French Composer Claude Debussy (1862-1918) is noted as the first significant composer of the 20th century. His harmonic innovations had a profound influence on generations of composers, and in his works for piano and for orchestra he created new genres and revealed a range of timbre and color which indicated a highly original music aesthetic.
Debussy was heavily influenced by the late nineteenth-century French, Russian and Belgian poetry and art Movement known as Symbolism. In literature, the Symbolism style had its beginnings with the publication The Flowers of Evil (1857) by Charles Baudelaire. Baudelaire was greatly influenced by the writings of Edgar Allan Poe. The look, feel or beauty aesthetic of Symbolism was further developed by poets Stephane Mallarme and Paul Verlaine during the 1860s and ’70s. Distinct from, but related to, the style of literature, symbolism of art is also related to the gothic (combining fiction and horror) component of Romanticism.
Romanticism is described as a partial revolt against the aristocratic social and political norms of the previous Era’s Age of Enlightenment, and a reaction against the scientific explanation and rationalization surrounding man’s existence and nature, which ushered in the Industrial Revolution — the transition to new manufacturing processes in the period from about 1760 to 1820 or 1840. This transition included going from hand production methods to machines, new chemical manufacturing and iron production processes, improved efficiency of water power, of, the increasing use of steam power and the development of machine tools. It also included the change from wood and other bio-fuels to coal. It began in Great Britain and within a few decades had spread to Western Europe and the United States. .
Romanticism favored intuition and emotion over Enlightenment rationalism. It was embodied most strongly in the visual arts, music, and literature, but had a major impact on historiography, education and the natural sciences.
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Like famous and unknown music makers today, you, too, can benefit by becoming a part of the rich contribution to the world that Debussy represents.
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Music: Tone Poem
Meanwhile, a moment in the life of a sexually-charged fawn is exemplified in “Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune” (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun), a symphonic poem for orchestra by Claude Debussy. It was first performed in Paris on December 22, 1894, conducted by Gustave Doret; the composition was inspired by the poem “L’après-midi d’un faune” by Stéphane Mallarmé, and later formed the basis for the ballet “Afternoon of a Faun,” choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky.
It appears that Mallarmé initially, himself, was unhappy with his poem being used as the basis for Debussy’s work: “He believed that his own music was sufficient, and that even with the best intentions in the world, it was a veritable crime as far as poetry was concerned to juxtapose poetry and music, even if it were the finest music there is.”
Mallarmé eventually came around, however, later writing in a short letter to Debussy that read: “I have just come out of the concert, deeply moved. The marvel! Your illustration of the Afternoon of a Faun, which presents a dissonance with my text only by going much further, really, into nostalgia and into light, with finesse, with sensuality, with richness. I press your hand admiringly, Debussy. Yours, Mallarmé.”
Remember, click here to learn if you qualify for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stake your claim as the ‘sponsor of an international performance Artist’ using the financial donations of the corporation for which you work; complete the Form below; and/or call (424) 281-7858.
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