Nearly one hundred years after the death of its composer, the music of
Claude Debussy has lost none of its breadth of appeal. With the rare
ability to entice listeners on many levels, at its heart lies an
engaging simplicity-one which defies traditional analysis and lends
mystery to what ultimately is an extremely refined and highly personal
approach to composition. Equally fascinating is Debussy's often
contradictory personality--at times elusive, but always centered on his
devotion to music and his ambition to create a name for himself unlike
any other.
Author Eric Frederick Jensen provides new insight to the man and the
music in this authoritative biography. Although born into poverty, and a
failure as a piano student at the Paris Conservatoire, Debussy became
the most famous French composer of his day, known for his culture and
refinement. His revolutionary music baffled critics but was embraced by
audiences. Debussy's scandalous personal life stirred up as much
controversy as his music, and his notoriety proved more harmful to his
career than the unusual nature of his compositions.
Jensen also explores Debussy's relationship to the arts and his career
as a music critic. Debussy drew on all of the arts in his development as
a composer, including poetry and painting, and his fascination with the
arts has often led to his being classified as an Impressionist or
Symbolist, two claims which Jensen debunks. One of the finest music
critics of his time, Debussy's reviews reveal a great deal not only
about his musical taste, but also about what he felt the role and
function of music should be.
Debussy brings together the most recent biographical research, including
a revised catalogue of Debussy's compositions and the first complete
edition of his correspondence. With separate, chronological sections on
his life and music, Debussy is accessible to the general reader who
wishes to focus on his life and personality, while providing detailed
discussion of the music to musicians and students.
