CLAUDE DEBUSSY (1862 - 1918) - Reflets dans l'eau, Images

CLAUDE DEBUSSY (1862 - 1918)

Reflets dans l'eau, Images

Debussy is without doubt one of the most prominent figures in the world of impressionist music at the turn of 20^th century. Though disliking how his compositions were labelled as “impressionistic”, he established a new concept of tonality in European music, where emphasis on colour is greater than form or the need to center a piece around a key. His friendships with impressionist painters plus his deep appreciation for their artworks are likely influences for the impressionistic ideas in his music.

Debussy.composed this evocative piece in 1905, as the opening piece in the first volume of Images. These images, are appreciably more abstract in inspiration and design than Estampes, which was composed two years prior. His invention of “harmonic chemistry” involves the subtle interplay of diatonicism with whole-tones, pentatonic scale, enriched by movements of melodic patterns superimposing, crisscrossing and at the same time, bringing out subtle dissonance.

Reflets dans l'eau, which means reflections in the water, is an innovative musical creation, painting the interactive shine and play of both water and light. Debussy previously revealed that he viewed this work as a depiction of a pebble being tossed into calm water to make ever-widening ripples. However, if one listens closely, you can hear more than just that. The imagery that comes to mind moves and changes. The work begins quietly, with chords rising on the upper register and the theme enters on the left hand peacefully on a descending three note figure Ab – F – Eb, depicting water drops onto the surface of a pedal-point while right hand part mirrors each phrase in slight rubato and diminution. This gentle beginning leads to chromatic chord progressions while the right hand brings out flickering reverberations of surface shimmer. A pentatonic scale movement leads to a slight agitation first then a no-turning back immense ripple spread effect where the right hand plays the supporting descending and ascending arpeggio. With each agitation jolt, the water scutters away. Then the ripples seemingly calm down once again, bringing us back to the main theme once more, but this time the right hand now plays an elaborated legato accompaniment instead of chords, giving the listener the picture of lightness and fluidity. An animato begins unexpectedly, like a gradually accelerating, broadening ripple that becomes water that's moving quickly. One would expect that to lead immediately to the climatic section but Debussy suddenly introduces a high treble melody that's almost mystical with the left hand playing harp-like. The rumble then starts and very quickly throws one into a mammoth fortissimo eruption where the thematic motif is pompously recapped. The three-note motif but now syncopated can be heard as the wave starts to diffuse. A sense of great calm then pervades in the last lent section, and the high treble repeating the opening theme rings of luminous purity and resonance. All agitation fades away and complete tranquilitiy sets in. We are then left in awe of the charming reflections that were once there.