Describe Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” analytically.

1. Re-read Take a Closer Look: Exploring Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” in your textbook.

2. Carefully listen to the piano piece “Clair de Lune” and critically examine its components, style, context, and influence. Listen for and try identifying at least TWO basic elements of music described in the required Module 6 textbook pages. You may also wish to refer back to the Module 6 Online Exploration resources as well as the required pages in your textbook for Module 6.

3. Read: Reich, Megan. “Debussy and the Poetic Image.” All Classical Portland, All Classical Public Media, Inc., 2021, https://www.allclassical.org/debussy-and-the-poetic-image/.

This website has an excellent discussion of Debussy’s connection with Impressionism AND his connection with the Symbolist poets (Debussy’s two most notable (pun intended?) works are based on the poems of Symbolist poets, Paul Verlaine and Stéphane Mallarmé .

Also read the essay: Byrnside, Ronald L. “Musical Impressionism: The Early History of the Term.” The Musical Quarterly, Vol. 66, No. 4 (October, 1980), pp. 522-537, published by Oxford University Press (in Module 6).

4. Now that you’ve carefully examined and researched the work of music, write and submit the finished essay using at least three fully developed paragraphs and at least 500 words, in which you:

Describe Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” analytically. In doing this, identify at least TWO basic elements of music described in the Module 6 required textbook pages “The Basic Elements of Music.”
Identify the “mood” of the song. What kind of “Impression” does it give you?
Explain whether “Clair de Lune” is Apollonian or Dionysian and provide evidence supporting your argument.
Knowing that “Clair de Lune” is typically associated with the musical school known as Impressionism (based on your research) describe the similarities and differences between Impressionism as an artistic movement (as we learned about in Module 5) and as a movement in music. Use evidence from “Clair de Lune” and your exploration of Impressionism to support your arguments. Your chapter does not mention the Symbolist poets 🙁 but based on your research, what are the similarities and differences between Debussy and the Symbolist poets? Does categorizing Debussy as a Symbolist make more sense?
Conclude by commenting on whether or not you believe that Music and Visual Art should share an artistic classification such as “Symbolist” or “Impressionism.” In other words, does referring to “Clair de Lune” (the song) AND Claude Monet’s “Impression Sunrise” (the painting) both as “Impressionism” or “Clair de Lune” (the song) AND Paul Verlaine’s “Clair de Lune” (the poem) both as “Symbolist” make sense? Or is this just an example of Academicians in Humanities making an unnecessary connection?
Be sure to use and cite “Debussy and the Poetic Image” by Megan Reich and/or “Musical Impressionism: The Early History of the Term” by Ronald L. Byrnside and/or another essay you have already found and read as a research source article concerning the musical schools and movements known as the Symbolist or Impressionist movements.

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