Portrait of Claude Debussy

Now available in paperback, this is a translation of Marcel Dietschy's La Passion de Claude Debussy , first published in French in 1962. It was hailed as one of the most authoritative biographies of the composer and an invaluable and reliable source of reference for many hitherto unpublished facts about Debussy. With painstaking attention to detail, the author unearthed documents about everyone connected with Debussy, thus producing the most accurate account of many episodes in Debussy's life. The wealth of information about his family and early life, in particular, sets this book apart from others about the composer. In this context, Dietschy's treatment of Debussy's owrks is essentially biographical rather than musicological, and his deeply sensitive and sympathetic approach to the subject of his study yields many fresh insights into Debussy's complex personality. This translation of Dietschy's exemplary biography makes a wealth of information available for the first time in English. The two translators have additionally been able to make a number of corrections, inlcuding Dietschy's own list of Errata, not incorporated into the French edition. They have also upadted the Bibliography and List of Works, and have been able to include information about some recently discovered manuscripts. This book is intended for general readers and students with an interest in the life and times of Debussy and his music. Edited and translated by: Ashbrook, William (Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Humanities, Indiana State University); Unknown function: Cobb, Margaret G. (former Director)Table of Content1. 'A Set of Completely Unknown People...' 2. Clementine de Bussy 3. Captain de Bussy 4. Megalomaniac Music-lovers 5. Defeat of the Child Prodigy 6. Victory of L'Enfant prodigue 7. 'My sojourn no longer pleases met 8. 'Friendships ... Aesthetics ... the whole Gamut' 9. The Illusory Chimene 10. 'Voici que le printemps' 11. 'Nuages' et 'F tes' sans 'Sirenes' 12. 'La Mort des amants' 13. Fleur des bles 14. A Dream come True 15. Le Diable and La Mer 16. L'Isle joyeuse 17. 'Brouillards' 18. 'L'ombre des arbres' 19. The High Season 20. 'Recueillement' 21. '... cette vieille servante 22. 'Pour un tombeau sans nom'