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Claude Debussy

French composer

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) was a French composer born in St. Germain-en-Laye. His harmonic innovations helped pave the way for musical changes in the twentieth century.
Claude Debussy had such success as a pianist that he entered the Paris Conservatory aged 10. After this study Claude travelled to Italy, Vienna and Russia. In Russia he became acquainted with the works of many Russian composers (Tchaikovsky, Borodin, Mussorgsky).

L'enfant prodigue

In 1884 Debussy won the Grand Prix de Rome for his cantata "L'enfant prodigue" and as a result of this studied in Rome for two years, but the pretensions of his fellow students bored the independent-minded young composer.
A few years later Debussy was very impressed by his visits to Bayreuth where he was exposed to the music of Richard Wagner. At the World Exhibition in Paris he encountered the Javanese gamelan and was impressed by its sound and melodic phrases.

Oriental influences

Oriental influences played an important factor in getting out of the shadow of Wagner. He once said: "Music is made up of colours and barred rhythms."
Debussy was one of the first composers to concentrate on pure sound, rather than melodies.

Pelléas et Mélisande

The opera "Pelléas et Mélisande" was produced in 1902 and helped to spread his fame. The play has had frequent revivals.
In 1909 he learned that he was infected with cancer. He began to write more pieces for chamber orchestras.

Mistress

Claude spent nine years with a mistress. She attempted suicide near the end of the affair. His first wife also attempted suicide. This happened when Debussy left her for a married woman.
Claude Debussy died in Paris in 1918. The term impressionism is still used to describe Debussy's work.