A presentation for the Pasadena Public Library's program on January 24, 2015 called "Music Masters: Who Was Claude Debussy?" We held a lecture about Debussy's life and times, listened to his songs performed by pianist Lawrence Kolakowski, and had a goldfish kite craft for children.
2. Achille-Claude DebussyAchille-Claude Debussy was born in Saint-Germain-was born in Saint-Germain-
en-Layeen-Laye, a suburb of Paris, a suburb of Paris, France, France,, on August 22, 1862on August 22, 1862..
His family was poor, butHis family was poor, but he was able to start takinghe was able to start taking
piano lessons at age 7.piano lessons at age 7.
3. A child prodigyA child prodigy
At 10 years old,At 10 years old, DebussyDebussy waswas
admitted to the Parisadmitted to the Paris
ConservatoryConservatory
“I wish to sing of my
interior visions with the
naive candor of a child.”
—Claude Debussy
4. A well-traveled teenagerA well-traveled teenager
Hired at age 18 to teachHired at age 18 to teach
piano to the children ofpiano to the children of
Nadezhda von MeckNadezhda von Meck
TraveledTraveled with the familywith the family
to Italy and Austria andto Italy and Austria and
spent much time inspent much time in
Russia, accumulating newRussia, accumulating new
musical and culturalmusical and cultural
experiences along theexperiences along the
wayway
5. The greatest young musicianThe greatest young musician
in all of Francein all of France
TheVilla Medici in Italy, home to the Academie FranTheVilla Medici in Italy, home to the Academie Franççaiseaise
where Debussy was sent to study music for two yearswhere Debussy was sent to study music for two years
Claude Debussy in1884, age 22,
winner of the Prix de Rome, the
most prestigious art scholarship in
France
6. Studying under giantsStudying under giants
At theVilla Medici,At theVilla Medici,
Debussy met:Debussy met:
Franz Liszt Giuseppe Verdi
7. The Belle Epoque in France:The Belle Epoque in France:
1870s – early 1910s (before WWI)1870s – early 1910s (before WWI)
8. 1870s: Edgar Degas, whom Debussy later met,1870s: Edgar Degas, whom Debussy later met,
was painting the balletwas painting the ballet
TheThe Belle Epoque art sceneBelle Epoque art scene
9. 1870s: Debussy’s friend James McNeill Whistler paints a1870s: Debussy’s friend James McNeill Whistler paints a
series of Nocturnesseries of Nocturnes
11. 1880s: Debussy’s friend, Post-Impressionist painter Paul1880s: Debussy’s friend, Post-Impressionist painter Paul
Gauguin paints his best-known works ofGauguin paints his best-known works of SymbolistSymbolist artart
Debussy gets to know many otherDebussy gets to know many other SymbolistSymbolist painters andpainters and
poets who are all acquaintancespoets who are all acquaintances
12. 1890s: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, a friend of Debussy,1890s: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, a friend of Debussy,
was painting the can-can!was painting the can-can!
16. Japanese artJapanese art
This lacquer goldfish hung above Debussy’s piano and
is now in the Musee Claude Debussy in France
Debussy’s piece “La Mer” was published
with an image of Hokusai’s wave on the cover
17. 1890s in America: Ragtime1890s in America: Ragtime
Scott Joplin James Scott
18. Where did Debussy fit into thisWhere did Debussy fit into this
diverse art scene?diverse art scene?
Debussy has long been considered one of the
founders of Impressionist music, but he didn’t
like the term Impressionism.
He identified more with Symbolism and its
emphasis on the relationship between the visual
arts, literature and music.
19. ““La Cathedrale Engloutie”La Cathedrale Engloutie”
(Sunken Cathedral)(Sunken Cathedral)
Based on a Breton myth about a cathedralBased on a Breton myth about a cathedral
submerged underwater off the island ofYs,submerged underwater off the island ofYs,
which rises on a clear day.which rises on a clear day.
Parallel ChordsParallel Chords::
20. ““La Cathedrale Engloutie”La Cathedrale Engloutie”
(Sunken Cathedral)(Sunken Cathedral)
While you listen, see if you can hear:While you listen, see if you can hear:
•Bells tolling (Bells tolling (open fifthsopen fifths))
•Pipe organ playing (Pipe organ playing (parallel chordsparallel chords))
•Fish swimming (wave-like melodies)Fish swimming (wave-like melodies)
This is musicalThis is musical symbolismsymbolism..
21.
22.
23.
24.
25. ““Reflets dans L’eau”Reflets dans L’eau”
(Reflections in the Water)(Reflections in the Water)
Whole Tone ScaleWhole Tone Scale
26.
27.
28.
29.
30. Beautiful Evening
When the rivers are rosy in the setting sun,
And a warm shiver runs over the wheat fields,
Advice to be happy seems to rise up from things
And climb toward the troubled heart.
Advice to taste the charm of being in the world
While one is young and the evening is beautiful,
For we are going away, as this stream goes away:
The stream to the sea, we to the grave.
Words by Debussy’s friend Paul Bourget
““Beau Soir”Beau Soir”
31.
32.
33.
34.
35. ““Pagodas”Pagodas”
The 1899 World Fair in Paris inspired a love of East
Asian culture in many artists, especially Debussy. It
introduced him to the Javanese gamelan and the
pentatonic scale:
Javanese gamelanJavanese gamelan
instruments –instruments –
mostly percussionmostly percussion
36.
37.
38.
39. Debussy’s personal lifeDebussy’s personal life
Married Rosalie Texier in 1899Married Rosalie Texier in 1899
Left Rosalie for Emma Bardac inLeft Rosalie for Emma Bardac in
1904, later married Emma1904, later married Emma
40. Children’s Corner Suite-Children’s Corner Suite-
Golliwog’s CakewalkGolliwog’s Cakewalk
Daughter Claude-Emma “Chouchou” DebussyDaughter Claude-Emma “Chouchou” Debussy – his– his
daughter by Emmadaughter by Emma
49. ““I love musicI love music
passionately. Andpassionately. And
because I love it, I try tobecause I love it, I try to
free it from barrenfree it from barren
traditions that stifle it.”traditions that stifle it.”
~Claude Debussy~Claude Debussy
