The Purcell Symphony Orchestra at Cadogan Hall, 6 Feb 2023 - Debussy: La Mer

Debussy - La Mer
Conductor Natalia Luis Bassa
VIOLIN I
Francisca, Shlomo, Henrietta, Louis, James, Jessica, Tori, Yu-Wei, Goulwenna, Rebecca, Shlomi, Sofiia, Sonya, Madeleine, Polina
VIOLIN II
Hana, Barbare, Gabriella, Dominic-Lucian, Antonia, Alexander, Ruize, Jacqueline, Dexter, Isaac, Martin, Malena, Miruna
VIOLA
Iklim, Fiona, Mina, Danya, Minsuk, Theadora, Tifany, Yagmur, JiHyo
CELLO
Lindsey, Sebastian, Emma, Da In, Ivan, Ivanna, Oscar, Jennifer, Ella, Jessie, Ken, Teresa, Paddini (Jayden), Yeju
DOUBLE BASS
Louis, Johnathan
*Cathy Elliott
*Fabián Eduardo Galeana Meza
HARP
Aaron, Rowena
FLUTE/PICCOLO
Suanoi, Arunima, Tom, Tessa
OBOE/COR ANGLAIS
Alana, Ekaterina, Rhea
CLARINET/BASS CLARINET
Birce, Marina, Zaki
BASSOON/CONTRABASSOON
Sacha
Ostap
*Eva Serksnaite
FRENCH HORN
Chloe
Alex
*Tim Ellis
*Joel Ashford
TRUMPET
Freddie
Ted
Phoebe
*Dan Taylor
TROMBONE/BASS TROMBONE
Alex
Belinda
Skye
*Ruth Molins
*Ed Hilton
TUBA
Noah
TIMPANI & PERCUSSION
Joshua
Ali
Hannah
Megan
Anthony
*Ryan Hepburn
PIANO
Samuel
CELESTE
Ozel
*Member of staff/visting professional
Claude Debussy (1862-1918) is widely believed to have been one of the most significant composers of the twentieth century, influencing composers such as Bartók, Messaien and even John Williams. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire where in 1884 he won the prestigious 'Prix de Rome'. However, although he was regularly at odds with the institution’s conservative compositional rules. He also experienced a turbulent personal life, and, as a result, lost the support of the public and many of his close colleagues, such as Ravel and Dukas. Despite his disdain for the term, he is often described as “Impressionist” because his subtle and dreamy depictions of nature are seen as being analogous to the French Impressionist artistic movement led by Monet.
'La Mer' (1903-1905) ["The Sea"] is believed to be one of his most important orchestral works, credited to have "invented the modern orchestra". Having spent much of his childhood by the coast, Debussy wrote that "he always retained a sincere devotion to the sea". Additionally, the sea had a conceptual significance for him, having said that "music is a free art, boundless as the elements, the wind, the sky and the sea", possibly showing that he perceived its unpredictable instability as a vessel with which to explore the human experience.
Eastern influences pervade the work, such as Javanese Gamelan music, which likely influenced many of his modes and textures, as well as the painting 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa' by the Japanese artist Hokusai, which he requested be featured on the front cover of the score. Sub-titled 'Trois Esquisses Symphoniques' ["Three Symphonic Sketches"], Debussy aimed to distance himself from the strict Germanic 'symphony' which he believed was obsolete, in order to find a uniquely French voice. Although initially poorly received at its premiere in 1905 (in part due to his public image), its second Paris performance in 1908 secured its place in the modern orchestral repertoire.
Written by Tom
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