Overview

Claude Debussy holds a place as a one of the most recognizable and influential composers in the classical music. Debussy forged a new and influential sound for the twentieth century with his remarkable harmonies, fluid rhythms, airy textures, and an instinct for mystery and beauty. In Experiencing Debussy: A Listener’s Companion, Teresa Davidian welcomes readers into the infectious appeal of Debussy’s major works to consider how they can still attract and move audiences. In such works as the hauntingly beautiful Clair de Lune and the groundbreaking Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Davidian looks beneath the surface of the music to explain its power, all the while drawing connections between different pieces to place them securely within the context of Debussy’s life and times. Written in an accessible style, Experiencing Debussy provides an engaging tour through Debussy’s works for the concertgoers, movie buffs, performers, and students regardless of musical background.

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9781442271456

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Reviews

This is a most engagingly-written book, enhanced by the author's own researches and peppered with anecdotes. Readers will be drawn to Debussy's music and the artistic world of Paris from which it emerged.--Richard Langham Smith, research professor, Royal College of Music, London

This is a most engagingly-written book, enhanced by the author's own researches and peppered with anecdotes. Readers will be drawn to Debussy's music and the artistic world of Paris from which it emerged. -- Richard Langham Smith, research professor, Royal College of Music, London This book is definitely a must-read, guiding listeners to a precious apprehension of the complexities of Debussy's music, from the passage of Romanticism to Impressionism and opening the way to the Contemporary Era. It is really worth the read. -- Philippe Entremont, conductor and pianist Debussy is and has always been a popular composer, yet the background to his music and life is complex, sometimes seemingly imponderable. Davidian is a beacon of light, writing in a lucid, approachable way that is sure to enrich our appreciation of this extraordinary musician. -- Simon Trezise, Head of Music, Trinity College Dublin

Author Information

Teresa Davidian is professor of music at Tarleton State University. She has written articles and papers on the music of Claude Debussy, the musical avant-garde of the 1930s, and American popular music. Her book Tonal Counterpoint for the 21st-Century Musician: An Introduction was published by Rowman & Littlefield.

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