Classical Music in Pictures Music in Pictures    

Lesson 31: The Happy Island

by Claude Debussy

Performer: Pandora Selfridge

Directions

Study the musical selection for one week.

Over the week:

• Each day, listen to the musical selection.
• Read the synopsis.
• Review the vocabulary terms.
• Read about the composer and practice reciting his or her name and the composition title.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Inspired by Antoine Watteau's 'The Embarkation for Cythera,' Claude Debussy composed 'L'isle joyeuse' (The Happy Island) for solo piano in 1904.

Vocabulary

Embarkation: To go on board a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.
Cythera (Kythira): A Greek island in the Mediterranean Sea.
Island: A piece of land surrounded by water.
Solo: Something done alone, such as playing an instrument or singing.

Composer

1. Claude Debussy was born in 1862 near Paris, France. See his picture below.

2. Zoom in and find Debussy's country of birth on the map of Europe below.

3. Debussy began playing violin at the age of six, learned piano at age eight, and later studied an additional six instruments including flute and trombone. He entered the Paris Conservatoire at age ten.
4. Debussy was an artistic rebel, experimenting with music in ways not taught at the academy.
5. Critics of his day dismissed some of his best-loved works of today, and he often struggled to stay afloat financially.
6. Debussy died of cancer at the age of 55 in 1918.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Describe the Music

Listen to the music, and close your eyes and let yourself imagine. What do you picture as you listen to the music?

• After listening to the music, describe and discuss what you heard.
• Does the music sound happy or mournful? Is it fast or slow? Does the music convey motion or stillness? Does the music change over time as the piece progresses?

Read the list of adjectives. Select those that describe the music or think up additional adjectives.

• Cheerful
• Mournful
• Soft
• Noisy
• Vivacious
• Soothing
• Eerie
• Threatening
• Surreal
• Whimsical
• Rhythmic
• Grand

Activity 2: Study the Painting, Antoine Watteau's 'The Embarkation for Cythera'

As you listen to the music, find the following in the painting:

• Angel
• Cupids
• Little Girl
• Couples
• Pink Flowers
• Statue of Venus
• Foliage
• Dog

After you study the painting, narrate the scene shown in the painting aloud using your own words.

Describe how the painting relates to the music.

Activity 3: Read About the Painting, Antoine Watteau's 'The Embarkation for Cythera'

Antoine Watteau's 'The Embarkation for Cythera' inspired Debussy to compose 'The Happy Island.' The painting shows a group of people enjoying a day on the island of Cythera, mythical birthplace of Venus. Joined by an angel, cupids fly overhead, aiming arrows at couples below. A statue of Venus is visible among the foliage.

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the music?

1 / 3

Answer 1

The title is 'The Happy Island.'

1 / 3

Question 2

Who composed the music?

2 / 3

Answer 2

The composer is Claude Debussy.

2 / 3

Question 3

What is 'The Happy Island' about?

3 / 3

Answer 3

'The Happy Island' is about Antoine Watteau's painting 'The Embarkation for Cythera.'

3 / 3

❮ ❯

1. What is the title of the music? The title is 'The Happy Island.'
2. Who composed the music? The composer is Claude Debussy.
3. What is 'The Happy Island' about? 'The Happy Island' is about Antoine Watteau's painting 'The Embarkation for Cythera.'

References

'Claude Debussy.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'L'isle joyeuse.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.