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Symbol and Motive in Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande

It is not by accident that virtually every important study of Debussy's life or works (including the recent and definitive biography by Edward Lockspeiser) has been made from a psychological viewpoint. The peculiar nature of the composer's art, resulting from his intimate ties with the French symbolist poets and his contacts with many other extra-musical influences, makes such an approach not only advantageous, but necessary.
In this brief study of Pelleas et Melisande, the composer's only completed music drama, an attempt will be made to trace these many and varied influences, correlate them with the composer's musical style, and thus arrive at a deeper understanding of the nature of this remarkable work, along with its place in the history of the music drama.
The actual study of the structure of the opera will give equal consideration to both the literary and the musical elements. As the unique quality of this work is grasped, the justification of such an approach will perhaps be verified.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc663233
Date08 1900
CreatorsSimpson, Patrick L. (Patrick Lynton)
ContributorsBaker, Charles August, 1931-, Newlin, Dika, 1923-2006
PublisherNorth Texas State University
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formatvi, 81 leaves : illustrations, Text
RightsPublic, Simpson, Patrick L. (Patrick Lynton), Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights

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