MAPEH-10

Claude Debussy (French composer)

Full name: Achille-Claude Debussy
Born: August 22, 1862 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France
Died: March 25, 1918 in Paris, France from Colon cancer
Awards and Honors: Prix de Rome
Movement/Style: Impressionism
Achille-Claude Debussy was a French composer. He is
sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he
vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential
composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is also
widely known as an erratic pianist.

HISTORY
Achille-Claude Debussy was born on August 22, 1862, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France, and
the oldest of five children. He was born into a poor family. While his family had little money,
Debussy showed an early affinity for the piano, and he began taking lessons at the age of 7. He
was encouraged by Madame Mauté de Fleurville, who was associated with the Polish
composer Frédéric Chopin, and in 1873 at the age of eleven (11) he entered the Paris
Conservatory, where he studied the piano and composition, his instructors and fellow students
recognized his talent but often found his attempts at musical innovation strange. In 1880, at the
age of 18 Nadezhda von Meck hired Debussy to teach piano to her children. With her and her
children, Debussy traveled Europe and began accumulating musical and cultural experiences in
Russia that he would soon turn toward his compositions, most notably gaining exposure to
Russian composers who would greatly influence his work. When he was 22 years old, Debussy
won the Grand Prix de Rome with his cantata L’Enfant prodigue (The Prodigal Child), a
competition for composers, which allowed him for three years of further musical study in the
Italian capital, however he returned to Paris after two years. Debussy spent his remaining years
writing as a critic, composing and performing his own works internationally. After the turn of the
century, Debussy established himself as the leading figure of French music. One of his famous
composition is the Clair de lune which means moonlight. Debussy originally wrote the piano
piece of Suite bergamesque around 1890, however, many changes before he published it in 1905.
Among those changes is the title. His musical compositions is at least 227 which include
orchestral music, chamber music, piano music, operas, ballets, songs, and other vocal music.

During World War I, while Paris was being bombed by the German air force, he succumbed to
Colon cancer at the age of 55. Debussy could not have a public funeral because Paris was being
heavily bombed at the end of World War I.
Today, Debussy is remembered as a musical legend, whose uniquely structured compositions
have served as a base for musicians over the past century, and will undoubtedly continue to
inspire musical creation for decades to come.

Debussy’s Love life

Debussy’s first relationship lasted 8 years, with Marie-Blanche Vasnier (who was married), but
they broke it off when he moved to Rome for his scholarship.
Some of his relationships even overlapped, which caused much scandal and even caused
Debussy to lose some friends.
Another relationship of his was with Rosalie Texier, whom Debussy went so far as to marry
(apparently he threatened suicide if she said no). But Debussy fell out of love with her since she
didn’t age well, was barren, and wasn’t very intelligent.
Emma Bardac was the opposite – she was a great singer, and very intelligent. Debussy started
hooking up with her in 1904 while still being married to Rosalie (Emma was married too),
though he eventually wrote her a letter to tell her their marriage was over. Rosalie was very
unhappy about this, and shot herself in the chest, but didn’t die. Many of Debussy’s friends, who
were really fond of Rosalie, basically shunned Debussy afterward.
Debussy and Emma settled down in Paris on Avenue Foch, where he would remain until his
death. This is also where Debussy’s only child was born, a daughter named Claude-Emma.
Emma and Debussy did eventually get married, and though their relationship was tumultuous,
they stayed married until Debussy died in 1918.

Debussy had many lovers however he really loved his daughter. He drew great musical
inspiration from her, and dedicated his famous piano suite Children’s Corner to her. Tragically,
she died a year after he did.

Characteristics
Debussy’s Personality

Debussy was surly, easily offended (Extremely sensitive), and egotistical. He was very
unsociable but very charming with people he liked. Consequently, he didn’t have many friends.
He much preferred cats to people, and he disliked performing and conducting despite being a
master at both. Debussy’s unusual temperament, style, and talent earned him many detractors.
Regardless of this, his music garnered many devotees, and he is usually considered the greatest
French composer. Debussy had many lovers, affairs and flings over the course of his lifetime.

Debussy’s Musical Style

Impressionism - a style that explores mood and atmosphere through the use of timbre,
orchestration, and progressive harmonic concepts.
Musical Works of Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Piano Solo

 Danse bohémienne (1880)
 Deux Arabesques (1888)
 Réverie, Ballade, Danse, Valse romantique, Nocturne (1890)
 Suite bergamasque (1890-1905)
 Mazurka (1891)
 Pour le piano (1896-1901)
 Estampes (1903)
 D'un cahier d'equisses (1903)
 Masques (1904)
 L'Isle joyeuse (1904)
 Images, 1st series (1905), 2nd series (1907)
 Children's Corner (1906-08)
 Hommage a Haydn (1909)
 Le plus que lente (1910)
 12 Préludes, 1st book (1910), 2nd book (1910-13)
 La bôite à joujoux (children's ballet, 1913)
 Berceuse héroique pour rendre hommage à S.M., le roi Albert... (1914)
 12 Études, 2 books (1915)

Piano Duet

 one movement of a Symphonie en si (1880)

 Triomphe de Bacchus (1881)
 Petite suite (1889)
 Marche écossaise sur un thème populaire (1891)
 Six Epigraphes antiques (1914)

Two Pianos

 Lindaraja (1901)
 En blanc et noir (1915)

Orchestra

 Printemps, symphonic suite (1886-87)

 Fantaisie for piano and orchestra (1888-89)
 Prélude à l'Après-midi d'un faune (1892-94)
 Nocturnes (1893-99)
 La Mer, 2 symphonic sketches (1903-05)
 Incidental music to Shakespeare's King Lear (1906)
 Danse sacrée and Danse profane for harp and strings (1904)
 Images: Gigues, Ibéria, Rondes de printemps (1906-12)
Stage Works

 Pelléas et Mélisande, opera (1892-1902)

 Le Martyr de Saint Sébastien, music to a play by d'Annunzio, for soli, chorus and
orchestra (1911)
 Jeux, ballet (1912)
 Khamma, ballet (1912)

Choral Works

 Printemps for women's voices (1882)

 Invocation for men's voices (1883)
 L'Enfant prodigue, cantata (1884)
 La Damoiselle élue for soli, chorus and orchestra (1908)
 Ode à la France for solo, chorus and orchestra (1916-17)

Chamber Music

 String Quartet (1893)

 Rhapsodie for saxophone and piano (1903-05)
 Premiere rhapsodie for clarinet and piano (1909-10)
 Syrinx for flute alone (1912)
 Cello Sonata (1915)
 Sonata for flute, viola and harp (1915)
 Violin sonata (1916-17 )
Questions

1 .When did Debussy win the Prix de Rome? What piece did Debussy win for the
Prix de Rome?

2. What was the cause of death of Debussy? And where did he die?

3. What was Debussy also known for?

4. How old was Debussy when he died?

5. At what age was Debussy when he entered the Paris Conservatory?