The Cambridge Companion to Debussy

A comprehensive picture of Debussy with insights into his character, environment and music.

Simon Trezise (Edited by)

9780521654784, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 19 June 2003

348 pages, 48 music examples
24.3 x 16.9 x 1.6 cm, 0.553 kg

'The volume contains some illuminating information on Debussy. The volume also brings forward the rich resource of Debussy's critical writings. … contains all the material for an alternative approach to Debussy research.' Nineteenth-Century Music Review

Often considered the father of twentieth-century music, Debussy was a visionary whose influence is still felt. This book offers a wide-ranging series of essays on Debussy the man, the musician and composer. It contains insights into his character, his relationship to his Parisian environment and his musical works across all genres, with challenging views on the roles of nature and eroticism in his life and music. His music is considered through the characteristic themes of sonority, rhythm, tonality and form, with closing chapters considering the performance and reception of his music in the first years of the new century and our view of Debussy today as a major force in Western culture. This comprehensive view of Debussy is written by a team of specialists for students and informed music lovers.

List of contributors
Acknowledgements
Chronology of Debussy's life and works
Note on the text
Introduction Simon Trezise
Part I. Man, Musician and Culture: 1. Debussy the man Robert Orledge
2. Debussy's Parisian affiliations Barbara L. Kelly
3. Debussy as musician and critic Deirdre Donnellon
Part II. Musical Explorations: 4. Debussy on stage David Grayson
5. The prosaic Debussy Roger Nichols
6. Debussy and expression Nigel Simeone
7. Exploring the erotic in Debussy's music Julie McQuinn
8. Debussy and nature Caroline Potter
Part III. Musical Techniques: 9. Debussy's tonality: a formal perspective Boyd Pomeroy
10. The Debussy sound: colour, texture, gesture Mark DeVoto
11. Music's inner dance: form, pacing and complexity in Debussy's music Richard S. Parks
12. Debussy's 'rhythmicised time' Simon Trezise
Part IV. Performance and Assessment: 13. Debussy in performance Charles Timbrell
14. Debussy now Arnold Whittall
Notes
Select bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Individual composers & musicians, specific bands & groups [AVH], 20th century & contemporary classical music [AVGC6]