Debussy "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair" by Cheryl Shantz
- 10 years ago
Cheryl Shantz performs another of her favourites, "The Girl With The Flaxen Hair" (La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin) by Claude Debussy. Debussy wrote two books of twelve preludes each and "The Girl With The Flaxen Hair" is No. 8 in his "Prélude, Book I." Different from any former series of twenty-four preludes, Debussy does not adhere to a certain pattern of keys, but rather hints at keys all through the preludes. Each book of preludes was finished within a few months. Debussys piano preludes elevated previous preludes of other composers into ones that had more substance and importance. "The Girl With The Flaxen Hair" is thought to be one of his most remarkable pieces that has been recorded the most in its original form or in its several arrangements. Debussy wrote it in 1910 just prior to going off to war. At the beginning of the prelude, Debussy instructs the pianist to play it expressively, as well as calmly and gently. This together with its sweet melody evokes a tender and delicate image of a girl with flaxen hair. It is a true expression of charm and beauty that is always heart-warming to hear.
The Life of Claude Debussy
Born August 22, 1862 in St. Germaine-en-Laye, France, Debussy studied at the Paris Conservatory and won the Prix de Rome (scholarship for arts students) in 1885. Wagner influenced Debussy when he began composing. Another inspiration was the late 19th century Symbolist poetry which focused more on abstract meaning and sound. Edgar Allan Poe was Debussy's favourite author. Early on, his music went a different direction from the restrictions of Western form and harmony taking on a freedom with the development of his themes. As Debussys reputation as a composer and critic progressed, his music showed definite features connected with the Impressionist movement in art. Debussy once said I am more and more convinced that music is not, in essence, a thing which can be cast into a traditional and fixed form. It is made up of colours and rhythms." Debussys compositions evolved into his own unique style with a distinctly sensual quality. His appreciation of Oriental and Russian music compelled him to break from the use of traditional major and minor scales, which in turn allowed him to devise his own scales such as the whole tone scale. These different scales and the drifting varieties of rhythm and form became more apparent in all his works, most notably his piano music. Unfortunately, Debussy died at the relatively young age of 55 on March 25, 1918 in Paris at the peak of World War I.
The Life of Claude Debussy
Born August 22, 1862 in St. Germaine-en-Laye, France, Debussy studied at the Paris Conservatory and won the Prix de Rome (scholarship for arts students) in 1885. Wagner influenced Debussy when he began composing. Another inspiration was the late 19th century Symbolist poetry which focused more on abstract meaning and sound. Edgar Allan Poe was Debussy's favourite author. Early on, his music went a different direction from the restrictions of Western form and harmony taking on a freedom with the development of his themes. As Debussys reputation as a composer and critic progressed, his music showed definite features connected with the Impressionist movement in art. Debussy once said I am more and more convinced that music is not, in essence, a thing which can be cast into a traditional and fixed form. It is made up of colours and rhythms." Debussys compositions evolved into his own unique style with a distinctly sensual quality. His appreciation of Oriental and Russian music compelled him to break from the use of traditional major and minor scales, which in turn allowed him to devise his own scales such as the whole tone scale. These different scales and the drifting varieties of rhythm and form became more apparent in all his works, most notably his piano music. Unfortunately, Debussy died at the relatively young age of 55 on March 25, 1918 in Paris at the peak of World War I.