Claude Debussy

August 22, 1862-March 25, 1918

Achille-Claude DebussyAchille-Claude Debussy was born in Saint-Germain- was born in Saint-Germain-en-Layeen-Laye, a suburb of Paris, a suburb of Paris, France, France,, on August 22, 1862 on August 22, 1862..

His family was poor, but His family was poor, but he was able to start taking he was able to start taking piano lessons at age 7.piano lessons at age 7.

A child prodigyA child prodigy

At 10 years old, At 10 years old, Debussy Debussy was was admitted to the Paris admitted to the Paris

ConservatoryConservatory

“I wish to sing of my interior visions with the naive candor of a child.”

—Claude Debussy

A well-traveled teenagerA well-traveled teenager

Hired at age 18 to teach Hired at age 18 to teach piano to the children of piano to the children of

Nadezhda von MeckNadezhda von Meck

Traveled Traveled with the family with the family to Italy and Austria and to Italy and Austria and

spent much time in spent much time in Russia, accumulating new Russia, accumulating new

musical and cultural musical and cultural experiences along the experiences along the

wayway

The greatest young musician The greatest young musician in all of Francein all of France

The Villa Medici in Italy, home to the Academie FranThe Villa Medici in Italy, home to the Academie Franççaise aise where Debussy was sent to study music for two yearswhere Debussy was sent to study music for two years

Claude Debussy in1884, age 22, winner of the Prix de Rome, the most prestigious art scholarship in France

Studying under giantsStudying under giantsAt the Villa Medici, At the Villa Medici,

Debussy met:Debussy met:

Franz Liszt Giuseppe Verdi

The Belle Epoque in France:The Belle Epoque in France:1870s – early 1910s (before WWI)1870s – early 1910s (before WWI)

1870s: Edgar Degas, whom Debussy later met, 1870s: Edgar Degas, whom Debussy later met, was painting the balletwas painting the ballet

The The Belle Epoque art sceneBelle Epoque art scene

1870s: Debussy’s friend James McNeill Whistler paints a 1870s: Debussy’s friend James McNeill Whistler paints a series of Nocturnesseries of Nocturnes

1880s: 1880s: Post-ImpressionistPost-Impressionist Pierre Auguste Renoir painted Pierre Auguste Renoir painted people dancing and having funpeople dancing and having fun

1880s: Debussy’s friend, Post-Impressionist painter Paul 1880s: Debussy’s friend, Post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin paints his best-known works of Gauguin paints his best-known works of SymbolistSymbolist art art

Debussy gets to know many other Debussy gets to know many other SymbolistSymbolist painters and painters and poets who are all acquaintancespoets who are all acquaintances

1890s: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, a friend of Debussy, 1890s: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, a friend of Debussy, was painting the can-can!was painting the can-can!

1892: 1892: Impressionist Impressionist Claude Monet is at work on his Claude Monet is at work on his Rouen Cathedral seriesRouen Cathedral series

1897: Monet is just beginning his Water Lilies series1897: Monet is just beginning his Water Lilies series

Art NouveauArt Nouveau

Japanese artJapanese art

This lacquer goldfish hung above Debussy’s piano and is now in the Musee Claude Debussy in France

Debussy’s piece “La Mer” was publishedwith an image of Hokusai’s wave on the cover

1890s in America: Ragtime1890s in America: Ragtime

Scott Joplin James Scott

Where did Debussy fit into this Where did Debussy fit into this diverse art scene?diverse art scene?

Debussy has long been considered one of the founders of Impressionist music, but he didn’t like the term Impressionism.

He identified more with Symbolism and its emphasis on the relationship between the visual arts, literature and music.

““La Cathedrale Engloutie”La Cathedrale Engloutie”(Sunken Cathedral)(Sunken Cathedral)Based on a Breton myth about a cathedral Based on a Breton myth about a cathedral submerged underwater off the island of Ys, submerged underwater off the island of Ys, which rises on a clear day.which rises on a clear day.

Parallel ChordsParallel Chords::

““La Cathedrale Engloutie”La Cathedrale Engloutie”(Sunken Cathedral)(Sunken Cathedral)While you listen, see if you can hear:While you listen, see if you can hear:•Bells tolling (Bells tolling (open fifthsopen fifths))•Pipe organ playing (Pipe organ playing (parallel chordsparallel chords))•Fish swimming (wave-like melodies)Fish swimming (wave-like melodies)

This is musical This is musical symbolismsymbolism..

““Reflets dans L’eau”Reflets dans L’eau”(Reflections in the Water)(Reflections in the Water)

Whole Tone ScaleWhole Tone Scale

Beautiful Evening

When the rivers are rosy in the setting sun,And a warm shiver runs over the wheat fields,

Advice to be happy seems to rise up from thingsAnd climb toward the troubled heart.

Advice to taste the charm of being in the worldWhile one is young and the evening is beautiful,For we are going away, as this stream goes away:

The stream to the sea, we to the grave.

Words by Debussy’s friend Paul Bourget““Beau Soir”Beau Soir”

““Pagodas”Pagodas”The 1899 World Fair in Paris inspired a love of East Asian culture in many artists, especially Debussy. It introduced him to the Javanese gamelan and the pentatonic scale:

Javanese gamelan Javanese gamelan instruments – instruments –

mostly percussionmostly percussion

Debussy’s personal lifeDebussy’s personal life

Married Rosalie Texier in 1899Married Rosalie Texier in 1899

Left Rosalie for Emma Bardac in Left Rosalie for Emma Bardac in 1904, later married Emma1904, later married Emma

Children’s Corner Suite-Children’s Corner Suite-Golliwog’s CakewalkGolliwog’s Cakewalk

Daughter Claude-Emma “Chouchou” DebussyDaughter Claude-Emma “Chouchou” Debussy – his – his daughter by Emmadaughter by Emma

““Poissons d’or”Poissons d’or”(Goldfish)(Goldfish)

““I love music I love music passionately. And passionately. And

because I love it, I try to because I love it, I try to free it from barren free it from barren

traditions that stifle it.” traditions that stifle it.” ~Claude Debussy~Claude Debussy

Craft Time!Craft Time!