In Suite Bergamasque, we hear the characteristic humor, lyricism, and elegance that Debussy manages eloquently in his music. The ‘suite’ looks back to the music of the Baroque (clearly heard in the final movement titled ‘Passepied’), whilst adopting a distinctly 20 th-century approach to melody, harmony, and structure. One set of compositions Debussy titled ‘Suite Bergamasque’ (1890-1905), included a piece ‘Clair De Lune’ that has become one of the most enduringly popular works for piano written by Debussy.
They are often poetic which aligns with Debussy’s love of contemporary French poets Verlaine and Mallarmé. Instead what you will discover is a wealth of compositions that are amusing, vibrant, distinctive, and gorgeously colorful. What you will not find in Debussy’s music are the traditional ‘sonatas’ or ‘concertos’ that were more commonplace throughout the Classical and Romantic periods of music. Like a river inflow or the quiet passing of twilight into the evening, Debussy’s music evokes the very essence of the moment with great precision, passion, and instrumentation.ĭebussy was a first-class pianist and it stands to reason that a substantial part of his oeuvre would include pieces for this instrument. There is a fluidity to Debussy’s music that would have seemed out of place at the height of the Romantic period, with so many huge orchestral scores weighed down by the sheer scale of their ambitions.
#Debussy compositions full#
His scores are full of small, gently moving patterns, flickers and changes of light dart around his music with the dexterity and grace of a kingfisher. I have included this brief description of Impressionism in the Art world as it succinctly outlines the characteristics of Debussy’s music too. Rather than working in the isolation of a quiet studio Impressionist artists would paint whilst embedded in a natural environment, working quickly to capture the scene. Pioneered by the painter Claude Monet impressionism in the fine art world focused on light, color, and the subtly changing patterns of nature. Impressionism centered its attention on that of the very moment in which you find yourself, taking just a breath to absorb the wonders that circulate about you. The Impressionist movement in 20 th Century music heralded a move away from the extremes of the earlier Romantic period with its gigantic musical forms, intense chromaticism, vast orchestras, and choirs, and unbridles passions. It works to an extent, but such is the beauty, innovation, and color of Debussy’s music, that to fully experience it you have just to listen. Truly trying to express the complete range of characteristics of Debussy’s music in words, is a little like trying to hold a litre of water in your hands. This alone gives a strong indication of the immense potential Debussy possessed and pointed the way to the glittering future Debussy would enjoy. Debussy was born on the outskirts of Paris, in 1862, with his life spanning some of the most fascinating developments in music.įor many Debussy is the Father of the ‘Impressionist’ movement and by the tender age of ten, he was admitted to study music at the Paris Conservatoire. He arrived at a time in musical history that was one of great change and some might say uncertainty. Claude Debussy was almost certainly one of the most important and influential composers of the 20 th Century.
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