Claude Debussy

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Once Claude Debussy stated that, “I love music passionately. And because I love it I try to free it from barren traditions that stifle it.” As a leader of the Modern Classical Music movement, he believed wholeheartedly in departing from tradition. Many also titled him as the father of the musical Impressionistic movement. His complex life, free-spirited music, and atheistic religion made up the personal life of Claude Debussy.
Born on August 22, 1862 in France, Claude Debussy entered into a poverty stricken family of 7. Without thought to their financial state, his parents recognized his talent for music and enrolled him into the Paris Conservatory at age 11. Even at that young age, he received comments about his peculiarity style of composing. In 1880, Madame Nadezhda von Meck hired the 18 year old as a piano teacher for her children. The group toured Europe and Debussy experienced the finer style of living with them. After becoming accustomed to such luxury, he never returned to a life of hardship. During this time of travel, he gained exposure to a number of great composers. Learning about different techniques that they employed, he started using some of them in his own music. One day after deciding to depart from the Meck family, he traveled to Paris. During his stay there, he earned the Grand Prix de Rome, the highest level a French composer could receive for his piece The Prodigal Child. Feeling an urge to move on, he took a trip to Rome but soon grew unsatisfied there. After a two year stay, he journeyed back to Paris. There he struck up relationships with a number of women with dubious reputations, each of whom struggled with suicide. Even Debussy flirted with death. One day, one of his lady friends borne unto him an i...

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... music of the time. Still, near the end of his life, his sonatas started to have hints of Neoclassicism in it.
Even though Debussy had great talent, he did not see who gifted him with his expertise. For his entire life, he avoided religion. Professing himself as an atheist, he worshiped nature as his god. When he looked to the sky and creation with an sense of awe and inspiration, he considered that prayer. Even in plans for his funeral, he left out God and religion.
Claude Debussy led the way for the 20th century classical music. His rejection of traditional restraints sparked a flame in many of his contemporaries. Although he believed that he led the symbolism movement, the critics of today credit to him the title, Father of Impressionism. While he dazzled audiences with his music, he did not credit his success to God and his life ended on a disheartening note.

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