Great Composers in Words & Music: Claude Debussy

Introduction

Prélude à L'après-midi d'un faune, L. 86, CD87 · “Prelude to 'The Afternoon of a Faun'”

For the 20th-Century Composer and Conductor Pierre Boulez

Children's Corner, L. 113, CD119

That Was an Extract from Debussy's Six-Movement Piano Suite

Nuit d'étoiles, L. 4, CD2 · “Starry Night”

The Extent to Which Debussy's Love Affair with Mme Vasnier

L'enfant prodigue, L. 57, CD61 · “The Prodigal Son”

Though He Had Gained the Highest Honours for "The Prodigal Son"

Printemps, L. 61, CD68, L. 61a

Back in Paris, Debussy's Relationship with Mme Vasnier Gradually Fizzled Out

Cinq poèmes de Baudelaire, L. 64, CD70 · “5 Poems by Baudelaire”

If His Old Musical Comrades Seem to Have Deserted Him

Prélude à L'après-midi d'un faune, L. 86, CD87 · “Prelude to 'The Afternoon of a Faun'”

"Faune" Was First Performed, with Debussy at the Piano

String Quartet in G Minor, L. 85, CD91, Op. 10

During This Time, Debussy Was Also Busy Composing Two Large-Scale Works

Nocturnes, L. 91, CD98

Debussy's "Nocturnes" Received Both Warm Applause and Frosty Criticism

Pelléas et Mélisande, L. 88, CD93, L. 93 · “Pelléas and Mélisande”

That Was an Extract from the Beginning of Debussy's First and Only Completed Opera

Deux danses, L. 103, CD113

It Was Also During This Post-"Pelléas" Period That Debussy Was Decorated

Images, Set I, L. 110, CD105

Also About Water is the Third Movement

Images, Set II, L. 111, CD120

A New Period of Debussy's Life Was Soon to Begin

Images pour orchestre, L. 122, CD118

In 1909 a Group of Artists and Musicians from Russia Arrived

Jeux, L. 126, CD133

Interestingly, "Faune" and "Jeux" Were Not the Only Theatrical Works

Syrinx, L. 129, CD137

In 1914, Having Returned to Paris

Douze études, L. 136, CD143

In 1915, Debussy Once Again Departed Paris

Préludes, Book II, L. 123, CD131