#28 Reading Debussy

The three articles for music journals had an interesting take on how French music was influenced and how it changed music in the 20th century. I liked how Strunk used Jean-Jacques Rousseau to help explain how we don't need the boring aspects of theory that he created. Additionally, the underlying theme that music is mysterious was very clever. The idea that no one can truly define what French music, and music in general is really about. He says that, "there is no music school that holds the secret" (162). This clearly shows that not one place of music can say that they know the perfect way to teach or interpret music. Again in the third article they mention the "beauty of a work of art is something that will always remain mysterious" (166). I liked the idea that each person can have their own idea of how a piece of music flows. This relates to the works of Debussy because he compositions seem to float by taking away the leading tone.