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Micheline's Blog

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Micheline's Blog

Tag Archives: Debussy

Suing President Obama: Related Posts

04 Monday Aug 2014

Posted by michelinewalker in Art, United States

≈ Comments Off on Suing President Obama: Related Posts

Tags

Debussy, harassment, Henri Matisse, Mr. John Boehner, obstructionism, President Barack Obama, scapegoating, Suite bergamasque, United States

 
Branch of Lilacs, by Henri Matisse, 1914

Branch of Lilacs, by Henri Matisse, 1914 (Photo credit: WikiArt.org)

My sincere apologies to anyone who found my last post offensive.

My post was not offensive, nor was it subversive. However, this new event invites serious reflection on a number of issues. Among these, the numerous attacks on the President of the United States. These point to behaviour that cannot be considered reasonable and acceptable. There are rules of conduct that preclude harassment.

I hope sincerely President Obama did not abuse the power vested in him. I doubt that he has. He is the Commander-in-Chief of the United States’ military, but he is not belligerent.

My post entitled “Suing President Obama” contained a list of related articles. This list disappeared. My computer is no longer stable. It sometimes erases part of what I have written. I think I need a birthday.

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“Suite bergamasque, four-movement suite for piano by French composer Claude Debussy, begun in 1890, when the composer was a student, and revised and published in 1905. Its most readily recognizable segment is the third movement, the ever-popular Clair de lune (“Moonlight”).

The work’s title derives from Bergamo, a city with ancient origins that is located in the foothills of the Italian Alps. It is traditionally considered the home of Harlequin, a standard figure of the commedia dell’arte. The first movement, Prélude, has open and flowing phrases with much use of legato phrases. The second movement, Menuet, and the fourth movement, Passepied, are quick and light-footed, more staccato in mood than the first. The gentle and familiar Clair de lune in its original context provides an elegant contrast to the sprightly second and fourth movements.”

Betsy Schwarm[I]

My kindest regards to all of you.

_________________________

[I] “Suite bergamasque.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 04 Aug. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1944683/Suite-bergamasque>.

Pascal's Pensées, Henri Matisse

Pascal’s Pensées, Henri Matisse, 1924 (WikiArt.org)

Debussy‘s “Clair de lune” (Suite bergamasque)
Angela Hewitt
Angela Hewitt performs a live concert for the Royal Conservatory of Music at Toronto’s Koerner Hall.
 

Bouquet of Mixed Flowers

© Micheline Walker
4 November 2014
WordPress

 
Henri Matisse, 1917
(Photo credit: WikiArt.org) 

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Sappho, Louÿs, Barbier, Debussy & “Les Chansons de Bilitis”

04 Saturday Aug 2012

Posted by michelinewalker in Art, Literature, Music

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

Bilitis, Claude Debussy, Debussy, Domaine Musical, Pierre Boulez, Pierre Louÿs, Rueil-Malmaison, Songs of Bilitis

Pierre Louÿs, by Henri Bataille*

*Félix-Henri Bataille (b. 4 April 1872 in Nîmes, France, d. 2 March 1922 in Rueil-Malmaison) was a French dramatist and poet. His works were extremely popular between 1900 and the start of World War I.  (Wikipedia)

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Claude Debussy by Nadar* 1908

*Félix Nadar, the pseudonym of Gaspard-Félix Tournachon (1 April 1820, Paris – 23 March 1910), had many talents.  For instance, he was a ballonist.  However, he is remembered by most as a great photographer.

Claude-Achille Debussy (22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) is, arguably, the most prominent French composer of the late nineteenth century.  He was extremely innovative.  According to Wikipedia, he was a “crucial figure in the transition to the modern era in Western music, [and] he remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers.” (Wikipedia)

When I was researching Pierre Louÿs‘ Les Chansons de Bilitis, who may be the Greek poet Sappho, I discovered more than Barbier’s erotic illustrations.  The famous Claude Debussy had written music for twelve of Bilitis’s songs.

The Story is as follows…

During the winter of 1900-1901, Claude Debussy was asked by writer Pierre Louÿs to compose music for a public reading of twelve of Louÿs’ Chansons de Bilitis.  Debussy composed music to be performed by a rather unusual combination of instruments: two flutes, two harps and a celesta.

The score was not published at the time the music was composed.  In fact, the music was played only once during the composer’s lifetime, on 7 February 1901.  The autograph partition was then given to Pierre Louÿs, but the manuscript vanished.

However, there remained enough of the autograph partition for French composer, conductor and pianist Pierre Boulez to complete Debussy’s composition.  Debussy’s work was therefore performed again on 10 April 1954 during a concert of the Domaine Musical, a concert society established by Pierre Boulez in Paris.

Yet, Debussy’s composition remained in manuscript form until a score, prepared by Arthur Hoérée (1897-1986), a Belgian composer, was published in 1971.  Hoérée composed music for several films.

For lovers of Debussy’s music, hearing the following may prove a transcendental experience.  Debussy is a giant.

As for this blogger, she is now leaving Barbier behind as dealing with his entourage is leading her away from the blogs she is working on: Quebec.  There is more on Bilitis. Yet may I say that, although Bilitis knew Sappho and although the songs are attributed to Bilitis, Sappho was the greater poet.  What if the Songs of Bilitis meant: the songs Bilitis sang?  Well, it’s a mystery and mysteries can be convenient.

For more information on Bilitis, you may wish to visit Badaboomblog, a site operated by a French WordPress colleague.

I hope sincerely that you will enjoy Debussy’s / Hoérée’s music to accompany Les Chansons de Bilitis and wish you a lovely weekend.

 
© Micheline Walker
August 4th, 2012
WordPress
45.408358 -71.934658

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