Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande / A Guide to the Opera with Musical Examples from the Score

Name: Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande / A Guide to the Opera with Musical Examples from the Score
Author: Lawrence Gilman

By Lawrence Gilman

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About This Book

The guide opens with a portrait of the composer and his artistic aims, proceeds to a close reading of the source drama with an act-by-act outline of its action and qualities, and concludes with a thorough musical analysis. The author emphasizes the score’s novel harmonic and textural methods: primary melodic interest is often carried by the orchestra rather than the sung lines, dynamics remain restrained, and thematic material is developed through subtle orchestral treatment. Detailed, act-specific commentary links dramatic moments to musical devices and is supported by musical examples drawn from the score.

About the Author

Lawrence Gilman

Lawrence Gilman was an American music critic and author known for his insightful analyses of modern opera and symphonic music. His notable works include "Aspects of Modern Opera: Estimates and Inquiries," where he explores the evolution of opera in the contemporary landscape, and "Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande: A Guide to the Opera with Musical Examples from the Score," which serves as a detailed examination of Debussy's landmark work. Gilman also contributed to the understanding of American composer Edward MacDowell in his study titled "Edward MacDowell: A Study." Through his writings, Gilman has significantly enriched the discourse on music and its cultural implications.