A BIOGRAPHY

Of

Claude Debussy’s Life and Music

By Tara Spencer

“Music is God’s best gift to man: the only art of heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to heaven.”

Walter Savage Lander

Table of contents

Who Was Claude Debussy

Claude Debussy’s Professional Life

A Quick Life Summary

Well known Melodies

My Favorites

Clair de Lune

Arabesque

A B I O G R A P H Y

Of Claude Debussy’s life

Nocturne

Closing Remarks

Bibliography

CLAUDE DEBUSSY

Claude Debussy was a man who created heavenly,

beautiful, brilliant music. Whenever I hear a song that he wrote, I feel like I am in heaven. This man was truly

gifted, and I believe he created music that will live

on forever and stand the test of time.

EARLY LIFE Claude was born August 22 1862

in St-Germain-en-Laye, France

He was the oldest of 5 children

He came from a very poor family

He was 7 when he had his first piano lesson

In 1872 Claude attended the Paris Conservatoire where he stayed for 11 years

The middle years

While attending school, he studied piano, organ, music composition, music theory and many other courses

Claude often pushed boundaries as he experimented. He created music ahead of his time. His music was very controversial

Claude was the winner of the 1884 Prix de Rome. For his composition L’enfant Prodigue and was able to receive a scholarship to the academy des Beaux-Arts

He was able to attend the Villa Medici, the French Academy in Rome from 1885-1887

He began creating some of his most famous musical compositions during this time

THE LATER YEARS In 1902 Claude finished his first and

only opera, Pelleas et Melisande. A very controversial piece.

His later life was surrounded in scandal.

His later music was very different from the earlier music he created.

He suffered from cancer for the last 8 years of his life.

He died of rectal cancer in Paris on March 25 1918.

Claude Debussy:A

Quick life summary

CLAUDE DEBUSSY

Born: August 22 1862 in Saint-Germain-en-Lave, France

Died: March 25, 1918, in Paris-France Remains: Buried: Cimetiere de Passy,

Paris, France Occupation: Composer, French

Impressionist composer Wife: Rosalie Texier (dressmaker, m.

1899, separated 1904 for Bardac) Wife: Emma Bardac (m. 1908) Daughter: Claude-Emma ("Chouchou")

C L A U D E D E B U S S Y ’ S M U S I C I S A P E R F E C T E X A M P L E O F T H E Q U O T E T H A T I M E N T I O N E D E A R L I E R . I

T H I N K I T I S A R T F R O M H E A V E N . I T W I L L B E A R T T H A T W E W I L L B E A B L E T O T A K E W I T H U S W H E N

W E D E P A R T F R O M T H I S L I F E , A N D I T R U L Y T H A N K H I M F O R T H A T.

Claude Debussy’s Professional Life

CLAUDE DEBUSSY’S PROFESSIONAL LIFE

Musician Award Winning

Composer Concert Pianist Writer Conductor Teacher Colleague

Duex Arabesques

Riverie

Tarantelle Styrienne

Nocturne’s

Juex (Ballet)

Suite Bergamasque: Prelude,

Menuet, Clair de Lune, Passepied

Children’s Corner: Golliwogg’s

Cakewalk, The Little Shepard, The Snow is Dancing, Serenade for the Dolls, Jimbo’s Lullaby, Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum.

WELL KNOWN FOR HIS MUSIC

A list of some of the most popular melodies Claude Debussy composed.

MY FAVORITES CHOSEN FOR MY LISTENING

GUIDE

Clair de LuneArabesqueNocturne

RELAXING ~ BEAUTIFUL ~ PEACEFUL

CALMING ~ DREAM ~ COMPLETE

Claire de Lune

CLAIR DE LUNE

Written between1890 and 1905

It is the third movement of the Suite bergamasque, and the most popular of all 4 movements

Clair de Lune means Moonlight in French and was influenced by a poem written by Paul Verlaine’s also called Clair de Lune

It is one of Claude’s most popular compositions and over the last 20 years has been featured in more than 50 movies and TV shows

You can also enjoy Clair de Lune in such a beautiful

way, by watching the Clair de Lune Water show at the

Bellagio, in Las Vegas Nevada.

It is simply breathtaking…

CALMING ~ BREEZY ~ PEACEFULRELAX ~ ENJOY ~ SLEEP SOUNDLY

Arabesque

ARABESQUE

This was one of Debussy’s earlier compositions

It was finished in 1888 while he was still in his 20’s

One of the great pieces to show what was to come from this brilliant composer

Full of scales and runs, mixed with harmonious chords to create a seamless masterpiece

A favorite of many who enjoy his music

ARABESQUEI once saw a ballet number that was choreographed to

the song Arabesque and was blown away by how

beautifully they went together. Then I

remembered that in ballet an arabesque is an actual

movement performed by dancers.

I can see why!

UN CHANGIN G ~ S LO W ~ DISSO LVING

GREY ~ SO L EMN ~ L IGHT

Nocturnes

NOCTURNES

This song was completed between 1897 and 1899

Debussy explains the feeling of this song as “the unchanging aspect of the sky, and the slow, solemn movement of the clouds dissolving in gray tints lightly touched with white. The restless dancing rhythm of the atmosphere interspersed with sudden flashes of light.”

It is another one of his most famous melodies

NOCTURNESClaude Debussy’s Nocturnes,

was said to have been influenced by a series of

paintings. The series was created by a famous artist by the name of, James McNeill

Whistler. This was one of the painting in

the series.

LISTENING GUIDE

Claire de LuneArabesque

&Nocturnes

CLAIR DE LUNE

Introduction, slow, quiet and harmonious

It is repeated and played andante; it is taking its time

The timbre is harmonious and romantic

1:11 is when the chords start to evolve

Tempo rubato begins, and the chords seem to go fast and slow

This sequence is the heart of a lot of the song

It continues as it switches off with what you hear at the beginning

1:52 Then the main melody begins, which is slow and calm

You hear a very dreamlike sequence of runs and scales

The chords that are played along with that sequence to make a beautiful blend of symphonic music

2:54 The middle through the end of the song is a sequence full of seamless changes that take you on a ride

Fast and slow, high and low as it changes from the three main melodies

The three melodies blend together with romantic tones and sounds

5:02 the song ends

As the last note is played, it seems to ring as the song lingers

The rhythm of the entire song flows peacefully

What a heavenly song…

ARABESQUE0:00 The song begins with a scale rising and falling, followed by a low note and then repeats itself

0:14 Chords are then played to create the layers of a song that sounds like a peaceful spring rain

This section is played very delicately

It is slightly fast or andantino might be a better description

The timbre of the piano is very soft and pure

0:26 is when one of the main melodies begins

The song begins to climb and get a little louder before the main melody returns

1:30 The middle section of this song is full of different melodies that blend well with the main melody 1:40-4:00 There isn’t a real clear path for the piece during this section

This section has a lot going on, but somehow it all comes together as one seamless composition

Lots of crescendo’s, it get’s very powerful and then soft again at a quick pace4:49 The ending is a nice wrap up of all the different melodies and harmonies heard throughout the piece

If you close your eyes, you could picture springtime, just after the rain

This piece truly takes you to another place

When it’s over you feel moved by the incredible peace and stillness that comes from the music

NOCTURNESThe song begins on a very deep pure tone, that has a little bit of darkness to it

A very high fast scale starts that pierces you, then falls back to the deep

0:43 The melody begins, it creates a mood of sadness. The timbre is pure and soft, very quiet like a reflection

2:00 As the song progresses, it begins to build and pick up pace

2:30-3:00 It brightens and an atmosphere of happiness remains through out the middle sequence of the song

There are beautiful chords and harmonies that create amazing layers and feelings

As the song winds down, all the feeling from the beginning and the middle combines

4:00 Again you hear some of the beginning melodies that blend well with what feels to be the climax of the song and then descend downward

Feelings of sadness return

The timbre is very deep and pure when the lower register is played

You experience the contrast of the low notes with a sudden high scale that is played light and fast

This part is giving the song more form. It seems to come full circle at this point

5:40 As the end of the song nears a sudden change in the music occurs as the varied dynamics start building, and the whole song comes together

The song ends softly and powerfully

A strong powerful emotional ride, but beautiful

IN CLOSING

In studying and learning about Claude Debussy’s life, I have come to have a greater appreciation for his music and the courage he had to push boundaries

and try new things. What an amazing musician…And I would like to finish with the same quote I began with

that I think sums up the divine music this man created.

“Music is God’s best gift to man: the only art of heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take

to heaven.” ~Walter Savage Lander~

BIBLIOGRAPHY

www.Biography.com ~ Claude Debussy, biography ~ Synopsis ~ Profile ~ Chosen Musicwww.8notes.com ~ Claude Debussy, biography ~ Chosen Music

www.noteablebiographies.com ~ Claude Debussy, biography ~ Chosen Music

50 Greats for piano, by Yamaha ~ General Information ~ Claude Debussy ~ Claire de Lune ~ Arabesque

www.wikipedia.org ~ Claude Debussy, biography ~ Chosen Music, biography

www.youtube.com ~ Chosen Music

www.googleimages.com ~ Photos used throughout Power Point presentation