Debussy

Nearly a century after the death of Claude Debussy, his music retains its wide and enduring appeal. Possessing a rare ability to captivate listeners on multiple levels, at its core lies an engaging simplicity – one that resists traditional analysis and lends an air of mystery to what is ultimately an extremely refined and deeply personal approach to composition. Equally fascinating is Debussy's often contradictory personality – at times elusive, yet always centred on his profound devotion to music and his ambition to forge a unique and lasting reputation.

In this authoritative biography, Eric Frederick Jensen offers fresh insight into both the man and his music. Despite his impoverished beginnings and his initial struggles as a piano student at the Paris Conservatoire, Debussy rose to become the most celebrated French composer of his era, renowned for his culture and refinement. His revolutionary music initially perplexed critics but was embraced by audiences. Debussy's scandalous personal life generated as much controversy as his compositions, and his notoriety ultimately proved more detrimental to his career than the unconventional nature of his musical ideas.

Jensen also explores Debussy's intricate relationship with the other arts and his career as a perceptive music critic. Debussy drew inspiration from all artistic disciplines in his development as a composer, including poetry and painting, a fascination that has often led to his classification as an Impressionist or Symbolist – claims which Jensen thoughtfully refutes. As one of the finest music critics of his time, Debussy's reviews reveal a great deal not only about his discerning musical taste but also about his deeply held beliefs regarding the role and function of music.

Debussy brings together the most recent biographical research, including a revised catalogue of his compositions and the first complete edition of his correspondence. With distinct, chronological sections dedicated to his life and his music, this biography is accessible to the general reader interested in his personality and life story, while also providing detailed musical analysis for musicians and students.