Claude Debussy

Claude Debussy, born in France in 1862, experimented with sound in the same way as the artists of his time experimented with shape and colour.  Traditional forms and rules of art and music were set aside, and new techniques were used to create ideas instead of realistic pictures.  Debussy used harmonies and rhythms that had never been used before.  The new sounds challenged all the old rules of writing music.  Much of his music was supposed to create a picture or a mood.  The same title is given to Debussy’s music as is given to the painters of his time – Impressionist.  

    Debussy started learning music when he was young and entered the Paris Conservatorium of Music when he was only 11 years old.  He studied at the conservatorium for eleven years.  At 22 years of age, he won France’s highest award for a composer – the Rome Prize.  He worked as a composer and a music critic in Paris until 1918.

Debussy had more friends who were painters and authors than musicians.  He was encouraged by his friends’ new ways of painting and thought the same revolutionary ideas could be used in music.  He based several of his compositions on these paintings and poems. 

Debussy wrote many interesting pieces for piano solo.  He also wrote operas and music for orchestra and for string quartet.  Clair de Lune (Moonlight) is one of his best-known compositions for piano.  Many of his piano solos use three staves of music played at once, instead of the usual two.

Last modified: April 13, 2009