Nearly one hundred years after the death of its composer, the music of
Claude Debussy has lost none of its breadth of appeal. With the rare
ability to entice listeners on many levels, at its heart lies an
engaging simplicity-one which defies traditional analysis and lends
mystery to what ultimately is an extremely refined and highly personal
approach to composition. Equally fascinating is Debussy's often
contradictory personality-at times elusive, but always centered on his
devotion to music and his ambition to create a name for himself unlike
any other. Author Eric Frederick Jensen provides new insight to
the man
and the music in this authoritative biography. Although born into
poverty, and a failure as a piano student at the Paris Conservatoire,
Debussy became the most famous French composer of his day, known for his
culture and refinement. His revolutionary music baffled critics but was
embraced by audiences. Debussy's scandalous personal life stirred up as
much controversy as his music, and his notoriety proved more harmful to
his career than the unusual nature of his compositions.Jensen
also explores Debussy's relationship to the arts and his career as a
music critic. Debussy drew on all of the arts in his development as a
composer, including poetry and painting, and his fascination with the
arts has often led to his being classified as an Impressionist or
Symbolist, two
claims which Jensen debunks. One of the finest music critics of his
time, Debussy's reviews reveal a great deal not only about his musical
taste, but also about what he felt the role and function of music should
be. Debussy brings together the most recent biographical
research, including a revised catalogue of Debussy's compositions and
the first complete edition of his correspondence. With separate,
chronological sections on his life and music, Debussy is accessible to
the general reader who wishes to focus on his life and personality,
while providing detailed discussion of the music to musicians and
students.Readership: General readers and scholars of classical music, fin de siecle French
music, Debussy, Impressionism; upper level undergraduate and graduate courses.