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Debussy letters / selected and edited by Francois Lesure and Roger Nichols ; translated by Roger Nichols.

By: Debussy, Claude, 1862-1918 [author.].
Contributor(s): Lesure, François [editor.] | Nichols, Roger [editor.].
Material type: materialTypeLabelBookPublisher: London ; Boston : Faber and Faber Ltd., [1987]Copyright date: ©1987Description: xxvi, 355 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 24 cm.Content type: text Media type: unmediated Carrier type: volumeISBN: 0571147208 (hardback).Subject(s): Debussy, Claude, 1862-1918 Correspondence | Composers -- France -- Correspondence | Composers -- France -- BiographyDDC classification: 780.92 DEB
Contents:
The letters: 1884-1887: Childhood -- Musical studies -- The Prix de Rome -- 1889-1893: Influences -- Friendships -- Early works -- 1893-1896: The birth of Pelleas -- Friendship with Pierre Louys -- Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune -- 1896-1901: Georges Hartmann -- The Nocturnes -- The break with Gaby -- Marriage to Lilly -- 1901-1904: Pelleas et Melisande -- 1904-1906: Divorce -- La mer -- Marriage to Emma -- 1906-1909: Notoriety -- Stage projects -- 1909-1910: The Russian ballet -- Images for orchestra -- 1910-1911: Journeys -- Le martyre de Saint-Sebastian -- 1912-1914: Jeux -- The ballet world -- More travels -- 1914-1918: The war -- The final years.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number Copy number Status Barcode
General lending MTU Cork School of Music Library Lending 780.92 DEB (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 00168807
Total holds: 0

Translation of Claude Debussy: Lettres 1884-1918 by HERMANN.

Bibliography: (page 337) and index.

The letters: 1884-1887: Childhood -- Musical studies -- The Prix de Rome -- 1889-1893: Influences -- Friendships -- Early works -- 1893-1896: The birth of Pelleas -- Friendship with Pierre Louys -- Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune -- 1896-1901: Georges Hartmann -- The Nocturnes -- The break with Gaby -- Marriage to Lilly -- 1901-1904: Pelleas et Melisande -- 1904-1906: Divorce -- La mer -- Marriage to Emma -- 1906-1909: Notoriety -- Stage projects -- 1909-1910: The Russian ballet -- Images for orchestra -- 1910-1911: Journeys -- Le martyre de Saint-Sebastian -- 1912-1914: Jeux -- The ballet world -- More travels -- 1914-1918: The war -- The final years.

Dr. Geoffrey Spratt Collection.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Kirkus Book Review

The first English edition of the composer's edifying and revealing letters. These selected letters--first published in France in 1980--evince a rare quality of literary style and wit. They should overjoy music lovers with their continual insights into both Debussy's contemporaries and his own works in progress. Debussy was in the forefront of new musical styles, and his letters often show a puzzlement over popular aversions: ""Even though the most discerning part of the public is made up of grocers and chiropodists, I think they've had enough of cavatinas. . .showing off the singer's technique and the hero's pectoral muscles. . ."" Occasionally, despondency shows through: ""Imagine playing blind man's bluff with a group of sylphs and you'll have some idea of what I've been through."" But the composer persisted, despite warnings from the musical Guardians against ""this vague impressionism which is one of the most dangerous enemies of troth in the world of art."" His letters show, too, defiance against the popular taste: "". . .my music is on the abstruse side: audiences must go out to meet it as it has no intention of ever making advances toward them."" Of course, in letters of the great, one looks for fresh observations on contemporary figures. There are many to be found here, but by far the most important historical contribution of these letters is their demonstration of Debussy's support for young musicians (e.g., Falla, Severac, Lacerda, and Varese) despite his long-held reputation of being indifferent. An important entry for our understanding of French music in general and Debussy in particular. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.