Debussy's Cello Sonata
Donald Macleod focuses on the period when, suffering physical illness, Debussy composed his Cello Sonata while staying at the villa Mon Coin.
He had a profound impact upon music and musicians in his day, and created new genres for the piano and orchestra, this week Donald Macleod explores Claude Debussy through his chamber music.
With the outset of World War One, the Daily Telegraph invited composers to contribute works towards the King Albert's Album, which would be a tribute to the Belgium monarch and his soldiers. Debussy responded with a melancholy work which references the Belgium national anthem, his Berceuse h猫ro茂que for orchestra. Early on in the war, he also started to compose a set of Twelve Etudes for the piano, which he told his publisher would be a secret homage to those Frenchmen lost on the battlefields.
Debussy had been suffering physically for some time during this period and it was in 1915 that he was diagnosed with cancer. He underwent a risky operation; there were no antibiotics available, and afterwards, the pain was kept at bay with morphine. That same year, though, Debussy composed his Sonata for cello and piano, whilst he stayed at the villa Mon Coin.
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Claude Debussy
3 Poemes de Mallarme for voice and piano
Performer: Noel Lee. Singer: Anne-Marie Rodde.- ETCETERA.
-
![]()
Claude Debussy
3 Poemes de Mallarme for voice and piano
Performer: Noel Lee. Singer: Anne-Marie Rodde.- ETCETERA.
-
![]()
Claude Debussy
Syrinx for flute solo
Performer: Richard McNicol.- Chandos:.
-
![]()
Claude Debussy
Syrinx for flute solo
Performer: Richard McNicol.- Chandos:.
-
![]()
Claude Debussy
Sonata in D minor for cello and piano
Performer: Stephen Orton. Performer: Ian Brown.- Chandos:.
-
![]()
Claude Debussy
Sonata in D minor for cello and piano
Performer: Stephen Orton. Performer: Ian Brown.- Chandos:.
-
![]()
Claude Debussy
12 Studies for piano
Performer: Maurizio Pollini.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
-
![]()
Claude Debussy
12 Studies for piano
Performer: Maurizio Pollini.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
-
![]()
Claude Debussy
Berceuse heroique, arr. for orchestra [orig. for piano]
Conductor: Alexander Rahbari. Orchestra: Brussels Belgian Radio and TV Phil Orch.- Naxos:.
-
![]()
Claude Debussy
Berceuse heroique, arr. for orchestra [orig. for piano]
Conductor: Alexander Rahbari. Orchestra: Brussels Belgian Radio and TV Phil Orch.- Naxos:.
Broadcasts
- Thu 16 Oct 2014 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Thu 16 Oct 2014 18:45大象传媒 Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.