Posted on 02/11/2016 7:10:04 AM PST by WhiskeyX
"La Mer" L.109, (The Sea), is an orchestral composition by Claude Debussy. It was started in 1903 in France and completed in 1905 on the English Channel coast in Eastbourne. The premiere was given by the Lamoureux Orchestra under the direction of Camille Chevillard on 15 October 1905 in Paris. "La Mer" is a composition of huge suggestion and subtlety in its rich depiction of the ocean, which combines unusual orchestration with daring impressionistic harmonies. The work has proven very influential, and its use of sensuous tonal colours and its orchestration methods have influenced many later film scores. While the structure of the work places it outside of both absolute music and programme music as those terms were understood in the early 20th century, it obviously uses descriptive devices to suggest wind, waves and the ambience of the sea. But structuring a piece around a nature subject without any literary or human element to it - neither people, nor mythology, nor ships are suggested in the piece - also was highly unusual at the time. Debussy called his work "three symphonic sketches," avoiding the loaded term symphony; yet the work is sometimes called a symphony; it consists of two powerful outer movements framing a lighter, faster piece which acts as a type of scherzo.
"La Mer" is divided inot three movements:
1. "De l'aube à midi sur la mer" (from dawn to midday on the sea);
2. "Jeux de vagues" (Play of the Waves);
3. "Dialogue du vent et de la mer" (Dialogue of the wind and the sea).
Conductor: Vladimir Ashkenazy & Cleveland Orchestra
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Claude-Achille Debussy[1] (French: [klod aʃil dəbysi];[2] 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures associated with Impressionist music, though he himself disliked the term when applied to his compositions.[3] He was made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in his native France in 1903.[4] Debussy was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and his use of non-traditional scales and chromaticism influenced many composers who followed.[5]
Debussy's music is noted for its sensory content and frequent usage of nontraditional tonalities.[6] The prominent French literary style of his period was known as Symbolism, and this movement directly inspired Debussy both as a composer and as an active cultural participant.[7]
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Debussy
La mer (Debussy)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
La mer, trois esquisses symphoniques pour orchestre (French for The sea, three symphonic sketches for orchestra), or simply La mer (i.e. The Sea), is an orchestral composition (L 109) by the French composer Claude Debussy.
Composed between 1903 and 1905, the piece was initially not well received, but soon became one of Debussy's most admired and frequently performed orchestral works.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_mer_(Debussy)
Ping
Debussy is probably the only composer/musician I never tire of; I can listen to his compositions all day and it always takes me to a special place. So carefree, beautiful, unorthodox, and magical.
Sorry but when I got there, I couldn’t help but switch over to Clair de Lune...extended - WOW... Your choice is excellent also!
The pop version of Le Mer is the closing for the movie Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, spy. The music gave one a feel of the period (’60s).
I knew his grandson- Horace Debussy Jones.
Great piece of music.
Wasn’t his friend Leo Gorcey? And didn’t they hang out in Louie’s?
Link to the orchestral score:
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