Debussy in Context

Innovative, controversial, and influential, Debussy's music was shaped by the wide-ranging cultural interests and social networks explored in this book.

Simon Trezise (Edited by)

9781108472067, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 23 May 2024

358 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.5 cm, 0.67 kg

'Debussy in Context substantively adds to an already rich bibliography on the French modernist composer. The collection is a testament to a scholarly field that continues to produce new insights about a pivotal moment in the history of European art music.' Alexandra Kieffer, H-France review

Exploring the many dimensions of Debussy's historical significance, this volume provides new perspectives on the life and work of a much-loved composer and considers how social and political contexts shape the way we approach and perform his works today. In short, focused chapters building on recent research, contributors chart the influences, relationships and performances that shaped Debussy's creativity, and the ways he negotiated the complex social and professional networks of music, literature, art, and performance (on and off the stage) in Belle Époque Paris. It probes Debussy's relationship with some of the most influential '-isms' of his time, including his fascination with early music and with the 'exotic', and assesses his status as a pioneer of musical modernism and his continuing popularity with performers and listeners alike.

Part I. Paris: City, Politics, and Society: 1. Paris, the city Martin Guerpin
2. Paris and the nation's politics Federico Lazzaro
3. Beyond Paris Lola San Martín Arbide
4. Feminine beginnings: women's critical perspectives on Debussy (1897–1914) Christopher Moore
5. Consumption and leisure H. Hazel Hahn
Part II. The Arts: 6. Debussy's impressionism interrogated Richard Langham Smith
7. Symbolism François de Médicis
8. Modernism Michel Duchesneau
9. Wagnérisme Steven Huebner
10. Japonisme, collecting, and the expositions universelles Matthew Brown
11. Crosscurrents in Debussy's creative world Annegret Fauser
Part III. People and Milieu: 12. Debussy and the family in third republic France Kym White
13. Romantic relationships Marianne Wheeldon
14. Relationships with poets and other literary figures Caroline Potter
15. Publishers Denis Herlin
16. Composers with whom Debussy was associated Laura Watson
17. Music education and the prix de Rome Julia Lu and Kenji Fujimura
Part IV. Musical Life: Infrastructure And Earning a Living: 18. The jobbing composer-musician Denis Herlin
19. Parisian opera institutions: a framework for creation Hervé Lacombe
20. Société nationale and other institutions Michael Strasser
21. Debussy Noctambule and Parisian popular culture Sarah Gutsche-Miller
22. Music criticism and related writing in Paris Michel Duchesneau
Part V. The Music of Debussy's Time 23. Composing for opera and theatre outside established genres Hervé Lacombe
24. Ballet and dance David J. Code
25. Orchestral music and symphonic traditions Andrew Deruchie
26. Chamber music Matthew Brown
27. Song and choral music David J. Code
28. The piano Gurminder Kaur Bhogal
Part VI. Performers, Reception, and Posterity: 29. Performers and performance Simon Trezise
30. Early music Catrina Flint de Médicis
31. Performance today: hearing Debussy anew on period instruments Brian Hart
32. Debussy today Matthew Brown
Further Reading
Index.

Subject Areas: Classical music [c 1750 to c 1830 AVGC4]