Déodat de Séverac: Musical Identity in Fin de Siècle France

By Robert F. Waters

Book Overview

D odat de S verac (1872-1921) is best known for his piano music but his compositions included orchestral and vocal works, including opera, cantata and incidental music. Claude Debussy described S verac's music as "exquisite and rich with ideas." The early works were influenced by Impressionist harmonies, church modes, cyclic techniques, folk-like melodies and Andalusian motives. S verac's style changed dramatically in 1907 when he left Paris and began to include Catalan elements in his compositions - a transition that has hitherto gone unrecognized. Robert Waters provides a much-needed study of the life and works of S verac, focusing on the composer's regionalist philosophy. S verac's engagement with folk music was not a patriotic gesture in the vein of nationalistic composers, but a way of expressing regional identity within France to counter the restrictive styles sanctioned by the Paris Conservatory. His musical philosophy mirrored larger social and political debates regarding anti-centralist positions on education, politics, art and culture in fin de si cle France. Such debates involved political and social leaders whom S verac knew and personally admired, including the writer Maurice Barr s and the poet Fr d ric Mistral. The book will appeal to those specializing in French music, European ethnic musics, piano music and French music history.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1138274275
• ISBN13: 9781138274273
• Release Date: August 2016
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.2"