Return to search

Musique de Scène pour Les Chansons de Bilitis by Claude Debussy on Poems by Pierre Louÿs a Lecture Recital, Together with Three Recitals of Selected Works of J.S. Bach, S. Prokofiev, J. Francaix, W. Piston, L. v. Beethoven, and Others

The incidental music for Chansons de Bilitis is little known and rarely performed. However, the relegation of this work to the realms of obscurity is highly unjustified. Chansons de Bilitis requires an unusual combination of instruments: two flutes, two harps, and celesta in addition to a reciter. The work is a theater piece in the tradition of melodrama, with spoken text and background music in alternation. Despite the rather unique nature of the work, many of the melodic, textural, and orchestrational devices for which Debussy is noted are evident. The music is throughcomposed; each movement mirrors and emphasizes the meaning and mood of the accompanying poem. Because of the fragmentary nature of the music and its rather subordinate role in the total theater work, the primary emphasis in gaining an appreciation of the value of the work lies in an investigation of its historical background.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc331266
Date05 1900
CreatorsYoungblood, Pamela Jackson
ContributorsMorey, George, 1915-1995, Collins, Michael (Michael B.), 1930-2011, Brown, Charles S. (Organist)
PublisherNorth Texas State University
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formatix, 24 leaves : music, Text
RightsPublic, Youngblood, Pamela Jackson, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Page generated in 0.002 seconds