Includes bibliographical references (pages 205-210) and indexes.
Contents:
Pierrot conquers Paris -- Clowns, poets, and circus daredevils -- Dance steps out of line -- The cakewalk wars -- A taste for the Orient -- Asia on a pedestal -- Child's play and make believe -- Fairies and fairy tales -- Crossovers on land and at sea -- The floating world -- Fair-haired maidens -- Edgar Allan Poe's "Imp of the perverse" -- The sounds of nationalism.
Summary:
Claude Debussy's exquisite piano works have captivated generations with their dreamlike atmosphere and mysterious soundscapes. Written in Paris at the height of the Belle Époque, Debussy's works reflect not only the most appealing and innocent aspects of Paris but also the more disquieting attitudes of the time such as racism, colonial domination, and nationalistic hostility. Pianist Catherine Kautsky reveals little-known elements of Parisian culture and weaves the music, the man, the city, and the era into an indissoluble portrait that will delight anyone who has ever been entranced by Debussy's music or the city that inspired it. -- from back cover.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.