Claude Debussy
Born St Germain-en-Laye, 22 August 1862; Died Paris, 25 March 1918

String Quartet in G minor Opus 10

Animé et très décidé
Assez vif et bien rythmé
Andantino, doucement
Très modéré

The compositions of Claude Debussy (1862-1918) have had a profound effect on the development of Western music, shifting the focus away from traditional, 'permitted' harmonic sequences towards the use of sounds and musical textures that can be enjoyed for their own sake. Many of his works deliberately evoke visual images, and he once said: “The only rule I admit is the rule that involves pleasing a musician's ear”. He is sometimes labelled an 'impressionist' composer, after the contemporary French visual art movement, but apparently disliked the term himself.

Debussy wrote his String Quartet in 1893, and it is the only piece in which he specifies either a key or opus number. The first movement, Animé et très décidé ['animated and very firmly'] has a somewhat Eastern sound, due to his use of unusual scales for the themes. The opening melody reappears in the second and last movements, creating a sense of unity in the work's structure.

Assez vif et très rythmé ['quite lively and very rhythmic'] is a colourful scherzo, using pizzicato to form varied textures. The atmospheric Andantino, doucement ['quite slowly, sweetly'] is both lyrical and passionate. In contrast, the Très modéré ['very moderate'] finale is turbulent and chromatic. Following a brief respite in the middle, the music builds to a triumphant restatement of the theme from the beginning of the work.

[Programme Note: Jane Dawson]