This completely revised second edition of The Poetic Debussy contains the most recent discoveries in the composer's oeuvre, including a number of hitherto unknown songs. The texts of all Debussy's songs, both in the original French and with revised English translations on the facing page, are collected in chronological order, with notes and location of sources. In addition, Margaret Cobb has brought together a fascinating selection of Debussy's letters which have poetic refences, and has updated the notes on those twenty-six compositions based on or inspired by literary texts. This work will prove an invaluable aid to performers, scholars and students, as it contains the texts, with translations, of the full output of Debussy's songs, describes his works derived from literary sources, and includes important background material.
Reviews
An invaluable volume. --MUSICAL TIMESA useful compilation that will more than adequately serve performers and programme builders. --TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT
The translations...read with flow that occasionally rivals the verse itself...the work is a valuable addition to the literature on Claude Debussy. --NOTES