Debussy et la Belle Époque

1. Debussy et la Belle Époque

2. A.-C. Debussy
(1862- 1918)
flourished in the
remarkable
spacetime
of
Third Republic
France
during
la Belle Époque.

3. The unique spacetime of la Belle
Époque witnessed a rich milieu of
spectacular cultural efflorescence
which may be considered the apex
o f W e s t e r n C i v i l i z a t i o n .

4. In Europe and USA within the brief
span of an half-century (1865-1915)
there emerged a kaleidoscope of
scientific, artistic, and philosophical
genres of practicable, speculative,
a n d i m a g i n a t i v e e x p r e s s i o n .

5. I n t h i s f e r t i l e m i l i e u
Debussy synthesized many
cultural ideas [memes] unto
his own creative aesthetic
e x p r e s s i o n s .

6. D e b u s s y ’ s a e s t h e t i c
c o n s t r u c t s w e r e
expounded via his own
p e r s o n a l s t y l e i n
c o m p o s i t i o n s f o r
s o l o p i a n o ,
ch a m b e r e n s e m b l e s ,
and larger works for the
s t a g e a n d t h e a t e r .

7. Debussy’s personal style
i n c o r p o r a t e d
perceptions of Realism,
I m p r e s s i o n i s m ,
R o m a n t i c i s m ,
Symbolism, Naturalism,
a n d M o d e r n i s m .

8. S i m u l t a n e o u s l y w i t h D e b u s s y
( b u t w i t h o u t d i r e c t m u t u a l i n f l u e n c e )
S c h ö n b e r g a n d S k r y a b i n
explored similar stylistic paths towards a
c h e m i s t r y o f m u s i c ( c . 1 9 1 0 ) .