Claude Debussy's La Mer: A Comprehensive Musical and Historical Report

This report offers a detailed analysis of Claude Debussy's La Mer, a significant orchestral composition. The report explores the historical context of its creation, including Debussy's inspirations from the sea and Japanese art. It examines the three movements of La Mer: "From Dawn to Midday on the Sea," "Play of Waves," and "Dialogue of the Wind and the Sea," discussing their musical characteristics, themes, and orchestration. The report delves into Debussy's innovative use of musical language, his departure from traditional forms, and his influence on musical impressionism. It also discusses the circumstances of the work's first performance, its initial reception, and its lasting impact on music history. The report highlights Debussy's contemporaries and predecessors, such as Wagner and Verdi, and provides insights into the critical perspectives on the programmatic music. The report explores the instrumentation used in La Mer and its unique harmonic combinations. Overall, the report provides a comprehensive understanding of Debussy's La Mer as a masterpiece of musical impressionism.

Debussy La Mer

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ROMANTIC IMAGINATION .......................................................................................................5
RESEARCH PAPER ......................................................................................................................5
Topic - Debussy La Mer .................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................10

ROMANTIC IMAGINATION
RESEARCH PAPER
TOPIC - DEBUSSY LA MER
La mer is masterpieces and innovative art that is composed by French Composer Claude
Debussy. This master work has been prepared during the years 1903 and 1905. This work has
initially not received more admiration but with time it has changed. The work for this
composition in the 1903 and overall work completed in year 1905. This composition was created
at Grand Hotel Eastbourne on the English Channel cost.
La mer is neither a complete departure nor normal symphony but is appealed to large
number of audiences across globe. Initially this composition was not positively appreciated but
with time mass appeal was gained by it. Inspiration for this master work was gained from rolling
waves of Atlantic and pacific ocean. Along with this idea for this concept was also received from
locale of Eastbourne on the south coast of great England. Work for this innovative composition
was completed in year 1905 (Herlin & Bloom, 2014). Paintings that were made on sea also
inspired Debussy and views and presence near the sea itself inspired him to create this great
musical work. La mer is considered as most brilliant music work created by him and it is also
considered as supreme achievement in the symphonic literature. Music in Lamer reflects the
great beauty of ocean and also its delicacy and savagery.
Musical language
Debussy has taken the idea for this composition during his visits to the sea. During his childhood
days he used to visit Cannes and later he traveled to Italy. La mer is subtitled as Three
symphonic sketches and it takes the imagination of listener towards this composition. With this,
“From dawn to Midday on the sea ” is one of the most admired symphony and it explores the
dramatic changes and alterations in lightening and atmosphere that accompany for progression of
the morning on the water. Likewise, “Dialog of the wind and The sea” reflects urgent and
Ominous note and through this a person feels close to danger of sea.

(Source- Murai, 2016)
The sound of orchestra reflects about triumph, stormy and dazzling elemental forces of
nature. Before a complete build up a moment of calm is reached and the sounds of orchestra
heaves and swell in great washes of sound. Along with this “Play of waves” depicts about draws
the imagination to the sphere of light and motion. It produces sounds of rocking waves and with
this unexpected shift of currents are also mentioned (Murai, 2016). Play of waves also defines
about unexpected shifts in the currents and glint of sunlight on the surfaces of water. Numerous
representation of sea have been described in the work of Debussy he has represented the wonder
of sea and its magical powers. Sea has played a significant character in final composition of La
mer. First movement is for 9 Minutes and second movement is for 6.30 minutes and last
movement exists for 8 minutes.
Three movements in the masterpiece La mer comprise of :-
I. De l’aube à midi sur la mer It reflects (―From dawn to midday on the ocean‖),
II. Jeux de vagues It reflects (―Wave play‖)
III. Dialogue du vent et de la mer It reflects (―Dialogue of the wind and the sea‖)
Illustration 1: La mer

(Source- Mooney, 2017)
Three movements have been depicted in La mer and these movement provides Capricious
sonic objects and programmed imagery to it. Debussy has shown about three movements of La
mer and music given by La mer was evocative an less descriptive approaches have been used
under it. First melody of this composition is about leaping waves and it sounds like penguin is
proposing through airs. First movement develops through some short melodic fragments and it
moves over muted strings. The fragmented that are produced can be heard later in the
movements created further. Along with this, there is a recurring theme that occurs and it sounds
like day breaks over the sea (Clark, 2014). For the second theme Debussy has made use of model
scheme so that next theme could be produced. This mode was invented by him. Likewise the
themes created by him have reflected the horns that have been created by almost every pitch that
has been produced fro the invented mode.
There are three different movements that have been represented in La mer. Debussy is
known for his critical perspectives towards the programmatic music and he worked for distilling
the essence of his childhood seaside memories for creating his masterpiece La mer. Other than
this, the movement swells, surges ebbs and passes through different sections and it aids for
creating a echoing sound of sea waves. The middle movement that has been shown in the music
Illustration 2: La mer musical forms

is lively and animated and in this rapid motifs and orchestration sounds have been reflected. It
produces sounds of arrival of big wave and in the final theme sound is produced like the storm is
brewing. The middle section is cam and it also shows that things get settled early. Other than
this, brass theme from the first movement reappears and it develops a propelling motion for
creating a climatic brass chorale (Yuliawan, Setyabudi & Hum, 2017). Music of La Mer is vary
impressive and it creates propelling motion towards climatic bras chorale.
Restlessness of sea and its stormy movements have been shown in the work created by
Debussy. In this composition color, rhythm are given more importance and with this melody and
harmony are also given equal importance. Total length of this composition is for 23 minutes and
in this unconventional methods have been used that includes rising and falling figures and
restless movements of sea have been shown in this creatures. This masterwork was first
performed at Walter Henry Rothwell at 27 February , 1925 (Mooney, 2017). Debussy is known
as father of musical impressionism and through his music he has showed us atmospheric music.
His music creation went towards ignoring the traditional combinations that were earlier used by
music composers. This music moves from one bar to another in an spontaneous organic flow and
orchestral work created by Debussy has reflected the moods of sea.

(Source- Murai, 2016)
Place and perceived significance within its composer's development :-
Debussy has composed his musical masterpieces in the decade preceding world war
second. Paris was known as cosmopolitan capital of that time and majority of new work in fields
of music were performed there. It was the time when harmonic innovations and experiments
were taking place in the music sector. Leading music composers of that time including Puccini
and Richard visited there for their performance. With this performances of Wagner and music
designed by him added contribution on his ardent admirers. In this period Debussy achieved pre-
eminence and excellence in french music and it gave influence on composers in France and
outside France.
Although early life of Debussy was full of financial crisis. During his initial days of life
Debussy was planning to join the navy but his childhood memories of the beauties of sea is clear
indication of the movement that is being created by Debussy. He has spend most of the time at
sea coat and it inspired him to create a artistic piece of work.
Inspiration for this great masterpiece was received by Debussy from diverse sources.
Other than this, Hokusai's iconic masterwork titled as “ Under the wave off kangava” and it
represented Japanism movement that took place in the 19th century. Debussy was a great admirer
of Japanese artifacts and he used to visit antique shops of city for buying artifacts from Japan.
Illustration 3: Structural form of La mer

His studio was also full of paintings and objects that reflected Japanese artwork. Hokusai has
highlighted the cultural fear of the water that has surrounded the country and it has also depicted
about the portrayal of sea's water (Piotrowska, 2014). Work performed by Hokusai was a great
inspiration for Debussy and it led towards creating the master work titled as La mer. While
composing La mer Debussy drew his childhood vision of the seaside views that he has seen at
Cannes and it inspired him for creating his masterwork.
Contemporaries and immediate precursor of the work :-
Debussy is known for creating ocean theme based orchestral work which he performed in
inland towns Dieppe and Bichain. Simon rattle is considered as one of the most strong
Contemporaries of Debussy and he is well known for his classical music. Simon is principle
conductor of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. He has conducted wide variety of music and it
comprise of use of periodical instruments with the music that is being played.
Richard Wagner is also considered as one of the major contemporaries of Debussy whose
music and style is considered similar to work of Debussy. He is known for taking the German
romantic music to its extreme levels. Music performed by him deeply loved and respected by
French Impressionists. He brought brilliant meditation work in his music while Debussy is
criticized for making use of terrifying music on sea themes. Giuseppe verdi is known as
predecessor of Debussy and he was a well known opera composer.
He was one of the pre eminent opera composer of the history and his success with the
opera AIDA and three other masterpiece including RESQUIEM, OTELLO AND FALSTAFF.
His music was philosophical and incomprehensible and it lead his music towards grand success.
Other than this Giacomo Puccini is also Predecessor of Debussy and he is well known for his
music compositions that are being developed under the Vermiso style. It made him leading
exponents of his time. His work includes Madame Butterfly, Tosca and La Boheme. These are
considered as most important operas that are played by standards. Moreover musical work
performed by Ravel is also considered as inspired from Debussy. Inspiring musical work of
Ravel includes Daphnis et Chloe, Stravinsky‘s famous three ballet and Debussy‘s Jeux.
There are many iconic compositions that have bee n made on the same subject and
predecessors and successors have created powerful composition like this. With this, Trois
Nocturnes has first created this musical wonder in which he made composition on the orchestral
forces. Debussy orchestral output can be defined as final movement of work created by Trois. La

mer has set examples that music can be created on atmospheric grounds. Traditional and
conventionally representations have been sidelined by this new creation and it has set clear
benchmarks (Brown, 2016).
Circumstances of its first performance and its acceptance :-
The premier for La mer was organized on 15 October 1905 in Paris and it was performed in the
direction of Camille Chevillard.
The performance for this composition was given by Orchestre Aamoureux (Grayson, 2014).
Instrumentation that is being used for the project comprised of 2 Flutes, Piccolo, 3
Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Timpani, 4 Horns, Trumpets, 2 Cornets, Tamtam, 2 Harps, Strings,
Contrabassoon, Clarinets, Bassoons, 2 Oboes. Debussy has created a great masterpiece and in
this unusual orchestration combines with impressionistic harmonies (Leonard, 2015). It is an
type of Orchestral composition that has been first prepared and composed by Claude Debussy.
He had no any formal education and he is often called as musical impressionist.
This music piece was not well received initially and the major reason for this was lack of
proper and adequate rehearsals by the team members. In addition to that there was outrage over
Debussy's personal life. He had left his wife for an opera singer Emma Bardac and due to that
there was huge outrage among people regarding this. He was facing financial crisis and due to
that he wsa forced to keep the housekeeping on oriental trinkets than food. He faced humiliation
when Herni Bataille accused him for his extra marital affairs. It created depression in Debussy
and it also made him Nostalgic. First hearing of this composition was Disappointing and he was
criticized for his musical work.

(Source - Brown, 2016)
Illustration 4: La mer composition

The title for the composition as “La mer” has been given in French language. Critics say
that he should have given the title in English as he has taken this inspiration for this work from
Eastborne!. A large orchestra first performed this composition and four bassoons, 1 tam-tam, 1
glockenspiel and 2 harps have been used for creating this masterwork. Along with this music of
La mer is controversial and it also created criticism during its early period. The response of
audience in the first rehearsal and majority of the audience was unfriendly it was challenging
music (Leonard, 2015). However with time it gained acceptance and liked by millions of people
across globe. Moreover, Debussy was highly inspired through the works of Tuner and he started
at the sea hours and it inspired him to create a high quality music.
Along with this, the name that has been given by Debussy to the first section of La mer
which he has given to the From Dawn to noon on the sea. Turner has inspired the music work
created by Debussy at sixty years early. First symphonic sketch created by Debussy was a clear
reflection of Painting created by Turner in which rising sun has been shown over the sea. Three
symphonic sketches that have been created by Debussy were a clear representation of great work
created by Tuner (Herlin & Bloom, 2014). The composition given by Debussy is inspired from
large number of film score composers and it shows about moody atmosphere of sun. inspirations
for this masterpiece has been received through Luciano Berio's work Sinfonia that was premiered
in the year 1968. with this, work created by John Williams also inspired the composition that has
been created for Jaws.

With this, in La mer he has infused the rhythms that shown stormy mood of sea and with
this every section of orchestra is challenged by this symphony created by La mer. Earlier
performances for this music were not well received among listeners and due to that criticism
were faced for these performances. All the three movements that have been shown in La mer
stormy and eagerness of sea has been reflected. With this, relaxation is provided to listener
through these compositions and it has also shown about the sensual evocation of sea waves in all
the variety.
Illustration 5: Inspiration of La mer
Illustration 6: Imaginative creation for La mer