Stephen Walsh (1) (1942–)

One moment where I wish Goodreads had half stars. This is definitely a 3 1/2. I decided to give it 4 because it does exactly what it sets out to do. While I wouldn't describe it as overly technical, a person with zero music theory knowledge would be completely lost. The author's main concern is with describing what Debussy does in his music. He does this well. The author admits that all of his biographical facts were culled from other sources. Therefore, what we have is a nice critical look show more at his works, interspersed with the basic narrative of his life. It could have been improved with a complete list of works in the back and some suggested recordings. Overall, worth reading for people with a fairly good understanding of musical terms and a love of the man's art. show less

This is an important addition to the studies of Claude Debussy. It is thorough and well-written. As a pianist who has performed Debussy I appreciated the opportunity to expand my knowledge of the composer while gaining a new appreciation for his revolutionary contributions to music.

One moment where I wish Goodreads had half stars. This is definitely a 3 1/2. I decided to give it 4 because it does exactly what it sets out to do. While I wouldn't describe it as overly technical, a person with zero music theory knowledge would be completely lost. The author's main concern is with describing what Debussy does in his music. He does this well. The author admits that all of his biographical facts were culled from other sources. Therefore, what we have is a nice critical look show more at his works, interspersed with the basic narrative of his life. It could have been improved with a complete list of works in the back and some suggested recordings. Overall, worth reading for people with a fairly good understanding of musical terms and a love of the man's art. show less

The last volume of Walsh's enormous two-part biography of Igor Stravinsky. The story revolves around the composer's exile in France and America, highlighting cultural events and the occasionally astounding range of music produced by this enigmatic composer.