1. Claude Debussy

2.  French composer born on August 22, 1862  His father owned a china shop and his mother was a seamstress  Died March 25, 1918

3. Debussy’s Music  Debussy began piano lessons when he was seven years old  He was a brilliant pianist and an outstanding sight reader  His music showed the transition from late- Romantic music to twentieth century modernist music

4. Debussy’s Music  His work Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun), was original in form and execution.  In contrast to the large orchestras popular in the late 1800s, Debussy wrote this piece for a smaller ensemble, emphasizing instrumental color and timbre (tone quality)  This piece features the flute.

5. Debussy’s Music  His work La Mer ("The Sea" in French) is an orchestral composition  He began writing it in 1903 and finished in 1905.  Has been described as "musical onomatopoeia"  The 1 st movement is called "De l'aube à midi sur la mer" ("From dawn to noon on the sea")

6. Analyzing Debussy’s Music  While listening to La Mer, draw a picture of what you think "The Sea" looks like as depicted in Debussy's music.