"The primary aim of French music is to give pleasure."
Claude Debussy wrote those words. He was intently interested in the sensuous quality of music. I read recently that, even as a student, he let his carnal concept of sound override many of the rules he was taught by his teachers (which probably really pissed them off).
"Extreme complication is contrary to art... Beauty must appeal to the senses, must provide us with immediate enjoyment, must impress us or insinuate itself into us without any effort on our part."
Debussy's interest in the exquisite and sensual led him to adopt various scales he picked up from other cultures, enabling him to reach far beyond the traditional majors and minors. These are evident in his piano music, as are the distinctive floating qualities of his form and rhythm. Really erotic stuff, if you take the time to listen and use a bit of imagination.
I can't help but wonder whether his epicurean philosophies were manifested in the bedroom as well.
"I am more and more convinced that music is not, in essence, a thing which can be cast into a traditional and fixed form. It is made up of colors and rhythms."
Ahhhh... I couldn't agree more.
Karen
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