The Cambridge Companion to Debussy (Cambridge Companions to Music)

Often considered the father of twentieth-century music, Debussy was a visionary whose influence is still felt. This book offers a wide-ranging series of essays on Debussy the man, the musician and composer. It contains new insights into his character, his relationship to his Parisian environment and his musical works across all genres, with challenging views on the roles of nature and eroticism in his life and music. His music is considered through the characteristic themes of sonority, rhythm, tonality and form, with closing chapters considering the performance and reception of his music in the first years of the new century and our view of Debussy today as a major force in Western culture. This comprehensive view of Debussy is written by a team of specialists for students and informed music lovers Debussy The Man / Robert Orledge -- Debussy's Parisian Affiliations / Barbara L. Kelly -- Debussy As Musician And Critic / Déirdre Donnellon -- Debussy On Stage / David Grayson -- The Prosaic Debussy / Roger Nichols -- Debussy And Expression / Nigel Simeone -- Exploring The Erotic In Debussy's Music / Julie Mcquinn -- Debussy And Nature / Caroline Potter -- Debussy's Tonality : A Formal Perspective / Boyd Pomeroy -- The Debussy Sound : Colour, Texture, Gesture / Mark Devoto -- Music's Inner Dance : Form, Pacing And Comlexity In Debussy's Music / Richard S. Parks -- Debussy's 'rhythmicised Time' / Simon Trezise -- Debussy In Performance / Charles Timbrell -- Debussy Now / Arnold Whittall. Edited By Simon Trezise. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [315]-317) And Index. Often considered the father of twentieth-century music, Debussy was a visionary whose influence is still felt. This Companion offers new insights into Debussy's character, his environment and his music, including challenging views of the roles of nature and eroticism in his life and music. While works in all genres are discussed, they are considered through the themes of sonority, rhythm, tonality and form, with closing chapters considering the performance and reception of his music in the first years of the new century.

A comprehensive picture of Debussy with insights into his character, environment and music.

Man, musician and culture Musical explorations Musical techniques Performance and assessment.