Debussy : impressionism and symbolism / Stefan Jarocinski ; translated from the French by Rollo Myers.

Author/creator Jarociński, Stefan
Other author Myers, Rollo H. translator.
Format Book
Publication InfoLondon : Eulenberg Books, 1976.
Descriptionxv, 175 pages : music ; 23 cm
Subjects

Uniform titleDebussy a impresjonizm i symbolizm. English
Contents Preface to the French edition / by Vladimir Jankelevitch -- Introduction -- Impressionism in nineteenth-century painting -- The meaning of 'Impressionism' in musicology -- The symbol in art. Seeking a definition ; Genetic considerations ; Expressionism and the symbol in music ; From the ethical to the pathetic ; 'Impressionism': an embarrassing formula -- Debussy and symbolism. The climate of the period ; Wagnerism and French music at the end of the nineteenth century ; Debussy and his environment ; Debussy's aesthetic opinions -- The music of Debussy. Vocal works of the first period ; Innovations in sound ; Symbolic elements -- Debussy and the music of the twentieth century.
Abstract From the first, Debussy's music lent itself to all kinds of convenient critical labels, of which the most fashionable has always been 'impressionist'. In this book the doyen of Polish musicologists examines Debussy's output against the twin backgrounds of his upbringing and of contemporary movements in the other arts besides music. He concludes that the 'impressionist' analogy between music and painting has been too deceptively obvious, and that the movement with which Debussy's art is most deeply impregnated is Symbolism. This he shows by a review of the general aesthetic ferments of this age, by close analysis of Debussy's music, his early works in particular, and by well-directed quotation from Debussy's own many writings on the subject. In the course of his argument he leads the reader down many unexpected bypaths in aesthetics; his book is both an original contribution to musicology and a philosophical meditation on the whole of the art of this unusually fertile and adventurous period.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references.
LCCN 77364971
ISBN0903873206
ISBN9780903873208
ISBN0903873095 (pbk.)
ISBN9780903873093 (pbk.)

Availability

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Music Music Stacks ML410.D28 J33 1976 ✔ Available Place Hold