Debussy: an introduction to his music
Time: 13:30 - 15:30
Location: Keeley Street
- Course Code: MD612A
- Dates: 14/01/25 - 11/02/25
- Time: 13:30 - 15:30
- Taught: Tue, Daytime
- Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Edward Henderson
Course Code: MD612A
Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
Debussy’s work bridges the romantic and modernist eras of Western classical music. Incorporating symbolism and exoticism his music widened the boundaries of Western classical music while loosening 18th and 19th century harmonic principles and fearlessly innovating orchestration. This course will explore several key works and ideas that highlight this work.
What will we cover?
- Debussy’s musical language and where is comes from
- An exploration of Debussy’s biography
- Reading and discussion on modernism in music
- Key musical examples e.g. whole tone/pentatonic scales and parallelism
- Some background and listening guides for the famous compositions: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, La Mer and Pelléas et Mélisande.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Summarise the biography of Debussy
- Identify some of the principal features of the works listed above
- Recognise some of the characteristics of Debussy’s distinctive musical language
- Get to know Debussy’s most significant pieces.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels. We may look at a music scores and identify key features of music notation (how many violins are playing, etc…) so this course will be most suitable for those who are curious and ambitious to learn.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Tutor presentation, guided listening, class discussion and debate, video and score study.
Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom: handouts, scores, links to online audio and video, recommendations to encourage and support further reading and listening outside class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring a notebook and pen to make your own notes.
You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class; links to these materials will be available after each session. You may also wish to attend live performances.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
City Lit offers a wide range of Music history courses. For more information, visit our Guide to the Music history programme.
You may also be interested in our Music theory and musicianship offer, or one of our many practical music courses.
Edward Henderson is a composer and performer from South London. He studied at Cambridge and Trinity Laban, where he won the Director's Prize for Composition. He co-directs composers’ collective Bastard Assignments, which presents shows in London and across Europe. His theatre pieces "Manspangled" and "Hum" have been performed at Second Movement's Rough for Opera night and the Tête à Tête opera festival, and his piano piece "Milk 2" has been performed in Europe and in Sydney. His "Tape Piece" opened the 2015 London Contemporary Music Festival, and his performance piece "Totally" featured at the 2016 Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik in Darmstadt. Edward teaches at City Lit, Morley College and Trinity Laban, and runs inclusive community choirs for Certitude.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.