Whose music of these two composers do you find more interesting, taking the word 'interesting' to mean exhibiting the bare minimum of energy to keep you awake through to the end?
For me undoubtedly it's Burt Bacharach. The theme to the 1981 Oscar-winning movie Arthur alone will do it.
I also believe that between the two of them, Bacharach has a much better chance of enduring in the repertory.
Debussy's compositional process takes too much mental effort to understand next to Burt Bacharach, this is a sign that Debussy's music is too academic and theoretical next to the sublime and direct emotional power of Bacharach.
Burt Bacharach is an all-American boy whose music will endure throughout the centuries.
Claude Debussy is some foreign guy, European or possibly French.
Besides, if you look carefully, you can see the word "Bach" in Burt's last name, Bach being one of the best composers ever.
Plus, Burt is related on his mother's cousins granduncle's sister's side to Johann Gambolputty de von Ausfern- schplenden- schlitter- crasscrenbon- fried- digger- dingle- dangle- dongle- dungle- burstein- von- knacker- thrasher- apple- banger- horowitz- ticolensic- grander- knotty- spelltinkle- grandlich- grumblemeyer- spelterwasser- kurstlich- himbleeisen- bahnwagen- gutenabend- bitte- ein- nürnburger- bratwustle- gerspurten- mitz- weimache- luber- hundsfut- gumberaber- shönedanker- kalbsfleisch- mittler- aucher von Hautkopft of Ulm, from whom he learned everything he knows about composing.
Both are mentioned by Monty Python, so I would say they rank about equal as far as cultural importance and influence is concerned.
Well Burt Bacharach did the score for Casino Royale, and David Niven's character enjoys playing Debussy, so I'd say they're pretty even.
Even so, neither of them touch John Williams. :P
That's a silly comparison, since neither of them played the guitar. Or actually, I think, Debussy did, didn't he?
Quote from: M forever on September 26, 2008, 09:55:43 PM
That's a silly comparison, since neither of them played the guitar. Or actually, I think, Debussy did, didn't he?
Even if he did, Burt Bacharach would be a better player because he comes from the most awesome and free country in the world - Debussy is just an envious liberty-hating European.
Quote from: Lethe on September 26, 2008, 10:37:08 PM
Even if he did, Burt Bacharach would be a better player because he comes from the most awesome and free country in the world - Debussy is just an envious liberty-hating European.
Yes, but Burt is tainted - he studied with Darius Milhaud in Europe.
Quote from: Lethe on September 26, 2008, 10:37:08 PM
...because he comes from the most awesome and free country in the world...
No he doesn't, he's American.
Quote from: Wanderer on September 27, 2008, 07:13:43 AM
No he doesn't, he's American.
Ahh, you'll go to hell for saying that ;D
How could any sensible person not feel that Debussy's music would have benefited greatly, if the composer had looked at himself in the mirror, and asked, "Claude-Achille, what do you get when you fall in love?"
Debussy, mentioned by Monty Python? I forget . . . .
Bacharach appears in The Meaning of Life (as, if you reflect upon it, he must), of course.
Quote from: Lethe on September 26, 2008, 07:49:56 PM
Debussy's compositional process takes too much mental effort to understand next to Burt Bacharach, this is a sign that Debussy's music is too academic and theoretical next to the sublime and direct emotional power of Bacharach.
True,
Sara; still, the subtleties (one might almost say, the
aristocratic sensuality) of Bacharach's musical language only unfold upon repeated listenings. He's not just sonic bathwater.
Quote from: karlhenning on September 27, 2008, 07:55:10 AM
Debussy, mentioned by Monty Python? I forget . . . .
Bacharach appears in The Meaning of Life (as, if you reflect upon it, he must), of course.
(http://arago4.tnw.utwente.nl/stonedead/movies/meaning-of-life/thumbnails/10-restaurant.jpg)
Quote...Burt just writes the tunes, only now, he's married to Carole Bayer Sager...
BUT, there's an S in Debussy, which I think makes him a philosopher.
What might have been for Debussy had Dionne Warwick lived in another time and place ...
Quote from: Szykniej on September 27, 2008, 08:32:55 AM
What might have been for Debussy had Dionne Warwick lived in another time and place ...
Je dis une peu prière pour vous?
Quote from: Corey on September 27, 2008, 08:37:15 AM
Je dis une peu prière pour vous?
Oui! The moment I wake up! ;D
Ah, une prière petite pour toi!
Se rapprocher, pour séparer; c'est tout que nous faisons . . . .
Quote from: Lethe on September 27, 2008, 07:18:10 AM
Ahh, you'll go to hell for saying that ;D
A little crowdy, from what I hear, but interesting company nonetheless. :-*
Quote from: lukeottevanger on September 27, 2008, 08:09:56 AM
BUT, there's an S in Debussy, which I think makes him a philosopher.
Yes but on the other hand, unlike Bacharach, Debussy hasn't appeared in an Austin Powers film.
Quote from: Wanderer on September 27, 2008, 09:08:35 AM
Yes but on the other hand, unlike Bacharach, Debussy hasn't appeared in an Austin Powers film.
Isn't Austin Powers a descendant of Debussy's?
(http://www.classicalarchives.com/bios/gif/debussy_portrait.jpg)
Quote from: Wanderer on September 27, 2008, 09:08:35 AM
Yes but on the other hand, unlike Bacharach, Debussy hasn't appeared in an Austin Powers film.
Yes, but he did appear in "The Love Guru" ...
(http://www.dovesong.com/images/MP3/Debussy%20and%20daughter%20picnicing.jpg)(http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/rockcandy/Image/loveguru.jpg)
Quote from: Wanderer on September 27, 2008, 09:08:35 AM
Yes but on the other hand, unlike Bacharach, Debussy hasn't appeared in an Austin Powers film.
Sibelius did, though...
(http://zerotosixty.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/medium_dr_evil_1.jpg?w=320&h=396) (http://lineout.thestranger.com/files/2008/05/Jean_Sibelius_1939.jpg)
There's a great Karsh photo of Dr Evil Sibelius on display at the MFA now . . .
Quote from: karlhenning on September 27, 2008, 09:27:59 AM
There's a great Karsh photo of Dr Evil Sibelius on display at the MFA now . . .
(http://www.geh.org/ne/str085/m198130600001.jpg)
That looks like a fantastic exhibition, Karl. I'll have to make a visit before it's gone.
Quote from: karlhenning on September 27, 2008, 07:55:10 AM
Debussy, mentioned by Monty Python? I forget . . . .
"Decomposing composers".
Quote from: M forever on September 26, 2008, 09:55:43 PMSince neither of them played the guitar. Or actually, I think, Debussy did, didn't he?
That was Berlioz, not Debussy.
Quote from: M forever on September 26, 2008, 09:55:43 PM
That's a silly comparison, since neither of them played the guitar.
;D Genius!
Quote from: The Ardent Pelleastre on September 27, 2008, 01:41:34 PM
That was Berlioz, not Debussy.
No, I thought it was Paganini. Or Tarrega.
Quote from: GGGGRRREEG on September 27, 2008, 04:03:36 PM
No, I thought it was Paganini. Or Tarrega.
It was Berlioz; he referred to the guitar as 'a miniature orchestra'
Quote from: The Ardent Pelleastre on September 27, 2008, 04:09:58 PM
It was Berlioz; he referred to the guitar as 'a miniature orchestra'
I know. I was just kidding. 8)
I prefer Michel Legrand to BB.
Quote from: vandermolen on September 27, 2008, 11:19:05 PM
I prefer Michel Legrand to BB.
You can't. Bebussy is the only alternative.