Claude-Achille Debussy (1862 – 1918) was a French
composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the
most prominent figures working within the field of
impressionist music, though he himself intensely
disliked the term when applied to his compositions In
France, he was made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour
in 1903. A crucial figure in the transition to the
modern era in Western music, he remains one of the most
famous and influential of all composers.
Beginning in the 1890s, Debu...(+)
Claude-Achille Debussy (1862 – 1918) was a French
composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the
most prominent figures working within the field of
impressionist music, though he himself intensely
disliked the term when applied to his compositions In
France, he was made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour
in 1903. A crucial figure in the transition to the
modern era in Western music, he remains one of the most
famous and influential of all composers.
Beginning in the 1890s, Debussy developed his own
musical language largely independent of Wagner's style,
colored in part from the dreamy, sometimes morbid
romanticism of the Symbolist Movement. Debussy became a
frequent participant at Stéphane Mallarmé's Symbolist
gatherings, where Wagnerism dominated the discussion.
In contrast to the enormous works of Wagner and other
late-romantic composers, however, around this time
Debussy chose to write in smaller, more accessible
forms. The Deux Arabesques is an example of one of
Debussy's earliest works, already developing his
musical language. Suite bergamasque (1890) recalls
rococo decorousness with a modern cynicism and
puzzlement.
His music is noted for its sensory component and for
not often forming around one key or pitch. Often
Debussy's work reflected the activities or turbulence
in his own life. In French literary circles, the style
of this period was known as symbolism, a movement that
directly inspired Debussy both as a composer and as an
active cultural participant.
The Suite bergamasque was first composed by Debussy
around 1890, but was significantly revised just before
its publication in 1905. It seems that by the time a
publisher came to Debussy in order to cash in on his
fame and have these pieces published, Debussy loathed
the earlier piano style in which these pieces were
written. While it is not known how much of the Suite
was written in 1890 and how much was written in 1905,
we do know that Debussy changed the names of at least
two of the pieces.
The first piece in the suite is entitled "Prélude".
The Prélude is in the key of F, in tempo rubato. It is
full of dynamic contrasts with a vigorous beginning and
ending. It is a festive piece, which holds much of the
baroque style that is commonly found in preludes.
Although originally created for Piano, I created this
arrangement for Woodwind Quartet (Flute, Oboe, Bb
Clarinet & Bassoon).
SHEET MUSIC