresses, it begins to build and pick up
pace
2:30-3:00 It brightens and an atmosphere of happiness
remains through out the middle sequence of the song
There are beautiful chords and harmonies that create amazing
layers and feelings
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As the song winds down, all the feeling from the beginning and the middle
combines
4:00 Again you hear some of the beginning melodies that blend well with
what feels to be the climax of the song and then descend downward
Feelings of sadness return
The timbre is very deep and pure when the lower register is played
You experience the contrast of the low notes with a sudden high scale that
is played light and fast
This part is giving the song more form. It seems to come full circle at this
point
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5:40 As the end of the song
nears a sudden change in
the music occurs as the
varied dynamics start
building, and the whole
song comes together
The song ends softly and
powerfully
A strong powerful
emotional ride, but
beautiful
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IN CLOSING
In studying and learning about Claude Debussy’s life,
I have come to have a greater appreciation for his
music and the courage he had to push boundaries
and try new things. What an amazing musician…And
I would like to finish with the same quote I began with
that I think sums up the divine music this man
created.
“Music is God’s best gift to man: the only art of
heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take
to heaven.”
~Walter Savage Lander~
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
www.Biography.com ~ Claude Debussy, biography ~ Synopsis ~ Profile
~ Chosen Music
www.8notes.com ~ Claude Debussy, biography ~ Chosen Music
www.noteablebiographies.com ~ Claude Debussy, biography ~ Chosen Music
50 Greats for piano, by Yamaha ~ General Information ~ Claude Debussy ~
Claire de Lune ~ Arabesque
www.wikipedia.org ~ Claude Debussy, biography ~ Chosen Music, biography
www.youtube.com ~ Chosen Music
www.googleimages.com ~ Photos used throughout Power Point presentation