The Music of Claude Debussy: His Inspirations and Lasting Influence

In this class, we will examine the life and work of Claude Debussy, one of the most influential composers of the Impressionist movement. Through an in-depth look at his music across different stages of his career, we will uncover the inspirations behind his compositions and explore the innovative elements he brought to the world of music—elements that continue to shape music today. No prior knowledge of music theory is required.

Andrew Celentano studied violin and performed at Carnegie Hall with the MIT Symphony Orchestra with Brian Epstein. He was self-taught on the piano starting at age 13 and started taking serious classical lessons about 25 years ago. Andrew plays occasionally at the Boston Symphony Orchestra Café in Symphony Hall and also composes his own material. He released his “Wanderer in Dreamland” CD in 2013 and recently released “Classical Sojourn,” featuring performances of 18 of his favorite pieces. You can hear his music on Pandora, Spotify and other streaming platforms. Andrew interviews other composers weekly at www.AComposersCorner.com.