Debussy in Context

Innovative, controversial, and influential, Debussy's music was shaped by the wide-ranging cultural interests and social networks explored in this book.

Exploring the many dimensions of Debussy's historical significance, this volume charts the influences, relationships and performances that shaped his creativity in the complex world of Belle Époque Paris. Reflecting the latest research, chapters focus on key aspects of his career and the sources of his enduring popularity.Exploring the many dimensions of Debussy's historical significance, this volume provides new perspectives on the life and work of a much-loved composer and considers how social and political contexts shape the way we approach and perform his works today. In short, focused chapters building on recent research, contributors chart the influences, relationships and performances that shaped Debussy's creativity, and the ways he negotiated the complex social and professional networks of music, literature, art, and performance (on and off the stage) in Belle Époque Paris. It probes Debussy's relationship with some of the most influential '-isms' of his time, including his fascination with early music and with the 'exotic', and assesses his status as a pioneer of musical modernism and his continuing popularity with performers and listeners alike.