 Trade In this Item for up to £4.45
Trade in Debussy: The Quiet Revolutionary (Unlocking the Masters) for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £4.45, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Plus, get an extra £5 when you trade in books worth £10 or more until June 30, 2012. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Find more products eligible for trade-in.
|
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Synopsis
Debussy's music, some of the greatest composed in the twentieth century, also ranks among the most challenging. His influence on other composers was enormous: Bartok, Stravinsky, Boulez, and Messaien, all freely acknowledged their debt to their groundbreaking predecessor. "Debussy" explores the extraordinary sophistication and refinement of Debussy's music, pointing out subtleties that otherwise could take years of listening to fully appreciate. Lederer shows how the composer developed his own unmistakable sound from a variety of musical inspirations, including folk, medieval, the musical languages of Spain and Java, as well as the 17th century French clavecinistes and his musica ancestor (and idol) Chopin.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
There are no customer reviews yet on Amazon.co.uk.
5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
A Superb Distillation
14 Mar 2009
Format:Paperback
The first two chapters of this volume are alone worth the price of this book - having read a dozen books on Debussy, including the ones the author quotes throughout, this book is most worthy of praise. The author presents in succinct and concise terms the essence of Debussy's music itself - he brilliantly captures the very vitality of Debussy's musical idea or unique treatment fully stated in a very compact form. The CD included has many of the finest performances/interpretations available as well.
The balance of the book (majority of the volume) takes you through Debussy's catalog of works, with the author observing how these musical ideas are manifested - often including the "timing" on the CD where the reader/listener can follow along, replay, and examine closely. Debussy's musical treasures reveal themselves upon replaying, relistening - this gem of a book, rewards you even sooner.
The balance of the book (majority of the volume) takes you through Debussy's catalog of works, with the author observing how these musical ideas are manifested - often including the "timing" on the CD where the reader/listener can follow along, replay, and examine closely. Debussy's musical treasures reveal themselves upon replaying, relistening - this gem of a book, rewards you even sooner.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Plan to use Lederer's Debussy as textbook
20 July 2009
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am a faculty member of Manhattan School of Music's Precollege Division and have taught a class on Debussy for many years. Lederer's Debussy is thorough, yet concise (144 pages) and speaks of the man in an informed historical context and his music in suitably descriptive terms, which lend impressive perspective to the listener. The opening chapter on Debussy's influences (before the biography in Chapter 2) is a clear indication at the outset of the seriousness of this study. While not a theoretical analysis, Lederer's vivid accounting of Debussy's oeuvre accurately portray the composer's own theory about music as quoted below:
"Who will discover the secret of musical composition? The sound of the sea, the curve of the horizon, the wind in the leaves, the cry of a bird, register complex impressions within us. Then suddenly, without any deliberate consent on our part, one of these memories issues forth to express itself in the language of music. It bears its own harmony within it. By no effort of ours can we achieve anything more truthful or accurate. In this way only does a soul destined for music discover its most beautiful ideas." - - Claude Debussy (1911)
The inclusion of a CD makes this book an excellent value and a perfect volume for understanding how best to listen to and better understand this "quiet revolutionary."
One note on accuracy: On page 29, Lederer states "the opening flute melody" of Faune recurs, however, he fails to mention this melody is played by the oboe, overlooking an important change in orchestral color.
"Who will discover the secret of musical composition? The sound of the sea, the curve of the horizon, the wind in the leaves, the cry of a bird, register complex impressions within us. Then suddenly, without any deliberate consent on our part, one of these memories issues forth to express itself in the language of music. It bears its own harmony within it. By no effort of ours can we achieve anything more truthful or accurate. In this way only does a soul destined for music discover its most beautiful ideas." - - Claude Debussy (1911)
The inclusion of a CD makes this book an excellent value and a perfect volume for understanding how best to listen to and better understand this "quiet revolutionary."
One note on accuracy: On page 29, Lederer states "the opening flute melody" of Faune recurs, however, he fails to mention this melody is played by the oboe, overlooking an important change in orchestral color.
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
His approach is perfect for any newcomer
9 Aug 2007
Format:Paperback
Debussy's music ranks among the most challenging: his influence on other composers makes it essential to understand his approach, but typically music students find such analysis a daunting proposition. Not so Debussy: The Quiet Revolutionary, which pairs a cd of music with an analysis of the subtleties of his works and analyzing Debussy's approach and contributions. The author is a New York critic on music and culture: his approach is perfect for any newcomer to Debussy and is especially recommended for middle to high school students receiving a strong introduction on Debussy's art and achievement.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Biography > Film, Television & Music > Music > Classical Music
- Books > Biography > Historical > Countries & Regions > France
- Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Music > Composers & Musicians > Classical Music > Debussy
- Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Music > Scores, Songbooks & Lyrics > Classical Music
- Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Music > Styles > Classical Music > Biographies
- Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Music > Styles > Classical Music > By History
- Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Music > Styles > Classical Music > Scores, Songbooks & Lyrics
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
