The Life of Debussy

by Roger Nichols

Book Overview

The early music of Claude Debussy was influenced by the work of Wagner, for whom he had great admiration. However, soon Debussy's music became more experimental and individualistic, as is clear in his first mature work Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. Debussy quickly moved away from traditional techniques and produced the pictures in sound that led his work to be described as musical Impressionism. This new biography--the first in English in 30...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521578876
• ISBN13: 9780521578875
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 196 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Depressed Composer

C. Debussy seems to have led a tortured and beleaguered life. His ideas regarding music were in conflict with the French music establishment. This created problems for him both professionally and personally. Financially, he struggled all of his life. Coming from rather humble beginnings, C. Debussy had a particular vision of music early in his career. He was blunt and identified with the impressionistic painters as well as the symbolist poets. These artists were to become popular much later. Debussy died young at the age of 55 of cancer. This biography is a little choppy in it writing style, but it does offer many examples of his ideas on many subjects.