Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Episode 4 of 5: Debussy's Cello Sonata
He had a profound impact upon music and musicians in his day, and created new genres for the piano and orchestra, this week Donald Macleod explores Claude Debussy through his chamber music.
With the outset of World War One, the Daily Telegraph invited composers to contribute works towards the King Albert's Album, which would be a tribute to the Belgium monarch and his soldiers. Debussy responded with a melancholy work which references the Belgium national anthem, his Berceuse hèroïque for orchestra. Early on in the war, he also started to compose a set of Twelve Etudes for the piano, which he told his publisher would be a secret homage to those Frenchmen lost on the battlefields.
Debussy had been suffering physically for some time during this period and it was in 1915 that he was diagnosed with cancer. He underwent a risky operation; there were no antibiotics available, and afterwards, the pain was kept at bay with morphine. That same year, though, Debussy composed his Sonata for cello and piano, whilst he stayed at the villa Mon Coin.
00:00 Claude Debussy Syrinx for flute solo Performer: Richard McNicol.
00:00 Claude Debussy Syrinx for flute solo Performer: Richard McNicol.
00:04 Claude Debussy 3 Poemes de Mallarme for voice and piano Performer: Noel Lee. Singer: Anne-Marie Rodde.
00:05 Claude Debussy 3 Poemes de Mallarme for voice and piano Performer: Noel Lee. Singer: Anne-Marie Rodde.
00:14 Claude Debussy Berceuse heroique, arr. for orchestra [orig. for piano] Conductor: Alexander Rahbari. Orchestra: Brussels Belgian Radio and TV Phil Orch.
00:14 Claude Debussy Berceuse heroique, arr. for orchestra [orig. for piano] Conductor: Alexander Rahbari. Orchestra: Brussels Belgian Radio and TV Phil Orch.
00:20 Claude Debussy 12 Studies for piano Performer: Maurizio Pollini.
00:20 Claude Debussy 12 Studies for piano Performer: Maurizio Pollini.
00:47 Claude Debussy Sonata in D minor for cello and piano Performer: Stephen Orton. Performer: Ian Brown.
00:47 Claude Debussy Sonata in D minor for cello and piano Performer: Stephen Orton. Performer: Ian Brown.
First broadcast: 16 Oct 2014 (b04l35rn) http://vk.com/wall-71199334_46