Debussy in Proportion
A Musical Analysis
Published on 6. March 1986
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-0-521-31145-8 (ISBN)
Description
This is the first paperback edition of Roy Howat's stimulating and provocative study of Debussy's unorthodox use of musical form. Throught detailed analyses of the piano pieces Reflets dans l'eau and L'isle joyeuse and the symphonic poem La mer, Dr Howat shows how the pieces are built precisely and intricately around the two ratios of Golden Section and bisection so that the music is organised in various geometrical patterns which contribute substantially to its expansive and dramatic impact. The final chapter traces evidence of whether the proportional systems were designed consciously, and if so, where and why Debussy might have learnt such techniques. The evidence includes his involvement in the Symbolist movement and in esotericism.
Reviews / Votes
'Roy Howat, in Debussy in Proportion, brilliantly dragoons every analytical and historical method at his command in his assault on the elusive question of Debussy's musical structures. Howat dispassionately assembles his evidence - biographical and historical matters, the analysis of duration, rhythm, harmony, motivic relationship, 'foreground' and 'background' hierarchical levels - into a virtually unassailable critical analysis of how Debussy's musical structures function as entities whose bases are those proportions expressed by the Golden Section or by Fibonacci and Lucus number series. The result, devoid of the analysis, is overwhelmingly convincing ... It is criticism at its best, intelligent and untiring in its efforts to bring the music into clear focus.' 19th Century Music ' ... it is impossible to resist the richness of detail supplied by Dr Howat; no sooner has a doubt occurred to one than it is resolved in the text, and the premise of the book seems inescapable.' Tempo 'To my mind, Roy Howat's book represents the most important advance in unravelling the mysteries of Debussy's music that there has ever been, and I confidently predict that its ramifications will be with us for a long time to come.' Robert Orledge, Music and LettersMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
31 Printed music items; 4 Halftones, unspecified; 73 Line drawings, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
421 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-31145-8 (9780521311458)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
12/1983
Cambridge University Press
€49.60
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Previous edition
Book
12/1983
Cambridge University Press
€49.60
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Content
Preface; Part I. Exposition: 1. Proportional structure and the Golden Section; 2. Analytical aims and methods; 3. 'Reflets dans l'eau'; Part II. Earlier Developments: 4. Early works - up to 1892; 5. L'isle joyeuse; Part III. La Mer: 6. Introduction; 7. 'De l'aube a midi sur la mer'; 8. 'Dialogue du vent et de la mer'; 9. 'Jeux de vagues'; Part IV. Other Evidence: 10. Brief studies of other works; 11. External evidence; Appendices; Bibliography; Index.