Our Composer of the Month:

1. Claude Debussy 1862-1918 Our Composer of the Month:

2. “Sunrise – Impression” Monet

3. Critics used “Impressionism” as an insult. Artists liked the term, and used it to describe their new revolutionary way of painting. Music, art, and literature were very connected during this time, and were all influenced by Impressionism. Poems, art, and music gave you an “impression” of an idea, feeling, or thing. Impressionism & Art -Claude Monet

4. Born in France in 1862, in a small town just outside of Paris. His parents owned a china shop. He started piano lessons when he was 9 years old. At 10 years old, he started studying music at the Paris Conservatory. At 23, he won a scholarship to study at the French Academy in Rome. He didn’t compose very much music at that time… The few pieces he did compose were made fun of for being “bizarre”. Claude Debussy’s Life: 1862-1918

5. Paris was considered the center of culture for the Western world for art and music. Claude Debussy lived in Paris for most of his life, and was friends with many Parisian musicians and writers. He loved poetry written by his friends, and was inspired to compose music based on that poetry. Paris Debussy hangs out with his friends. An impressionist painting of Paris.

6. The word “impression” simply means a feeling, or an image, that someone has in their mind. In the mid to late 1800s, in France, composers began to experiment with sounds that they felt could create in impression in the listener’s mind. Let’s listen to an example of impressionist music by Claude Debussy. While listening, try to keep track of the images in your mind. What kinds of things does this music make you think of? Impressionism 1860 - 1890

7. This composition is designed to give the listener the impression of the sea. It has 3 sections, which are named below. Section 1 – “From dawn to noon on the sea” Section 2 – “Play of the waves” Section 3 – “Dialogue of the wind and the sea” La Mer J.M.W. Turner

8. Debussy loved the sea, but had never taken a long sea voyage! He loved this painting so much, he asked that it be printed on the cover of his music score for “La Mer”. He also had this picture hanging in his study.

9. Music critics and the general public hated the new “impressionist”-style of music at first. Many new, revolutionary styles of art are not well-liked at first! Generally, people don’t like new, different-sounding music at first. Impressionism – a second French revolution! Impressionism – Something New The French Revolution – 1789-1799 – The people revolted against the aristocrats – nobles and monarchs.

10. Debussy visited the World’s Fair in 1889, (he was 27) - the entrance to which was the brand new Eiffel Tower! Some thought the plans for the Eiffel Tower were hideous, but it soon grew in popularity and became a national icon. (Just like Debussy and his music.) Native cultures from all around the world were showcased. Debussy heard Javanese Gamelan music for the first time. This influenced the tonality of his music. (Pentatonic Scale – C D E G A ) The World’s Fair - 1889

11. A piano piece with three parts, giving impressions of exotic places: I. Pagodas (China) Listen to Pagodas - Link II. An Evening in Grenada (Caribbean) III. A Rainy Day (France) Can you hear the pentatonic scale? Estampes (Woodcuts)-1903

12. He was the first major composer to use the whole-tone scale in his music. Whole Tone Scale: C D E F# G# A# C (whole steps between every note!) This scale creates a dreamy, floating sound, like the dream sequence in a movie. Many people hated Debussy’s music at first, because of its “weird” tonality. (What is tonality?) Debussy & Tonality

13. Sheet music from a piano prelude by Debussy. Does it look difficult to play?Do you see any tied notes?

14. Compare the Debussy sheet music to this music from a piano sonata by Beethoven: • How does the sheet music look different from Debussy’s?In what ways would the two pieces sound different?

15. His music became even more avant-garde. Avant-garde - music or art that is new and different, experimental or innovative. (Something that has never been done before!) He prominently used many dissonant chords in his music. Dissonant chords are tense-sounding, consonant chords sound more pleasing to the ear! Debussy – The Later Years Debussy and his daughter, Claude-Emma, 1916.

16. At least 20 million people died during World War I. As the war raged in Europe, Debussy lost interest in composing for one year. He said, “I can neither laugh nor weep while so many of our men heroically face death." After a year, he realized that he needed to compose music, to create “a little of that beauty which the enemy is attacking with such fury”. (Who was the enemy?) World War I

17. Debussy died at the age of 56, of cancer, in Paris (1918). His funeral procession marched through the streets as German bombs ripped through Paris. He died only 8 months before the end of the war. (World War I lasted from 1914-1918.) The End of Debussy’s Life

18. Debussy’s music had a huge impact on all 20th Century composers. He broke the old rules of tonality, and paved the way for others to break the rules, too! He threw out the heavy, serious style of music from Germany, for a lighter style that emphasized musical color, moods, and atmosphere. Debussy’s Impact on Music One of the most famous French composers of all time!