The Washington times., 1918-06-06
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
VERY EXCLUSIVE
IN FRIENDSHIPS
By MAY STANLEY.

I
One might count on the fingers Of
one hand the persons who have been
admitted to the inner circ Of the
life of Cloude Debussy. the famous
French composer. whose passing re-
moves an absolutely unique figure
| from the world OF art One Of this
little group is Maggie Teyte, the gift
ed English soprano. who had the rare
privilege OF not only preparing her
MeIisande for the Paris presentation
Of Debussy's "Pelleas and Melisande"
under the personal direction Of the
eminent composer of the opera but
who also worked with Debussy on
the programs Of his songs which she
has presented in recital in France,
England and America
interviewing Miss Teyte these days
Is rather a difficult matter. as the
singers engagements for the spring
season are treading on one another's
heels, but 1 managed to get a half
hours chat with her sandwiched in
between an afternoon concert she had
been attending and the train that was
taking her to Wheeling for q recital
Unusual Personality.
/ ITO describe ones Impressions Of
Debussy is a difficult matter" the
singer replied thoughtfuIly. when the
question was asked. His was such
an unusual personality. With most
geniuses their work. their dreams
color the rest Of their lives It was
not 50 with him 1t was as IL some
one had taken a bit of genius, put it
in q box and thrown II violently at
his head. 1t stuck, yes, but it was
not a part Of him, of his everyday
life. his modes of thought You see
what I mean?
I'm his personal life, his methods
OF dealing with the problem OF life
Debussy was primitive, self-centered
and as relentless and pitiless as life
itself. His music, on the other hand,
Is the essence of exotic refinement
He gathers up all the color OF modern
life under his hand. as II it were the
strings of a piano. Sometimes he
thurnps and sometimes he plays deli
cate arpeggios. but always it is the
discord on the subtle harmonies OF
modernity-never that of the print
tive, the barbaric-
He was the most taciturn man I
have ever met, and the most nervous.
The one thing that he hated above
all others was to hear some one else
play his music ! recall one evening
at concert OF his works in Paris
that the first violinist came of the
stage in high spirits after the play
ing OF Debussy's Quartet Was Il
hanUTTfffNH1v
pIayedT he demanded Of the people
standing back stage
%PIayed Like Figs"
"Debussy overheard him and with
cred the unfortunate man with a look
You played like pigs he said scorn-
hapless player covered with shame
and confusion have never in my
life felt so sorry for anyone as did
for my accompanist who went with
me for the dress rehearsal Of q re-
cital which was TO give Of Debussy
songs. He always insisted on thts-a
rehearsal with accompanist of the
program just as 1t was to be given.
Ny accompanist stood In mortal
dread of Debussy's anger. knowing
his active dislike for listening to his
muhic done by other people Once
during the program he held a note a
bit too hong: II was not enough to
call q mistake. but I saw the man
actually turn red. then deathly white.
every bit OF color left his face in
sheer dismAy. It was one of the most
dramatic incidents OF my life and left
an indelibIe impression on my mind"