Music 271: 4/9/07 II: Claude Debussy (1862-1918): → Stravinsky → French Composers (Poulenc) A: Education: • Paris Conservatory • Captivated by music of Wagner B: Changing attitude concerning Richard Wagner • Began to separate from Wagner’s music in the late 1870s and 1880s • Franco-Prussian War raised desire for a French music C: Evolving approach to musical composition: Tonality and form → moving to greater equality of importance of the five elements of the musical language: • I - related key - I • Used patterns of sound, texture, timbre rather than chords for a harmony • Harmony, Melody, Rhythm, Texture, Timbre: Musical element hierarchy 19th Century • 20th Century: All musical elements become equal