The Life of Debussy

by Roger Nichols

Overview

The early music of Claude Debussy was influenced by the work of Wagner, for whom he had great admiration. However, soon Debussy's music became more experimental and individualistic, as is clear in his first mature work Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. Debussy quickly moved away from traditional techniques and produced the pictures in sound that led his work to be described as "musical Impressionism." This new biography—the first in English in 30 years—offers new insights into the life of this enigmatic composer, revealing a figure more seminal and revolutionary than previously thought.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521578875
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/28/1998
Series:	Musical Lives
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	196
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.54(h) x 0.59(d)

Table of Contents

1. Childhood and musical studies (1862–1884); 2. Roman holiday? (1885–1887); 3. A Bohemian in Paris (1887–1893); 4. Scandals and masterpieces (1894–1901); 5. Idol and victim (1902–1907); 6. Travels and travails (1908–1914); 7. War and last years (1914–1918); Envoi.

Editorial Reviews

'A short but searching new biography of Debussy by Roger Nichols is one of an admirable CUP series 'Musical Lives', authoritative texts aimed at a broader intelligent readership. That Nichols's far from superficial study is most stylishly written and approachable goes without saying, and indeed its very concision brings significant aspects of Debussy's life and work into sharper focus.' Musical Times

'Roger Nichols has absorbed this greatly expanded range of information and by skilful selection compressed it into less than 170 pages of text.' The Times Literary Supplement

'The volume is written with a cool delicacy and precision apt to its subject.' The Times Higher Education Supplement

'The most revealing and engagingly written single-volume biography of Claude Debussy, by the doyen of French music experts.' Classic FM Magazine

From the Publisher