Claude Debussy Pell}}as et M}}lisande [Paperback]

The first comprehensive guide to Debussy's opera, by three leading authorities on French music.The first comprehensive guide to Debussy's only completed opera considers its literary roots, traces its genesis and composition, and illuminates Debussy's compositional strategies.The first comprehensive guide to Debussy's only completed opera considers its literary roots, traces its genesis and composition, and illuminates Debussy's compositional strategies.This first comprehensive guide to Debussy's only completed opera, Pelléas et Mélisande was written by the leading authorities on French music of the period. As a background to the opera, the authors, together with David Grayson, discuss various aspects of the play. They consider its literary roots, trace its genesis and composition, and illuminate Debussy's compositional strategies. A detailed synopsis of Debussy's musical response to the text forms a central chapter. This is followed by an examination of the symbols and musical motives employed by Debussy as well as an analysis of his themes. The book concludes with a detailed bibliography and a discography.1. The play and its playwright Richard Langham Smith; 2. The opera: genesis and sources David A. Grayson; 3. Synopsis Roger Nichols; 4. Motives and symbols Richard Langham Smith; 5. Tonalities of darkness and light Richard Langham Smith; 6. Pell?as in performance I - a history Roger Nichols; 7. Pell?as in performance II - ideals and engimas Roger Nichols; Appendix; Notes; Select bibliography; Discography Malcolm Walker.