Images in Full Score

by Claude Debussy

"I am more and more convinced that music is not, in essence, a thing which can be cast into a traditional fixed form," observed Claude Debussy, adding, "it is made up of colors and rhythms." Although the composer disliked the label of Impressionism, his works shared many characteristics with those of his artistic contemporaries. Debussy developed a unique musical language, redefined concepts of harmony and form, and exercised a delicate command of nuance, in his piano music as well as his orchestral creations.
Imagery was such a vital component of Debussy's approach that he titled several of his works "Images," including this magnificent orchestral triptych. Written over a period extending from 1905 to 1912, these loosely related movements express the national characters of England, Spain, and France. The biggest, Ibéria, is itself a triptych—a medley of Spanish allusions, scored with castanets, flashing tambourines, and bells. It is accompanied by Gigues, a moody tribute to England, and Rondes de printemps, a lively celebration of spring in the French countryside.

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 22, 1985

About the author

Claude-Achille Debussy (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. He was made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in his native France in 1903. 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.

Debussy's music is noted for its sensory content and frequent usage of non-traditional tonalities. 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.