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Yes, Wagner was a big influence on Debussy (covered well in "Afternoon of a Faun" by Snyder). Some say was an obsession. For example, to find what to do after
by curlcntr 9y ago
Yes, Wagner was a big influence on Debussy (covered well in "Afternoon of a Faun" by Snyder). Some say was an obsession. For example, to find what to do after Tristan. Prelude.
Debussy wrote in 1910 - I am neither revolutionizing nor demolishing anything. I am quietly forging my own way ahead without any trace of propaganda for my ideas - as is proper for a revolutionary. I am no longer an adversary of Wagner. Wagner is a genius but geniuses can make mistakes. Wagner pronounced himself in favor of the laws of harmony. I am for freedom. But freedom must essentially be free".
I play a lot of Debussy. His art is wonderful.
Note that March 25 will be 100 years since he died.
- stochastic_monk 9y agoIt's fitting to me that Debussy would take as a starting point the sonorous/pianistic elements of Liszt and his harmonic/orchestration style from Wagner, who in turn built on/derived from Liszt. A beautiful feed-forward loop. And I'd have to say that Tristan und Isolde went pretty far toward abandoning traditional laws of harmony, waiting three hours to come to any actual resolution. (Comics at the time portrayed Wagner as a vampire on Liszt, stealing his ideas and money and running with them. I honestly can't blame them.) Thank you for pointing out the date.