Claude Debussy, a leading figure in musical Impressionism, was one of the most innovative and influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His compositions, known for their sensual and allusive soundscapes, have served as inspiration for many a film score, from the 1940s to the present day. However it's his innovative use of non-traditional scales and tonalities — parallel chords, bitonal chords, pentatonic scale, unprepared modulations — that left an indelible impact on future musicians. In honor of the 100th anniversary of his death, Pitchfork’s senior reviews editor, Jeremy Larson, joins us to discuss Debussy's pioneering career and modern music’s reinterpretations of his sounds.
